Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-31
THE PERSONAL TAX LAW.
7ae Debate TpOn II in the House.
The Real Intent Of Congress I'm Iss
Passage.

The following full report of the proceedings
| In the House upon the passage OF the Per
soral Tax law will be of interest az showing
the latent of Congress in the matter.
| TAX BILL FoR DISTRICT OF Cor-NBIA
| The House proceeded Ia the consideration
of the bill Oh. X. No. IS4o) for the support of
the government of the District of Columb!a
| for the fiscal year ending june 30 ESQ AMI
for other purposes.
Mr.. Cotton.mlt is unnecessary 10 take time
20 read this bill.
Mr. Merriam-Is il the hill which We con
sidered the other night. or is il a new one the
| gentleman has brought in since?
| Mr. Cotton.-It II new one.
! The Speaker-The gentleman can state the
provisions of the bill
| Mr.. Cotton.-This bill contains provisions
| not only i'm relation to IN king the property of
| the District OF Columbia for the fiscal wear
ending June 30. 1876. but IL contains also some
| provisions in regard Ia the board Of audit
| and a provision In regard Ia the election of
| Delegate for the District Of Columbia
Mr. Merriam.-We do not want that
Mr. Cotton.-l understand many gentlemen
are opposed To that provision. rhe bill is
| before the House, and the gentleman from
| indiana Mr.. Wilson, proposes "A substitute
which rs purely a tax proposition, taxing
| both the real and personal property of the
| District. The gentleman from Pennsylvania
| MIR. Randalll proposes substitute % tax
real estate only. Their propositions relate
| simply to taxation. while the proposition Of
| the committee contains other provisions
| Mr. Wilson. of indiana hope NAV have
| the attention OF Tue House Tor moment |
| submit a substitute fOI tie bill of the Com
| mittee on the District of Columbia. and il
| can nave the attention Of gentlemen will
| eApialh me olfteTence between the two prop
| osltlons. The bill Of the committee which
| hold I'm my hand contains, i'm addition TO pro-
| VISIONS relating To taxing real aud personal
| property, other provisions with reference To
| great variety OF subjects. For instance.
| one is provision for the election Of a Dele
| gate for the District of Columbia. the election
| TO be held upon registration made in 49,
| certain provisions being made i'm reference
| 10 the correction of that registration bV Z.
| board OF registration that existed at that
| time. III contains also provisions i'm relation
| 10 The payment Of certain persons foe work
done by them, and other prov sions of that
| sort. The bill offer as a substitute has ref
! erence To taxation exclusively, with the eN-
cepiiOn that ii authorizes the board of com
| miSS1Oners to eIualize the pay OF the en-
ployos of the District. This bill contains "a
| further provision that the 1865 bonds NAV be
| ISSUED i'm denominations of ~ 900 ami 5000.
III contains also provision for taxing both
! rtal and personal property. setting out ma
chlnery by which the latter shall be reached
This is the substance of The bill I cannot az
course go into details. Gentlemen can learn
| those when the bin j. read.
Mr. Merriam-What is the proposed rate
Of taxation?
Mr.. Wilson, Of Ind.-This bill proposes a
| tax OF = per cent. IL the House sees fit II
make the rate two per cent, there need be no
Mr.. Merriam.-Wm the gentleman accept
| am amendment 20 make the rate two per
cent?
| Mr.. Wilson, of Ind.-CertainIy Twill
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures substitute may
| be adopted, that question can be reached.
Mr.. Wilson, of Ind.-Let me say further
| that have prepared my bill as carefully as
| could upon consultation with the Commits
sioners of the District, and am authorized
| TO say that II the House comes To the conclu
sion that personal property should be taxed,
then the Commissioners are entirely satisfied
| with the substitute which / submit. On the
| other hand my. friend from Pennsylvania
1 which QfA rnt.or aa hSrf h.
| commissioners OF the District, and which
does lot tax personal property. II the House
| should come TO the conclusion that personal
property ought not 10 be taxed, then that
| measure will have the entire appreciation of
the commissioners. So that Toy taking up
! the bills in this way the House will act upon
three propositions first, that coming from
| the committee. which contains various m At
| tiers TO which have alluded, then the prop
osition which il i'm the hands % the gen
! tlemau from Pennsylvania, which taxes real
| property
Mr. Willard tVt)-How much?
| Mr. Wilson (Ind9-The lax proposed in the
| bill of The gentleman from PenGsy lydnia IS
- per cent.
Mr.. Willard lVt,}-It think it ought TO be
per cent.
Mr.. Randall offer an amendment in the
| nature OF a further substitute. Iwish TO say
| 10 the House that there il but single ques-
| ton of difference involved between the
substitute of the gentleman from Indiana
| anu the one which 1 present. The House =
called upon 10 decide, in the first place
whether personal property in this District
snail he exempt from taxation. Those who
are IN favor OF such exemption will vote Tor
my amendment; those who believe that both
| real ana personal property in this District
| should be taxed, will vote against nv subSfj-
| tute and for that of the gent leman from In
diana. Whichever Of the substitutes NAV be
adopted, or If both are rejected, the question
VIII men turn on the proposition OF the gem
tleman from Iowa, Mr.. Cotton.) WedeSire
then, that these distinct propositions shall
be tested; first, whether the rate of tax shall
he - l.,Ilnn >ltsl. Sppani
property shall be exempt or not.
Mr. herrian;Iis PERSONAL property eS-
Nj RanSall.-It is in mine.
Mr.. Cotioh. The House now has the sew
eral propositions before il; and after we de-
eide which of these bills we will take anv
gentleman can move an amendment as 10
the rate OF taxation. j move the previous
question.
The Speaker.-The previous question is
considered as operating.
Mr.. Speer.-Is there apything in the sub
stltute OF the gentleman FROM inlIana which
limits the rates which newspaper saall
charge the District for advertising delinquaIi,
taxes"
Mr.. Wilson lind. There is a Limitation on |
that subject, as the gentleman will see wie
the bill is read.
Mr.. RandalI-The difference between the
substitute have offered and the one offered
by the gentleman from Indiana Mr. Wilson,
relates purely To the question whether per
sonal property shall be taxed i'm this District.
Those who wish that the taxation OF this |
District shall be confined TO real estate will |
vote for my substitute. Those who prefer |
that the personal property in this District |
shall also be taxed, will vote against my |
substitute and for that of the gentleman from |
Indiana Mr.. Wilson,. The question OF what |
percentage the tax will be, will subsequently |
be determined. When that question is pre- |
scented will undertake to show the relative
amounts that Will be raised by tax OF SI.JO !
and - respectively.
Mr.. Cotton.-The rate of tax will be a sepa-
rate question after we have decided what /
property shall be taxed. !
Mr.. Randall yield 10 the gentleman |
Iiom Massachusetts Mr.. 4. IL. Hoarl TO state |
q fact. 4
Mr.. T.. r. Hoar.-The committee which |
prepared the bill for the government OF the |
District were informed that on one occasion /
personal property was taxed in this District, /
and that the total amount of taxes returned /
nom real and personal property together was
not much as the amount that had been 1
realized on real property alone the year be-
fore.
Mr.. Randall may state that the amount |
OF tax which il is estimated will be realized 4
from taxing personal property is 100000.
Mr.. Mcrriam.-At the present time there is |
a large amount of moneyei capital, bank /
stock, &c, i'm this city.
Mr.. Randall.-I call for a vote.
Mr.. Willard (Nt)-I understand that an /