Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-06
District Taxation.


The tax bill presented to the House Com.
mittee on Saturday by delegation of prom
inent citizens, as a substitute for the bill
now before the committee, seems to be gen.
orally acceptable TO the class Of our citizens
affected. The bill, which was the result OF
much thoughtful labor. aims TO raise the
taxes due from the people of the District, as
their proportion OF the expenses of the gov
eminent OF the District, In a way that shall
be just and equitable; which shall, while
providing for personal tax, make that tax
as inohensive and non-inquisitorial as posi-
bic, and which shall not be so costly and
cumbersome In execution that, as was the
case with the last personal tax executed
here, the expense of collecting 1t shall amount
10 third more than the whole amount COL
Iecteo. The new bill proposes, as was set
iorth by Messrs. Merrick and Clagett in their
intelligent exposition OF It's features before
the committee, 70 raise a tax of about two
million dollars, which Is held to be the ut
most that poor community like that OF this
District should be required to pay. 1t is
proposed, also, by the bill to tighten
the burdens on the taxpayers by
reducing the expenses OF the District
government In several particulars. One
OF these proposed reductions is by the
publication of the annual tax-list In pam
Phlet form; the printing 10 be done by the
lowest bidder. Judge Buckner, the chair
man OF the District Committee, suggested
on this point that the cost of the publication
could be still further reduced by having the
pamphlet printed at the Governments Print
Ing office, the taxpayers being charged the
bare cost OF printing. The answer was
promptly made by the delegation that this
mode, or any mode of printing the list by
which the enormous cost could be reduced
N a "
to them. There was something OF a discus
sion on the matter of taxing mortgages. and
Messrs. Merrick and Clagett explained clear
~ why In business way it was not deemed
advisable 10 levy tax on them in this Dis
trlct, as II deferred money from coming here
Tor investment, and the owners of money
from coming here to reside. Other features
of the bill were discussed with Intelligence
and good feeling, and the delegation were
impressed with the belief that the members
OF the District Committee are anxious to
legislate for the best interests Of the people
or the District, and to that end are DESTROYS
OF informing themselves fully as to the con-
ditlon of things here. They seemed to be
glad Of the opportunity TO confer with SO
large and general representation OF the
solid men-the bone and sinew of the Dis
trict-upon matters of District interest.
quarters that the republican party will go
down under the Belknap scandal. This
might and ought to be the case should the
republican party endorse and defend such
fraudulent actions as this just exposed. But
II IL promptly repudiates the Individual
wrong dotng OF any of It's officials, and
exerts itself to bring the offenders to
justice, the party Will be Judged by its
general principles ana convictions rather
than by the acts OF the repuiiatet
criminals. The last republican Congress
rather distinguished itself as a Congress of
Investigation into all cases OF alleged fraud;
and In the present Congress the republicans
would seem to have co-operated fully with
the democrats on the same line In the case
OF Belknap the republican members of the
investigating committee appear to have been
quite as jealous as their colleagues OF the
other party in exposing the guilt of the de-
unquent; and II the latter escapes Justice for
want OF proof, through allowing the princi-
pal witness to leave the country, 1t will not
be the fault of the republican members Of
that committee.
And the republicans, OF course will not
need TO go very far back In political history
to show that other parties have had their
full share OF fraudulent officials. The wings
had their Galpins and Crawfords, and the
democrats their Classes, Dick Johnson's, Har-
rises, Boyds, Bsiley's, Floyds, Jake Thomp-
sons, Swartwouts, Wetmores, and Tweeds
When IL comes TO twitting on facts of this
sort IL will doubtless be found that "honors
are easy" between the two great parties;
and though the exposure OF Belknap's guilt
startles from Its suddenness and his previous !
high standing, the republicans will not ne
cessarily be compromised by his fall unless
they attempt TO shield him from punish
ment.