Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-02
THE COMMITTEE OF ONE Hun
DRED BEFORE THE SENATE
DISTRICT COMMITTEE.

were accorded hearing today by the Senate
committee on the District of Columbia
Among those present were George w. Riggs,
Josiah Dent w. III. Clagett, B. j. Lovejoy,
VIM. Dixon, Lewis j. Davis, Thos. P. Morgan.
| Crosby s. Noyes, w. B. Moses, Mrs Briggs
| tOlivia), Columbus Alexander. Commission
ers DennisOn Bryan and Phelps, were also
| present.
There We're present of the committee Senator'S
Dorsey (chalrman) and Senators Rollins,
| Spencer and MerrimOn.
MIR: Dent, on behalf of the committee of One
Hundred, stated that when the Taxpayers as
| sOciatiOn was formed it was decided to limit
its object to one specific purpose, and that
| was to ask payment by the federal govern
ment OF 30 per cent. of the money necessary
to administer the government of the District.
Senator's Merrimon and Dorsey. asked the
| grounds Op which the request was based.
MI. Davis replied that the main reason was
| that the government owns One-half of the pro-
9ff nd the thra and and in ad
has spent over thirty million against the ex-
Rsnditure of six million by the United States.
States is responsible for debt created by its
agents. Mr. Davis proceeded to explain the
| amount and proportions of this debt.
the ha saa he tna he was f r1der
| payers wanted to be heard on the question OF
| form OF government.
claimed that TO be the object OF the assOcia-
ton. Their efforts, they said, were solely to
endeaVOr to have the United States bear its
equitable share of the expenses OF the District
Mr.. Davis, continuing, said as a reason why
the United States should pay One-half of the eX-
panses OF the District, that the assessment OF
,sffs debf IS PEHRet haS h ye
| fixed no proportion of what it should pay in
maintaining the District, and the result is that
the ninety six millions of property is apparently
| mOrtgaged to the enormous extent OF 81 900 0W
| When Congress determines what it will pay,
| the citizens will then definitely know what
| mortgage is on their property.
Senator MerrimOn. Does the taxpayers as
soeiati9n represent only the city of Washing
Judge Dent. The city and county too.
| Mr.. Spencer asked if the committee wanted
| the United States to pay half the debt of the
District as well rs half the expenses of the
| District?
Mr.. Davis said that the fifty per cent. given
| by the United States would take care of the
| debt: that the citizens committee asked it in
lieu OF every other appropriation heretofore
| Senator Dorsey.-What is the proportonate
value OF property owned by the United States:
Mr.. DaViS-AbOut forty per cent.
Senator DOrSey-That ought to produce
about one and half million dollars.
Mr. Dayls.-lt Will; and the permanent
APPROXIMATION of fifty per cent: by Congress
| Will meet all the requirements of the District,
| including the debt, its extinguiShment through
| the sinking fund, the support of the public
| schools, police, fire department, charities,
| Mr.. Davis said that the area of government
| property is always increasing; whatever the
government buys becomes at once exempt
| from taxation. 1t pays no tax, hence all the
| property bought by the government dminishes
the resources of the District because it reduces
| its taxable revenues.
IN answer to question whether priva e
| property had not increased in value in proper
| ton to the improvements made by the govern.
ment, Mr.. Davis said he Thought not. For
| one million on the building of the State War
and Navy Departments. He did not think the
| people here will spend one half million on
Improvements. Property is SO deprecated in
value that when sold under deeds of trust it
has to be bought in by the trustees to save it.
Senator Merrim"n-Why should the pay
ment OF nifty Per cent. by the United States be
made permanent?
Mr. Davis You should make it permanent
Tor many good reasons; The United States
| expenses of the public school system. Sky
per cent. of the children in the public schools
OF the District are the children of employees OF
| must recognize its liability 10 pay some Of the
expenses forthe support of the Metropoltal
police we have your squares to guard. You
also created the Me rOp Iiitan police for e. IL
| you will pay 30 per cent. or sl5oOoO0 annually
tohclp support the District, it will be in lieu 0f
every expenditure heretofore made by Con-
| greSS for the District.
Mr.. Riggs said that as the District was en-.
| tlrely governed by Congress that if Congress
| became 4 partner with the district in the ex-
penditureSs the United States would save
! good deal of money, inSOmuch that its agents.
who disbursed the money, would be held to a
more rigid stewardship. and the expenditures
| would be made with view to economy.
| Commissioner Bryan, i'm answer to a question,
said that the United States has an equality of
ownership in the District, and hence there
should be an equaliyOf taxation. He thought
one half of the current expenses of the Dis
trict should be borne by the United States.
This IS the capital OF agreat nation. No cap
| ltal OF any other nation presents such an
anomalous position. You take the European
capitals, Paris, Berlin, st. Petersburg Why,
their respective governments spend millions
annually for their Improvement and adorn-
ment. There is no reason whya great nation
like this should settle its burdens down upon
the few Impoverished taxpayers who live
| cent s worth OF property here, its pride ought
not to le! the people of the District suffer
Now, in respect TO the support Of the public
| present time the amount of money paid by
| the United States for the support of the schools
here here dc, does not equal the school expendie
the children OF n0n-reSidents.
Commissioner DenniSOn.-The amount of
money contributions by the United States for
gregate only S254, 900
| Commissioner Bryan.-Now, look at the eX-
isting debt OF twenty four millions which is
same debt, in proportion to the population.
was was upon the people OF Paris or Berlin;
Mhy y 1t WGd be an ord G6ef5 Of unve
pointed by the United States for the disburse-
! ment Of public funds have incurred this debt,
| which is simply crushing the people.
| Senator ROliinS.-WhO was the representa-
| tive manwhO incurred this debt?
Commissioner Bryan.-Oh, there is no use of
| using names. 1t was the board of public works
| They did much that was good, but the fact re-
mains that this city is buried under crushing
| debt, for the incurring Of which the people had
| no voice. The peoples voice was impOtent
! to cont,ol the action OF the agents of the Unit
ted States. Now. suppose these agents and r
do not mean 10 impugn the honesty of any of
liens of dollars, would You have expected the
| people to have paid the debt thus created
| when they were pOwerless to prevent your
| agents from incurring it? There are families
| in this District to-day impoverished because of
| the improvements made by the agents of the
government. Really in my opinion the gov
| ernment ought to pay the whole debt, princi-
| pal and interest. If the District Commission
| ers (and ] can say this without vanity, for [
| have not long been one of them,) had entered
| upon their duties with clean Sheet-that is
| had the government taken care of the debt
contracted by its former agents, they could
| have paid every dollar of the expenses of the
| District out of the current revenues and had
| handsome surplus on hand besides The
| people OF the District of Columbia are the
| worst tax ridden people in the world. If
| every piece of property was advertised to be
| ali fn RI 10