National Republican., 1877-08-16
HON. T. ]. DURANT ON DISTRICT NAT
TIERS.

EDITOR REPUBLICAN: A few days ago a
committee protesting to speak for the unem-
ployed workingmen of this District called upon
the Commissioners and asked them to provide
work, which the latter, Of course, could not
do, as the methods for the employment Of
labor now in existence do not permit com
pliance with such prayer.
There Is, no doubt. a large number Of work
ing people In this District in q condition Of
enforced idleness, who would gladly be en-
ployed could they find work to do and such is
the state of things through the whole country.
Hdrpers Weekly, dated August 1s, one Of the
ablcst advocates among the press Of a reaction
by tho aid Of military force, says: ut is COM
putcd that there are three millions Of people
| in the country idle who would gladly work,
and those who three or four years ago received
two and three dollars day now eagerly &C.
| ccpt fifty cents. and all labor has been forced
to submit to reduced wages"
In view Of this sad and alarming state of
| the country the reactionary press suggests no
other remedy than force, but II must be re-
| membered that II force can maintain the
peace 1t cannot convert the millions of un-
working and hadlv paid people into productive
and contented laborers. On tho contrary, the
increased taxation which the rcactionary
methods now eulogized will occasion will in
crease the misery and degradation Of the
working class.
Confning our attention for tho present to
our own District II is easy to demonstrate that
all the idle and unemployed here, who are
willing to work, might be and could be set to
labor ut good wages without adding one cent
to the public debt aud without increasing in
the slightest degree the existing burden Of
taxation, while adding greatly to the health
and comfort Of the population.
During the fiscal year ending 30th June last
the amount Of taxes on real estate and per.
sonal property, together with revenue flowing
from other sources Of taxation into the Dis.
trict treasury was 81 ,60S, ,221 As. The amount
Of internal revenue tax paid during the same
by the inhabitants Of the District was $l20,.
418.65, making an aggregate of taxes paid dur.
ing the fiscal year Of 81 III, ,83S.5O.
No accurate return has been made of the
number Of unemployed laborers In the Dis.
trict They probably amount to at least ZOO
II that number were employed during yeai
of fifty-two weeks, Of SIX working days each
the wages Of each man would be $46s in tn,
year, which, multiplied by 3,700, the supposed
number Of the unemployed, will give 81 ,731,
900, which Is more than the whole amount o
} taxes paid last year to the local government
} and to the United States, and the whole o
which, II earned, would go into the retail
stores, the markets and the pockets of land
lords. II Is evident that such an employee
force would be q great benefit to us.
There Is no doubt enough work needful b
} the District to employ this force The street
and Sidewalks fallen into decay which ough
to be renewed, the improved system of sewer
age and drainage which ought to be executed
these and other public works will give en-
0 ployment, and will be executed fairly and eco
nominally II done by the agents of the Gov
crnment rather than by contract.
To pay for the material and labor, let Con
gress authorize the issue Of legal-tender note
for the use Of District alone, receivable for al
debts and dues TO the Government here an
!, not elsewhere. OF this issue nearly eightee
, hundred thousand dollars Isl ,S0O, ,0O0) yea
$ would be absorbed by the taxes of the Distric
II and thus In n few years the whole amount {
9 the issue would be paid into the Trcasur,
: and, II cancelled as paid In, the problem lai
down in the beginning will be solved tn
laborer will have been employed and valuabl
public works created without adding one cen
to the public debt and without increasing
the slightest degree the existing burthen
Q taxation. THOMAS J. DURANT.