National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-04
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE DISTRICT

The Committee OF One Hundred Urging the
Rights of the District Before the senate
Committee.
The Senate Committee on the District. Of Colum.
bia accorded hearing to the Citizens Committee
OF One Hundred Saturday morning. Among those
present frcm the Citizens Committee were George
W. Riggs W. H. Clagett, Crosby $. Noyes, Josiah
Dent, Lewis J. Davis Thomas P. Morgan. B. J.
Lovejoy, W. b. Moses, William Dixon, Mrs. Briggs,
7. J. Durant, and Columbus Alexander. District
Commissioners Dcnnison, Bryan, and Phelps were
also present. Senators Dorsey, Rollins, Spencer,
and Mcrrimon, Of the District Committee, were
present. Mr. Dent stated the Taxpayer Associa;
ton had decided upon one specific object, and
that was TO ask the Federal Government to pay
ifty per cent Of the money necessary 10 administer
the government Of the District. The interview that
followed was quite long, the Senators frequently
asking questions regarding different matters
brought up. Mr. Lewis J. Davis stated in a sue
cinCt manner the various points advanced In favor
of having the United State. Government
SHARE THE EXPENSES or THE DISTRICT.
lie said that the Government owns one half Of the
property, and the streets and avenues and in addi
ton some 300 lots The District has spent over
s3D,VCUo against s6,0OOO expended by the
United States.
The taxpayers ask II because the United States Is
responsible for debt created by It's agents. The
assessment Of the District property aggregated s6
10000. The debt is s2iUO,OOO. When Congress
determines what II will pay, the citizens will then
definitely know what mortgage is on their property.
The my per cent asked for would take care Of the
debt Tie Citizens Committee asked II ia lieu Of
every other appropriation heretofore male by Con-
gress. The permanent appropriation OF my per
cent. by Congress will meet all the requirements Of
the District, including the extinguishment Of the
debt through the sinking fund. The area of dow
ernment property Is always increasing; whatever
the Government buys becomes at once exempt from
taxation, aid hence all the property bought by the
Government diminshes the resources OF the Dis
trict. He did not think that private property In
creased In value In proportion TO the Improvements
made by the Government
PROPERTY Is so DEPRECATED
in value that when sold under deeds Of trust it has
TO be bought In by the trustees to save II.
Mr.. Riggs said that, a the District was entirely
governed by Congress, If Congress became a part.
states would save good deal OF money in so much
that Its agents, who disbursed the money! would be
held to a more rigid stewardship and the expendi-
lures would be made with a view to economy.
Commissioner Bryan said that the United States
has All equality Of ownership In the District, and
hence there should be All equality of taxation. lie
mentioned the fact that In other countries govern.
melts spent millions annually for the improvement
and adOrnment Of their capitals. There Is 10 rca
son why great nation like this should settle its
burdens down on the few Impoverished taxpay.
ers who live here. The officers appointed by the
United States for the disbursement Of public nnds
had incurred the great debt which IS simply crush
ing the people. There are families In this District
today Impoverished because of the Improvements
made by the agents of the Government In his
opinion, the Government ought To pay the whole
debt, principal and interest. liSd tue Government
taken care of this debt the District COmn siOncrs
COutu nuNe ldlu every dollar Of the eNptn Is oil the
District out Of the current revenues, and had n
handsome surplus on hand besides. II every piece
of property was advertised ~ lie sold to-day. the
proceeds would not bring the appusCmcnt made
by the assessors who realized that II was necessary
10 get all thcy could ont Of the property. A per
SDnal tax Is an abOminatiou In any city, and its
operations IN this city were more prcjudiclu than
elsewhere. There are some people who
PAY THREE SETS OF TAXES.
Commissioner Bryan. said that he favored an al
rGiOFcH tax, in which rCmRrE Senator MCrrimon
disagreed with him. Commissioner Bryan did not be-
lieVe that county residents should pay for Irv
leges not enjoyed equally with thp.r In the city,
but Il Congress would pay one-haf of the District
burdens the differences between the city aud
county would be speedily and satisfactorily set
tied.
Senator Dorsey announced that the committee
proposed 20 give attention to the matter of per.
manent form Of government in the District, and
the committee had been under the impression that
the gentlemen present desired TO he heard on the
subject of a form Of government: but as they had
disclGimed any such dpsire, the subject would not
then lie discussed. This gave rise 10 an informal
discussion Of the suffrage question, MeSsrs Dent
and ClaCet expressing themselves rs opposed 10 IT,
| and MeSsrs. Duraut Alexander and Pfesbrey ia.
voriny 1t. Mr. George W. Riggs Of the Taxpayers
association, did not care now to discuss the queS-
ton Of suffrage They were business nci ard tax
payers looking for future relief Senator Dorsey
said that the citizens would he given ample Opppr.
llntieS TO be heard when the committee took up
for consideration the question Of form of govern
ment. The Citizens Committee then withdrew