Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-04

which they submitted, they viii be enabled
10 make up their returns by the lst of July,
until the 18th November. This bill provides
Tor board of appeals, so tina property own
ers aggrieved may have hearing, and have
Mr.. Willard asked what rates should be
levied for the county and Georgetown.
Mr.. Clagett replied that the rate was to be
fixed by legislation of Congress.
Mr. Willard wished to know IL
THE SEVERAL RAILROADS
coming into this District are taxed for their
Mr.. Clagett stated that they were assessed,
but the Baltimore and Ohio road never have
paid.
not community in any part OF this country
so HEAVILY TAXED
as this community during the past five or
six years. He had taken pains to examine
into this matter, and had compared our rate
OF taxation with that of every other city in
the country, and had come to the conclusion
that this is the most oppressed people in this
respect in the country.
DON'T WANT ANY POPULAR GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. Buckner-Perhaps 1t could be RENE
died by the formation of some popular local
govern ment.
Mr.. CIagett-"Oh, no; we don't want thai;
we have tried that, and are satisded."
THE POOR CLERKS.
The question was asked If government
clerks are taxed?
Mr.. Clagett.-"why, no; a government
clerk has nothing to tax as general thing.
A poor clerk, who gets thousand dollars
per year salary, don't get any meat TO eat
Oftener than once In two weeks" Laughter
WHAT THE BILL WILL PRoDUCs.
The bill presented by the citizens Will pro-
duce S3OOOO0 personal tax, which is one per
Mr.. Clagett proceeded to show from liz
stances in Pennsylvania, Chicago, and cOun-
ties in New York where there was no tax on
mortgages, &c, how those localities pros
pered by the influx of capital. He explained
as TO the taxation OF bonds and mortgages,
that the effect of II is to prevent such invest
ments; the borrower has 10 pay the tax a
general thing in the end. He detailed to the
committee his experience as an assessor in
the taxation of personal property; that il en-
couraged men to perjure themselves in Civ
Ing in their returns on the schedules pre-
pared
Mr.. Riggs explained here that the amount
OF revenue raised last year was 1926, 900 by
taxation and about SIS, 900 from licenses.
Mr.. Clagett said that he had nothing
further TO add at this time, although the
subject YVES prolific one, and the time Of
the committee was valuable. He trusted
they would give this matter careful CON
sideratiOn before they decided upon what
bill to adopt for taxation in this District.
After the interview terminated many of the
citizens proceeded TO pay their respects TO
the members of the District csmmittee
Georgetown Taxpayers Heard.
The chairman, Mr.. BucKner, stated that
he understood that the citizens of George
Town were there to state their views as to
why the citizens OF Georgetown should be
taxed less than those of Washington.
Mr.. Josiah Dent, on the part of the George
town taxpayers, submitted the following:
REASONS FOR DISCRIMINATION IN
Favor OF GEORGETOWN IN THE COMING
LIST. The official records show the average
value of property in Washington and George
town, as assessed during the last five years,
to be SI2 ,S62 for Washington and S6,Ii7,-
54S for Georgetown; and that there has been
EXPENDED in special Improvements in Wash
iDgton by the late Board of Public Works to
list December, 1874, the sum of Sf4,297 go o.
or about One-fifth of its assessed value
while there has been expended in improve
ments In Georgetown the sum of S72j, 1913 81,
or less than one eighth of its assessment. In
0tner words, Georgetown, being entitled, on
the basis of the valuations stated above, to
about 81 500, 600, actually received but S725-
eco, or little more than half of her legiti-
mate share OF these improvements.
2 1t also appears from official data that
while Washington has been assessed for her
snare OF these improvements the sum OF
S2,916 S5G.6S, or about one fifth of their cost
Georgetown has been assessed the sum OF
S227 1902, or neatly one third of their cost.
Sd. Washington has the full benefit of all
ings by the U. s. government, while George.
town derives no direct benefit therefrom.
4th. Washington, on account of the greater
width of her streets, has the exclusive bene-
nj OF the admirable system of parking which
is maintained out of the general fund.
ON. The cleaning and repairs of streets,
also paid for out OF the common fund, are,
owing TO the greater width of the streets,
much more expensive in Washington than
in GEORGETOWN.
9Th. The aggregate of expenditures for i'm
provements in the two cities, after deduct
Ing the sum OF SO, IA ,S27 60 directly assessed
against the property affected by such i'm
provements, is So ,S7I SOP 20; which sum is
represented by debt, of which Georgetown's
legitimate share is S497 ,5E 40, leaving debt
OF Sl2,3SO 80 for improvements In which
Georgetown has no share whatever, but for
the payment OF which, principal and inter-
est, she is taxed pro rata with Washington.
In all the tax bills heretofore, with the ex-
ception OF 1874, discrimination had been made
IN favor OF Georgetown, which should be done
in the bill now to be prepared. He asked that
the committee duly consider this subject AS
TO the subject of
the delegation from Georgetown had not
been instructed on that matter. AS mat
Ter OF local policy he did not think 1T judi
cious TO impose such tax. They are ayerse
10 it, as they have no basis OF commercial or
manufacturing interests.
Mr.. Dent stated that all his property in
this District IS in real estate. Not above six
per cent. can be realized from investments
on good bonds, and real estate investments
had been shown to be much more profitable
than bonds or paper Investments. He had
reference more to securities from which q
fixed profit is realized.
Mr.. w. H. Tenney was the next speaker,
and stated that there should be not only on
merchandise, but on furniture a tax. The
late bill drawn by the District Commission
ers proposed to tax the stocks and bonds is
sued by the District OF Columbia, which was
virtual reputation of its own securities
now these bonds should not be taxed on the
same reason that the United States bonds
are lot axed. Stocks of incorporated COM
panies might be taxed, but at less rate
IMAM on real estate, not above e-quarter
OF one per centum, and should be taxed in
The hands OF the corporations. Bonds and
mortgages should be exempt. Experience
has shown that IL is not a practicable tax;
and the attempt to collect a tax of this kind
always resulted disastrously TO the business
Gus examples.
Mr.. Francis WheatIey, of Georgetown,
said he had been long time a business man
and he thought ii would be very unjust
thing TO exempt bonds and mortgages and
make real estate pay all. He differed with
the rest of the Georgetown delegation only
on this point.
Judge Dent called the attention OF the Dis
tTict Committee 10 the fact that while the
property in the city OF Washington had in
creased the past two years from $50 900 900 TO
SSO.OOO,OC0 the property in Georgetown re-
NAMED about the same. He instanced the
fact that he owned farm in the District
which he rented for 5000 per year; the tax on
1t is over $500, which consumes the entire
income from IL. 1t is assessed at between