Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-06-26
FORIY-FOURrH cone kESs.
CzosfnG Proceedings safurdau.
The Distrtct Tax NH Diagnosed.

n1oaS.'y ~ tie blstrlct- II exempted all
toe extraordinary tax on the small business
lone COZ II exempted the millions OF capital,
sho taxed the man with the hand cart TIE
man who with his wagon earned mis- iivinS
and The man who made the cofins Ra dsd
not think the Senate could put Itself on ire
recora ~ FAVOR OF IL II SO he wanted the
Mr.. Hsmlin said OF all things that has
ever come In here asking favorable consid-
GRAFTON be had no language at command TN,
would properly characterize m. Cover
ments, he said, were formed for the protec-
lion OF The person and property OF the Cit
Zens, and ne had an Idea that all thai shared
IN this protection should contributed 10 me
support OF the government The bin renorf-
cd 10 the House was 50 distasteful that the
House adopted the substitute without read.
ing. He denounced a bill that dill NOT fsY
personal property as disgraceful.
Mr.. Spencer 10y whose side sat Commits
missioners that IL was impossible 10 collect
pc rSOnal tax here.
Mr.: Hamlin.-Then let us appoint Com
missloners who can.
Mr.. Sargent said there was no difficulty
about collecting personal tax in his state.
Mr.. Sherman denounced the failure % levy
The personal tax as an open, iagrsnt ami un-
WSrIantabie violation OF the express terms
Of the law. He exouersted the Conn mis-
Eioners and charged the omission upon the
assessors. He would reenact the law of last
year, and make II imperative upon the Com
misSioners 10 levy and collect the tax. He
did not favor a tax on furniture, but the gas
company and the railways should pay a tax.
license law he Thought proper To q limited
extent. lie thought the House bill did not
provide the machinery for collecting a per-
sonal tax. He favored the personal tax, but,
as matter OF principle, would vote no tax
upon this people without representation.
He did not wish to reflect upon the Commits
sioneTs; they did as well as they could, but
they were pro -consuls and had no interest i'm
the people. He could not vote for this bin.
even IL be could vote for any tax bill. He
told the Senators that Congress would be
forced 10 give back to the people a govern
ment which was on the 10Th OF j ly tempo
rarily AIKEN from them with the understand
ing that IL would be restored in December,
and now IL is proposed TO deprive them OF
local self government entirely. Things
would 20 on blunderingly until the restOra-
ton OF self-government was compelled.
Mr.. Sherman said the Senate substitute
was Objectionable TO the Senate aud TO him,
I'm that IL provided for no personal tax. TIE
House bill was deficient In machinery TO
carry ii into execution. Then there was a
bill drawn by the Commissioners and SUBJ
mitted TO the House committee, without
any action by that committee; and then the
proposition OF Mr.. Conkling TO re enact and
make perpetual the tax bill of last year. He
desired 10 make IL matter OF record, and
for that purpose he had read the correspond
ence between the Commissioners aud the
assessors relative to levying a personal tax
last year. Mr.. Sherman said that the as
SCISSORS were required 10 assess both real and
personal property, and made the excuse that
they had Lot time TO do both; but they could
have done so by employing assistants. He
thought the Senate should take up and per-
feet the House bill, and should do IL to-day.
IL would be better TO pass either bill, aud let
IL go 10 conference, tnan 10 admit passing
some bill; for II not acted upon to-day, there
might be no tax bill passed.
Mr.. Merrimop, although a member OF the
District Committee, had been absent, aud
had not participated In Its consideration I'm
committee. lie diSsented from the Senate
substitute, and thought that 10 was defcc-
tive in relation TO the taxation OF real prop
eTty. There should be a discrimination In
favor of Georgetown aud the county, which
received less Dement'S from the taxes than the
city OF Washington.
In reply 10 Mr.. Morton, he said he be-
Heved that Congress had no power TO pro-
vide suffrage for the people OF the District.
The Constitution gave no power TO confer
suffrage. 1t WIS a power possessed by the
states. The Supreme Court OF the United
States had decided that a justice OF the peace
States officer. The Constitution provided
how United States officers should be ap-
pointed, and did not permit the delegation
OF the power Of appointment to Others.
Nj. Morton said that for seventy-two
years after the ceding OF the territory OF the
District all parties sanctioned without ever
qUes uoning the constitutionaiity OF self
government by the people, and that the only
rea, on why the democrats opposed suffra ge
IN the District now was because IL would
give the negroes vote.
Mr.. Thurman said that when the people OF
the District petition Congress for suffrage lie
would believe they were governed without
their consent. He had seen no petition and
heard no popular clamor for sudrsg e, and
until he did ne must be permitted TO believe
they were governed with their own consent.
He hoped, however, that this discussi on,
which had nothing TO do with the tax bill,
would Lot go on, as 1t was important that
the bill should be acted on. He proceeded to
criticise the Senate Dill, charging injury and
injustice in its features charging apothe-
carries twice as much as merchants and levy
ing the same tax on lawyers whether their
business was large or small and various
other unequal provisions.
Mr.. Ingalls, said the condition OF the Dis
tTict Committee is deplorable, and deserved
the sympathy OF the Senate. 1t was assailed
from without and denounced from within,
ard suffered most from its own household.
The bill had thus far found no advocate, and
he felt inclined TO befrlend IL. He mad con-
sented 10 the bill being reported In view OF
the lateness OF the time and the necessity OF
some action. He had no particular prefer
eDce for either bill. II he could so order he
would have no taxation, but taxes were the
price paid for citizenship. Taxes were at all
times obnoxious, and no man ever paid a
tax "with good opinion OF the law" He did
not think the Senate bill warranted the
fierce assaults that mad been made upon IL.
No tax could be levied that would be per-
fectly equitable, but he thought this bill
was not so unjust and invidious "a had been
stated. There were in the bill twenty-five
instances where personal property was
taxed. So personal taxation was not wholly
ignored.
Mr.. Conkling offered a substitute for the
In g June 80, 1876, ard making its provisions
applicable TO the year ending June 80, 1871.
Mr.. Eaton suggested that all the PROPOSE
tons be referred 10 the District Com mittee,
as the law OF last year would require the
same verbal alterations.
The bill was so recommitted.
Mr.. morrill,, (Vt.,) from the committee OF
conference on the legislative Appropriation
bill, submitted a report that the committee
had been unable to agree.
Mr.. Edmunds made the point OF order that
the House which asked a conference should
rot be the first TO which the report is made;
which the Chair Mr.. Dawes sustained, ana
the report was withdrawn.
Mr.. Wright, from Committee on Claims,
asked leave 10 report for present considera-
ton House bill making appropriation to pay
allowances made by the accounting officers
of the Treasury department.
On the motion TO consider the bill the vote
resulted-yeas &c, nays u.
Some trifiing amendments TO the bill,
mostly provisal, were agreed TO, and the bill
was passed.
Mr. Spencer asked consent for the present
consideration of the House bill for the set
Element OF the eight per cent. certificates OF
the late board OF public works OF the District
of Columbia, but objection was made.
On motion OF MI. Bogy, the House silver
bill was made the special order for 2 ID. m. on