Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-07
FORTY.EIFTH CONGRESS.
TUESDAY, Nav 7.

cltlZenS OF Illinois in favor OF penSioning sur
viv4Is ,,.or OF the Mexican war. Referred to COM
Mr.. Harris presented resolutions of the
Merchants Exchange, of Nashville, praying
tion. Referred to committee on finance.
MI. HOar presented a memorial asking ma
tlonal recognition of the services of General
James iili. Shields Referred to committee on
Mr. Dorsey, from the committee on appro-
priations, reported the post office apprOpria-
calendar.
On motion of Mr.. Morrill,, the select com
m!ttee on the census was authorized to act
Jointly with the census committee OF the
Mr.. Thurman introduced bill to amend
the law in relation to the filing of the report
O. the commissioners of the Pacific railroad.
Mr: Howe, from the committee on foreign
relations, reported a bill to regulate tele-
graphic communication between the United
States and foreign countries. Also a joint
resolution relating to Chinese immigration.
Placed on the calendar.
Mr.; Edmunds introduced bill to amend the
act of April g. 1878, amendatory of the act to
provide for the support of the government of
the District of Columbia for the year ending
June SO, 1878. Referred to District committee.
MIR. voorhees, presented a petition asking
that six hours be made a days work. Referred
to committee on education and labor
m9ved m to take for
retirement of United States notes, which was
read yesterday for the first time.
The motion was agreed tO-yeas SO, nays 25.
1he second reading was then Ordered-yeaS
80; nays q, as follows:
c6ke n5Hfs Bansy Besk B9e G9ckr
Enstis, Ferry, Garland Gordon II Harris IS Heretor1i.
Hill. Howe, Ingalls,. Johnston, Jones lFla.), Kirk
rimon. Morgan, uelesby, Plumb. Ransom. saun-
ders, Thurman, VOORHEES,, Wallace and With
NAYs-M -Messrs. Allison. Anthony, Bayard. Burr
side, side Cameron tWts.1, ConklinG: ; Dawes. Eaton,
Sargent, salisbury, Wadeigh, Whyte and Wind
Pending further action the morning hour
expired; the regular order was demanded,
and the bill went over.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the pension bill. the question being on the
substitute for the second section of the bill
vacating pension agencies on the 1st January
charged, wounded. or disabled Union sol
diers.
Mr. Conkling opposed the amendment.
HOUSE.-Mr. Marsh, from committee on
military affairs, reported back Joint resolu-
tiOn granting the use of tents to the soldiers
reunion to be held at Des Moines, Iowa.
Passed
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT BILL.
The regular order was demanded, and the
House resumed consideration Of the bill to eS-
tabllsh permanent form of government for
the District of Columbia.
The pending question was upon the adop-
tiOn of the amendment fixing the rate of taxa
tiOn at 81 50, instead OF at ST. 15 as recommend
ed in the bill.
MIR. Hendee said that the proposition to
make the taxation $l75 was mistake. 1t was
not the wish of the whole committee. The
rate of $l.l0 was too HIGH and if we fixed upon
this amount we would be obliged to increase
the rate on the agricultural lands.
Mr.. Buckner inquired how much would be
| realized at $l.75.
Mr.. Hendee had not figured it down, but at
| $l.50 the amount realized would be about
| $l.5OO,G0. And after the government pays its
5O per cent. proportion there will be three
millions O1 dollars to pay the expenses OF the
! District.
Mr. Lapham said that the higher the rate of
| taxation fixed the more the government would
| be compelled to pay under this bill. 1t was
| therefore, to the interest of the Congress to
| keep rate down.
| The amendment was adopted and the rate
| of tax is at 81 80.
! MI. Reagan moved to amend by providing
that the proportion which the federal govern
ment shall pay shall be 25 per cent, and that
the District Shall pay the other Is per cent
Mr.. Reagan argued that the proposed assess
ment OF 30 per cent on the United States was
parks and public grounds in repair and i'm
proves its property, and should not therefore,
he called upon to pay 50 per cent If such a
whole country, gentlemen would lind them en-
selves impelled to act differently. Suppose a
man should come to one of us and say, "You
pay half Of my taxes Of nc Course Mat sSeb se5 20
| proposition would seem most ridiculous and
preposterous. But you are doing that identi-
you are taxing them to p pay half Of the es
| penses of the District. You would not do
this with your own money, but you are very
general government improves its own prop
| erty it is all it should be called upon to do
Mr.. Hunton was surprised that the gentle
man should take the ground that the govern
| Shnnld than
This subject had been before the Congress
| since 1885 at least, and all had agreed in each
h 6e 80 per was the
| gentleman as sort of apology for his amend
ment says that the general government i'm
proves proves its properly and should do no more.
also improve their property: Each improve
ment enhances the value of the property and
the citizen pays taxes on it. The gentleman
taxes: The government has fee Simple p title tie
to all the streets and avenues; and these
| streets were laid out on magnificent scale to
| mOdate commercial Or manufacturing city.
| Mr.. Reagan said the streets were Tor the
general public, and the gentleman was too
good lawyer to say that there was fee sim
PIE title in Streets as in other property.
| Mr.. Hunton said he was too good a LAWYER
10 assall the Supreme court which had de-
flded ti.1e l. mat n the government had fee simple
Mr; Butler argued that the government
should bear liberal portion of the expense
| He wanted to state matter of history abOut
| these wide streets and avenues. They were
| made SO wide for purpose. This spot was
! selected for the Capitol, and the city was laid
| out and planned out at time when the mob
was bafricading the narrow streets of Paris
| George Washington, with view of guarding
| against possibility of such state OF affairs
here in the future, made the avenues wide
| had them radiate SO that it would be impOssi
Bile for mob to barricade them. These great
| streets are proper precautionary measure
| The time might come when misguided men
| might come to this capital, and then the adj
| vantage of these streets would be apparent
| 1t Is the clear right and duty OF the govern
| ment to bear large proportion of the expense
OF the District, and not put it all upon the peO
| pie here. po''
Mr.. Lapham argued that it was niggardy
| parslmony to propose to pay only qu after OF
| the expense of the District.
| Mr. Cox (OhiO) said the cost of the improve
| ment OF the streets of Washington were repre-
| sented in 365 bonds to the amount of thirteen
! millions of dollars. If Congress should assume
| the interest of the debt it would have to nav
annually $550,OC0 Eight years ago the people
| OF this District came to Congress and asked
| permission to reduce the width of the
streets, That permission was granted,
| and they made them as narrow as
| they wanted them. The government
| gave them large portions of the streets
| 1t threw plats of ground into their very door
| ways: and now you propose to paw again
| million and a half annually, and when il IS nrO
/ posed to reduce the amount we are told we
are niggardly. In his opinion. the government