Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-26

Showing an actual indebted
ness June 20, 1874, In excess of
mat estimated, which was to
cover all work to complete con-
tracts, and which does not in
Crude any woik so done, off,. 81, ~, 126 6
That is TO say, the committee of investi-
CATION instead OF reporting SS,5O5, $50 50 as
the estimated Indebtedness of the District
June 20, 1874, including all expenditures to
be thereafter made In the completion of
contracts made by the Board Of Public
Works, should have reported the actual In
Ceotedness at that time, inclusive of all
expenditures to be thereafter made in the
completion of contracts made by the Board
of Public Works at $40, 0o3 ,61322. The Com
mtssfeAers by the terms OF the act of June
%, 1874, were directed TO recognize and COM
plete all valid contracts made by the late
Board Of Public Works and District Of
Columbia, whether written or oral. Under
The operation OF this law 163 contracts were
necessarily recognized as raid, the work
contemplated In which has now been COM
pleted, except very little on and about James
creek canal. The District is being sued to
recover damages for non-fulfilment OF other
contracts which the Commissioners refused
20 recognize as valid.
Mr.. Christiancy's amendment TO the alco-
holic liquor traffic bill reported from the
Committee on Finance, restricts the inyesti-
CATION OF the commission TO the District OF
Columbia and the territories. The informa-
1ion obtained Is to serve as a guide to the
system of legislation best fitted for the Dis
1rict OF Columbia and other places over
which the general government has exclusive
Jurisdiction. Mr.. Bayard opposed the bill
on the constitutional ground that the states
alone have the tight to regulate the traffic
aforesaid, which is certainly sensible view
TO take of the matter.
"To tax the churches would seem like
making the Creator pay tribute to us for
allowing part of his footstool to be used
for the worship which is his due" This as
sertion Is attributed to Gen. John A. Dix
by the ChTistiu1 UTJiOHs. Many churches have
grown rich by the increased value of prop
erty exempted from taxation. Why they
Should be exempted has never been clear to
some minds. II they demand exemption
might they not almost reasonably demand
that their edifices be built by the taxing
power? Church eiifces are usually built as
expensiyely as the means or the credit of
their membership will permit, and thence
forward are used a few hours each week and
permitted TO gather mold during the inter
vening time. There Is a wastefulness In this
1hat SHOULD forbid all claims to exemption
from taxation. One of our American poets
has said, "The groves were Gods first tenn
PIES" and IL can scarcely be doubted that
worshipers then were just as devout as
those who now worship In magnificent and
costly edifices. Public halls are none the
less desirable on the Sabbath because or their
uses for other purposes throughout the
week. The long debated question, "Can
there be a church without q Bishop?' may
not be decided at an early day, but there are
those who believe that at some time In the
future IL will be admitted that there can be
D church without An edifce exclusively for
ats use.
From an interesting compilation In the
Insurance Chronicle 1t is ascertainet that in
1875 property TO the value OF $50, 32s 03J was