Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-08
Congrcss0an Neal Upon District
Affair.",

Mr.. Redfield, the washington correspondent
OF the Cincinnati Commercial has been inter
viewing Congressman Henry S. Neal, OF Ohio.
upon national affairs, and also upon the al fairs
OF the District OF Columbia, to which Mr. Neal.
who is prominent member OF the House Dis
trict committee, has given much thoughtful
consideration. The following, from the inter
view, viii be read with interest:
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
you are on the District OF Columbia COM
mittee, believe. What OF the mode OF govern
ment provided for the District:"
We'll. II is an homogeneous mode most surely
violation OF democratic ideas An excres-
cence and a reproach upon republican irstitu-
tons. Why. think OF Il. Here are nearly two
hundred thousand people, combining, probably
more Intelligence than the same number OF peo
pie In any other City OF the country, who have
absolutely nothing to say about their own mu-
nicinal affairs; and the strange thing about it
is, the more Intelligent property holders do not
want TO have. They prefer to have men from
the Whole country, who can know but little OF
their real wants. make them laws provide their
officials. levy and collect their taxes than do IL
themselves.
Il have inquired OF them why this f. and
they state they are afraid OF the result II given
self government. That tie large mass OF the
people are ignorant, easily swayed. dependent
upon government work for their subsistence
and consequently they would put in Office the
GtmaeosueS and scoundrelS who would promise
them the most work.
special ass. ssments made. and the property
holders would be most numerically piundered
and refer to New York, Chicago and other cities
TOR illustrations. The Shepherd government Is
too fresh In their recollections TO desire repe-
iition. There is good deal OF force In these
arguments. and. for the present. apprehend
me gov eminent now provided is likely TO be as
The committee, to be OF the highest efficiency,
should be composed or persons VINO have re,
sided In cities and who have had more or less
Mt tnal alt,,
cities affairs But here Mr.. Randall Numbered
as usual. Most OF us had had no experience
and therefore had everything to learn. our
early organization, In the spring OF 1879. was
much TO our advantage, and has enabled US TO
act With much more Intelligence than if we
had only been appointed at the commence
ment OF the regular session. One difficulty We
labored under was that none OF the old citizens
ever gave US any dislnterested advice. Nearly
every person who has come before us has had
some ak to grind He had some favor to ask or
some grievance to redress. All are anxious TO es-
cape the burdens OF taxation. None want to pay
taxes. which Is feeling In common, believe
with every one and so l don't quarrel With
them. The taxation OF moneys and credits is
particularly obnoxious. This principle is now
Incorporated In the tax law for the District,
but the machinery provided for assessing and
collecting the tax is so crude and 50 lily adapt
ed to accomplish the object intended that most
OF this species Of property escapes the hands OF
the tax gatherer. The SUBJ committee of which
1850" I ono In nnd,fving the lava or
the District, have carefully con sldered this
subject, and have provided, as they believe
adequate protection against this delinquency
Tbs codlfylng was very necessary work to Dc
done, and While not perfect by any means. WILL
should 1t become law, prove very valuable to
the District, for 1t will bring into one volume
all the laws which are now In force and which
were enacted by the various bodies which have
from time to time controlled the District from
the removal OF the seat OF government here to
the present time. II is now In the hands OF the
Senate committee, and have strong hopes Will
be speedily passed by that BODY
What system OF taxation do these people
PROPOSE"
as to encourage rich people TO come here and
live. Then they claim the law can't be enforced
substantially, that ntey oCW not obey IL. In
lieu OF these taxes, they wish to substitute
what they call a license tax. They would I'M
pose license fees upon the porter who carries
your trunk to the depot; the vender or Old rags
Old barrels; the biil-poster, the merchant law
yer. doc.or-in short, upon all trates and
alton viii be placed upon real estate,
and upon employmentS which are leyit.
innate and honorable in their character
man who lives upon the industry of others
would escape In great part II has always
peen my ooctrlne that property should be
taxed, not individuals. trade or professions:
and therefore that no license fees should he i'm
posed except upon such employmentsa as require
the surveillance OF the police; as saloons and
other places where liquors are solo, Jheaters,
shows public hacks and the like. don't know
how this tax matter will finally eventuate. L
have no pride OF opinion about it, and shall
willingly Yield II any plan is proposed equally
just, and which will False the necessary reve-
uue."
FUTURE OF WASHINGTON.
What are our views in regard TO the future
of " aShingtoL?"
81 am decidedly OF opinion it should be m ade
the most beautiful city upon the American con-
tinent, and IT can be If Congress displays that
Aberaltty which think 1t ought THIS Is the
city OF the nation, Of fifty millions OF people
or the earth. Every one who now comes to
Washington is delighted with It's puollc
grounds, Its broad avenues and streets, its good
pavements, DC. Our people are not nlggdrdly
nor UNIV lSeiy economical; and, while they don't
care to see their money spent fooliSnly, They
are willing to see the national capital emoel-
cid you ever hear any one complain OF
the expenditure Of the millions that the
state department Is costing? Nor Will
sary sum to MI the flats build new library,
erect City post Office, extend the streets and
avenues and embellish the public grounds.
The people resident here ought TO be mo1er-
ately taxed, nothing more, while the greater
portion Of the money necessary TO make these
much needed Improvements should be appro-
pr1ated from the federal treasury. No, SIR; we
must be liberal In dealing with this City. Make
1t magnificent city-One OF which every
American may justly feel proud, aud which
should be the admiration OF Europeans who
may visit America, as we'll as our own citizens
who Will then come here whenever they wish
TO leave home for recreation or pleasure AS
loGG as am In Congress- Westinghouse shall
have no occasion to charge me with a want OF
enlightened nberality. however much they
may dislike my views la regard to taxation"
"What are the obstacles which prevent neceS-
saIy legislation for the District"
''The greatest Is the Indifference OF Congress
men. Most OF them know that nothing they
may do for the District will give them any rep
about such measures as their immediate con-
st1tuentS are concerned in. Consequently the
District is neglected, When we had day each
month set apart TO us for the consideration OF
District business no matter how much we might
have TO do, always about O'Clock some one
would move an adjournment and IL would be
carried. in spite Of the protests and entreaties
the rules, so that the District committee
fare as other committees, we have not
had day. or even an hour, allotted 10 us TOr
the consideration of District business.
True, we did succeed In securing evening
meetings for the consideration Of the code,
and were fortunate enough TO pass It. but
for general business we have had no recogdi-
ing that the old rule should be restored, but
the committee on rules, with Speaker Randall
as its chairman, does not regard IL OF sufficient
importance even TO consider It So Ii hardly
seems worth while for the committee to waste
its time In holding meetings There are now
over eight hundred thousand dollars OF tax Ger
tiflcates out, bearing eight per cent interest,
cent, but doubt whether we will be able to get
the bill before Congress for consideration. An
other very important work to be done is enact
ing code OF civil procedure / doubt whether