National Republican., 1882-12-07
WESTINGHOUSE WANTS.
They Are Not Numerous, But Some Of Them
Are Very Pressing.
We Ought to be Rid Of the Personal
Tax, Which Keeps Wealth Away.
We Need New Assessment Clearer Titles, License
and Union Depot
They, Too, Would Invite Capital and
Energy.

Energy.
In furtherance of the policy indicated in
THE REPUBLICAN last Monday, to look closely
after local interests and to gain tho express
sions of large property holders and business
men as TO the action of their rulers, and tho
recommendations they make for changes and
improvements in legislation for the District,
a reporter was yesterday dispatched to inter-
view
HON. JOHN W. THOMPSON
upon the recent report of the Commissioners
of the District. Mr.. Thompson is gentle
man of large property interests here, is presi-
dent of the National Metropolitan bank, and
in the day when the people had voice in their
rulers held positions in the board of alder
men, and was q member of the Council dur
ing tho existence of the territorial form of
government; consequently he has had large
experience in the affairs of the District;
knows the needs of its people and what would
be best for its business prosperity. In reply
to question as to what he thought of the
Commissioners report, ho said that he thought
it was a very clear document, and covered
nearly every point of interest. What rec
ommendation struck you most forcibly, Mr..
Thompson?" asked The REPUBLICAN.
ABOLITION OF THE PERSONAL TAX.
HHU TG1erTlnR 10 Uuo uDOlltlOu VI lHt
personal tax" was the reply. 81 have always
been opposed to this tax, and when l was in
the council had 1t stricken out. Then the
cry of aristocracy' was raised by some; but
l tell you IL is the most injurious tax that can
be placed upon a community. What we want
is an inducement for wealthy men to come
here, to build themselves homes, and to help
beautify the national capital. personal tax
will drive the wealthy away. Judge Swayne
said to me years ago, that if there were no
personal tax he would bring all his wealth
here and make this his home, but ifhe was to
be subject to personal tax he would not, and
other wealthy gentlemen have said the same
thing. Take an example: A wealthy gentle
man, say from Massachusetts, has retired from
business, comes here on visit,
is CHARMED BY OUR BROAD AND WELL
PAVED STREETS
and avenues and the cultured and refined So
ciety to be found here and concludes to buy
piece of property and build him a residence.
If he is to be taxed ON his personal property
he is frightened off at once, but if only his
real estate is taxed he will come and bring his
family, and all his wealth will be used to
beautify his own home and incidentally the
capital. Then suppose his son arrives at an
age when he desires to enter into business.
He says / was in the woolen business and he
looks round and sees the magnificent water
power on the Potomac and Rock Creek, and
he builds wooden factory and instals his son
in business. 1t is only bringing
NORTHERN CAPITAL AND NORTHERN ENERGY
here that we can ever become % manufactur-
ing town, and we have in this vicinity as fine
water-power privileges as there are in the
country only waiting to be utilized. What
has made Philadelphia SO prosperousG The
absence of personal tax. Let this personal
tax be abolished and the District will boom
In n vanr ,,nra than II has in tho NASH three -
NEW ASSESSMENT.
"Do you think new assessment desirable 2"
AZ certainly do. / think new assessment
should be made every five years. Improve
ments are being made so rapidly that the
value of property is constantly changing.
There should also be some provision for the
Commissioners to make proper deductions
when changes occur between the assessments.
/ know an instance where piece of property
was bought, purposcly to pull down the old
rickety, so-called improvements, which was
done, and yet the tax on the improvements is
placed in the bill, and when an inquiry is
made If deduction of the tax on improve
ments which do not exist cannot be made, the
equivocal reply is made that upon affidavit an
abatement may be made, but the rule is
against it,"
AN EQUITABLE LICENSE SYSTEM.
"Iu reference to the reform of the license
system, no you uullh ludJ buIlClenU revenue
can be obtained to tax only such business or
occupation as require the Intervention of the
police to repress turbulence or prevent crime ?"
"No. / think that an equitable license
system imposing fair tax upon all classes of
business would meet with favor. OF course l
should be very glad if the tax could be re-
duced as is indicated; but I'm not sure that
this could be done with safety to the revenues
at this time"
THE SCHOOL FUND.
"Do you believe in an apportionment of
the school fund.-"
81 think the present practice of applying
the fund wherever needed should be con-
tinued; that whatever class requires the
whether white or black, should have
it,"
"Are there any other points in the report
that particularly attracted your attention,
Mr.. Thompson"
A UNION DEPOT.
"You may put me down as being emphatl-
cally in favor of Union depot. The estab-
lshment of such depot Is imperatively
needed, and should be pressed without any
delay. On any great occasion, where large
bodies of visitors come to this city there is
the greatest difficulty in arranging to meet
them and to know at which depot they are to
arrive. We experienced that to q remarkable
degree during the last inauguration, and
that is what makes me so earnest
now in urging the Union depot l re-
peat, this is a measure that should be
advocated and a result reached at
the earliest practicable moment. And there
is another thing which think is much needed,
and that is law quieting
TITLES IN THE DISTRICT.
The necessity for this is very great, and it
should be passed at once"
Bidding Mr.. Thompson good day, the re-
porter proceeded to talk with other gentle
men intimately acquainted with the history
and wants of the District and found very
general agreement on the question of taxation