Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-09-07

Congress meets shortly, and as prompt
effort early in the session is necessary in
order to get any measure before that boiy in
season to give II any chance for considera-
ton, II is important that cur citizens should
take Immediate steps to secure certain legis
lation imperatively needed for this District.
Foremost in this legislation should be a
measure by which Congress will fix def
nitely the proportion to be paid by govern
ment towards the expenses OF the National
Capital. Congress at different times, through
special committees, embracing some of the
best lawyers in that body, has fully recog-
nized the obligations of the general govern
ment TO sustain a proportiol nate share of the
expenses OF the District The proportion 10
be paid by government has been estimated
by different Congressional reports at various
amounts; all, however, in the neighbor-
hood of my per cent. One report recon-
mends that the general government shall as
sumo the whole expense OF the District gov
eminent, and assess a moderate tax upon
the people OF the District prOportionate to
their property interests at the seat of gov
eminent. There is but one opinion among
Congressman who have given any thought
- The relations of Congress to the District OF
Colum bia, over which i. has exclusive
jurisdiction" az to the duty devoIying upon
the general government to assume a definite
snare OF me expenses OF the Capital city, and
nothing is needed but a strong, united effort
upon the part of our citizens to procure the
passage of measure establishing perma-
nently the proportion to be paid by the gov
eminent. This done, the estimates for taxa
ton in this District could be based each wear
upon some positive data, and would not need
TO be calculated on the contingency of chance
Congressional appropriations for this and
that item of District expenditure. The relief
to the taxpayers and the crippled business
Interests of Washington from such measure
would be instantaneous. While IL is admit
tedly out OF the question that the people of
the District should, either as a matter of law
or right, pay the enormous debt (or even the
interestl of twenty-five million dollars in
CURED by the agents OF Congress in improy-
ing the national capital, the fact that such a
debt nominally hangs over the District, and
that the interest must be provided for by our
District government, has the effect of a wet
blanket upon the growth and prosperity OF
the city. People OF culture, and moderate
means, who would be glad to come to Wash
tpgton and make IL their home, hesitate to
choose residence in a community no larger
than ours, loaded with a debt under which
the most wealthy and prosperous states OF
the Union would stagger; a community
where tie burthen of taxation is so grea,
the value OF property 10 twice what il would
sell for under the hammer, and the tax
gatherer must make a search for taxable
objects vastly more inquisitorial and all
pervadiug than that set forth in Sidney
Smiths lively picture of the British tax col
lector on the war-path.
This, then, is first In order-to take steps to
procure legislation from Congress upon this
matter OF definite PpoItioament of the
relative shares TO be paid by the general GOV
eminent and the people of the District for
the expenses OF the Government city. Other
matters, as river Improvement, the interests
of the public schools, &c, &c. will properly
be brought before Congress, but the all-im-
portaDt measure to be urged foremost and
with all energy is this mater OF government
apportiOnment. II is a matter upon which
all should be agreed, and for which all should
work, as the interests OF the whole comma-
nifty are one and inseparable in regard % it,
Ills one in which there can BE- no pos,I ole
'sjob' or ''ring," and il is 20 be hoped that tue
movement for its passage will not be hin
dered, as important measures of District in
terest have been in the past, by feuds,
wranglings or jealousie5. Members of Con
gress sometimes say that they would gladly
legislafe in behalf of the District il our
people would only agree upon what they
want, but that We have so much wrangling
and dissension, and so many opposing rep
reservations go up 10 them In regard IN any
District measure proposed, that they never
are certain what is the real wish OF the peo-
pie, and therefore they do nothing. Let us
show a front SO united upon this matter OF
fixing the apportionment that they shall
have Eo reason 10 doubt as 10 what the people
want in the premises.
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