Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-11
The Proposed Equalization OF Tax.
RIi0m.

and collection Of taxes was presented to the
District Of Columbia committee to-day. The
fundamental feature of the bill is mo di1catiOn
OF the personal tax, and the general scope OF 1t
Is to provide tax system on both real and per-
sO1al property in lieu of all laws respecting tax
alton now in force. All applications for license
are to be madeto the proper officer who shall
give certificate OF deposit to the party apply
| ing, who. upon delivery OF the same to the
proper officer, shall receive his license. Where
person follows more than one calling he shall
| obtain an additional license. No license Is to
| be required of persons bringing wood, lumber,
&C., to De sold by the car, cargo, or wagon-load.
| No soap factories or Slaughter-houses are to be
| licensed within the limits of Washington and
| Georgetown. Licenses are to be issued on April
| 1st of each year and expire March Slst follow
| ing. Licenses for carts, wagons and drays, and
| for hacks, carriages, carts, OmnibuSses, &C.,
shall date from July list OF each year and expire
| June 30th following. All other annual licenses
are to date from the list of october of each year.
| The following is the schedule Of the licenses
| imposed: Merchandise dealers, SO, and five
dollars on each $1,000 capital invested;
half per cent. on each s16O above $500; wharf
improvements one and one-half per cent. on its
assessed value; auctioneers. $50 annually;
gross receipts; real estate agents who are not
aUct1oneers, s25 annually; brokers. $50: cattle
brokers. $50; commission merchants, $50: COM
mercfal agents. 5000; building corporations. $50;
book agents. $l2 Reinsurance companies, 81 600;
incorporated life insurance companies, 5000; in
surance agents. $50, and one per cent. on gross
street railways one dollar and half on each
one hundred dollars of the market value of the
stock; telegraph companies, $3.50; and one
pan 1l $780, and ten dollars on each instru-
ment; bank note companies, 800, and one dol
lar on each 300 market value of stock; ammo
MIA and pOudrette works, 500; gas companies,
so cents on each 81 900 of the par value of the
capital stock. and $3.50 on each 500 assessed
value of capital stock ice dealers, S. annually on
each $1,000 capital invested, and SIC on each
wagon; banks and bankers 5000, and. in addition,
semi-annual tax of onetwentieth Of one per
cent. on the average amount OF deposits held
companies known as provident institutions,
savings banks, &C., 500 annually; corporations,
$3.50 on each 500 assessed; hotel keepers, $25,
and one dollar for each room over twenty; res
annually; billiard and other tables, $40 per table
annually; bowling alleys, $40; shooting galleries,
use Eos aa per day
theaters, $500; skating rinks s2Oe; natatortums,
500 annually; concerts, S. per day or s15 per
week Feligious and educational excepted);
brewerS-these pay pro rata $50 to 5000 annually;
dealers in beer, liquors, &C.. $40 for each 900 of
capital invested; distillers, $50 annually recti-
9rs in old barrels, $40 annually; peddlers $50 an
nually (when capital does not exceed $40, only
permit is required from the Commissioners;
coal and wood peddlers, 500 for each cart;
S25; BARRIERS, to chairs, $40; 50 for each extra
chair; &C. eost9 a1oe s25 private carriages
lOIst, z, SlV, DuSgltS, TURKISH ana OUQer
baths, s25; carts shall pay pro rata 81 to s. an
nually; hacks kept for hire, $40; 1-horse cabs,
Sc; omnibuses, $40; vehicles which carry 10 pas
sehgefs OF t more at at one time So livery stables
| over 10, which is to exempt the keepers from
! procuring an additional license for running
hacks, &C; architects and civil engineers, S25;
lawyers, physicians and dentists, S25 annually
| physicians and lawyers not to be taxed until
they have been in practice five years; under
takers, $50; dogs, male, g; female, ST. steam
| value; contractors, S25; patent agents, S25;
claim agents, s25; photographers, $50; veterin-
airy surgeons, cuppeIs and chiropodists, s25;
| bakers, laundrieS. locksmithS and bell-hangers,
bleachers, and boats for hire so; dyers, scour-
ers, machinists, and sand and gravel dealers.
$50; type founders, florists awning makers, bill
stone manufactures, wharf1ngerS. mercantile
reporters, mineral water manufacturers,
dancing academies, planning mills, marbley yards,
galvanized cornice factories, $50; brickmakers
(un1ncorporated), concrete and asphalt works.
500; auctionee1s are required to give bonds in
the sum OF $4,000; The penalty prescribed for
S. or more than fine OF $50 for each offence. A
penalty Of not less than 500 is provided for
each offence for allowing others to trade under
one license: The bill provides that all existing
police regulations are to remain in force unless
repealed, for the collection of fines and the
enforcement OF penalties are to be recovered in
the Police Court on Information under oath.
The penalty for false swearing is to be the same
as for perjury. All licenses are to be displayed
in conspicuous place. The District Commits
sioners are required to keep list Of all persons
obtaining licenses for vehicles of all kinds. All
Licensed vehicles are to have exhibit numbers
placed upon them. All regulations for the
charges OF hackmen are to be fixed by the Com
miSSionerS.
INTERVIEW WITH THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
AS before stated this bill was presented to the
District committee this morning, on behalf of
he eefns r N There vas present at
ker, VIM. If. .Mattingly, E. G. Davis E. c. In
gersoll, W. H. Claggett, Thos A. Fish, John T.
Davis, John F. COOK COOK Louis schade. Columbus
Alexander and others. Commissioners Dent
and Morgan were also present.
MI John I. Given, as chairman Of the SUBJ
committee of citizens, formally presented the
bill. 1t was not read, owing to its length. He
explained that its provisions contemplated
license system, modifying the existing system of
personal taxation. The bill retained to some ex-
tent the features OF personal tax. He said that
the Dill would raise more revenue, approximate
more than any other system which could be de-
vised. Under the proposed bill he thought the
District would derive revenue exceeding over
three hundred thousand dollars more than was
raised last year under the personal tax law
That the bill embraced some OF the features of
bill once introduced in the House by Gov. Olaf
lin, of Massachusetts,, who had given the SUBJ
ject much thought and study. To adopt the bill
presented he thought would relieve the people
OF the distasteful and inquisatorial features of
the personal tax law, and would meet the ap-
proval OF ninety per cent. OF the people of the
district.
Chairman Hunton asked if the bill taxed
bonds.
Mr.. Given.-No but it taxes banks on their
capital stock and deposits.
Mr.. Schade said the contents of the bill We're
unknown to large majority Of the citizens
and, while he might oppose it, he would prefer
first that it be printed and be opened for dis
cu1s1on at future meeting.
Chairman HuntOn said that there had already
been those opportunities given to the people OF
the District to present their views on the SUBJ
ject Of taxation. The bill presented met the
views OF one class of citizens and If MIR. Schade
had any views to present he could do so.
MI. Neal, of the committee inquired whether
the bill taxed what is known as Invisible prop
eity.
Mr.. Mattingly said it did not; that it taxed
only visible property; that the people of this
District as the committee well knew had no
voice in the form of their own government
through popular suffrage; nor did he think they
desired it. They were required to raise certain
amount Of revenue, and he claimed that so long
as they raised it, they should be allowed to
raise 1t in the manner which best suited all
classes. The people Of this District have never
been accustomed to tax on invisible property,
and the operations OF the law have been a COM
plete failure.
Mr.. Neal.-Why a failure?
Mr.. Maitingly.-The disposition of the people
has been not to pay 1t, and its payment has only
been partial. The present law offers only q
premium on perjury. The Bill we offer imposes
license on all branches Of business and afl COZ
/ How