National Republican., 1877-02-03
THE TBIRTy-CENT TAX.

Citizens Protesting Against II Before tho
Senate Committee-Rccomm mmendations on
the Question Of Taxation from the District
Commissioners.
The committee appointed by the citizens
meeting OF the Board Of Trade rooms on Thure-
day night, waited upon the Senate District Com-
mittee yesterday morning TO urge their objections
against the bill passed BY tho House providing
for IN additional educational tax Of thirty cents
on every hundred dollars: Seven members Of the
..clcgation were admitted to the committee room.
Mr.. VIM II. Ciagett hrst spoke, and reminded
the committee OF the bardships OF taxation the
sSRe sS Witch n had % nSd suoS S effect that % Citizens
were now willing to dispose OF their property at
Without he other provisions would be- be acecptabie
to the citizens. The Objectionable clause In the
personal tax was that which states that from the
assessed value OF the credits only shall there be
deducted bona ydds debts, which was unjust, as It
made man pay more on what he owes than on
Mr. E. q. Davis suggested the following
amendment to the bill; THAT from the assessed
eps e The Of S
and bona tde debt or debts which any such per-
son shall Individually or absolutely owe
the part OF the General Government and $780,.
GOO on the part Of the District was Just appor-
NEW M, William ii % q. Getssrott @ said % that insurance
companies were doubly assessed, being compelled
pay PoTsonsl tax aS,S and also License h Ss while
n license tax.
RECONSIDERATION FROM THE DISTRICT CON-
MIssIoNERs.
Commissioner Phelps, on the part Of the Dis
trct Commissioners, presented their views on the
tax bill, having been requested to do so by the
Senate Committee. Commissioner Phelps read
paper which was quite long. II said that the
Commissoners failed 70 perceive the Justice q
on every tioo Of property in the county used
solely for agricultural purposes, while sl.6o was
,, levied on other property.
United States had never contributed towards the
support Of the public schools OF the District,
while thirty four per cent. OF tho pupils were
States, who paid no tax in the District and this
| large proportion Of tho school population
would contribute nothing under the proposed
special school tax; s7o23i,0oo Of the sloe2si,o
was nontSsabe @ sseae7o 80 being the % property % Of
the United States, and 500, 900 being exempted
BY act Of Congress. Appropriations In aid of the
amount Of property owned by the General Gov.
| cTnmeDt, would remove the necessity for resort
to special taxation. The one and half per cent.
| OF the present unusually high rate Of assessed
| in the District can reasonably bear. While thfs
is true, the amount derived from such tax will
| not meet the actual requirements Of tho most
economical administration Of the government.
They recommended an annual appropriation
| by Congress Of forty per cent. OF the amount ex-
| pended for school purposes The sum OF e4oo, 900
children applying for sdmlttanoe to the schools,
and q still larger sum would be necessary to &C
| commodate all who should bo required to attend
| the schools.
| In closing the communication the Commission
| ers recommend that authority be given them to
anticipate the taxes to the amount Of $500 900, in
order to provide for the s43 900 OF interest the
| bonded debt falling due July and to pay the
| current expenses OF the government.
The committee ordered that the rcoommenda-
tons made by tho Commissioners be printed.