Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-18
THE DISTRICT In CONGRESS NEXT
SESSION.

SESSION.
What Chairman Neal Says-various
Important Measures Proposed.
AS heretofore stated in THE STAR, Hon. n S.
Neal, chairman of the House committee ON the
District Of Columbia, Is In the city for the pur.
pose Of preparing District legislation In advance
OF the meeting OF Congress. The District COM
mittee, by virtue Of resolution adopted at the
last session. will have the floor OIL the I'd and 9TH
Mondays during the existence OF the 9th Con.
gress
Meeting Mr.. Neal to-day a representative OF THE
STAR asked him what. In his Judgment, would be
the features OF District legislation at the coming
session.
To this Mr.. Neal said: s'The more important
matters which will probably engage the attention
OF the committee will be those which concern
THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF TAXES
shall endeavor to secure the passage of those
bills upon these subjects: First the revaIuation
or real estate The present valuation is unjust in
that in some sections OF the city property is great
ly deprecated in value since it was made, while
In others property has largely appreciated IN
value. am Informed that In some localities that
property Is appraised for assessment purposes at
real estate which is assessed at rs and so cents
Ioot, Is now selling from 50 to So foot or course
THIS IS grossly unjust to property holders and tax
at an early day. In conversation with Commits
sloner west he expressed himself as very conf
the collection OF license taxes upon such occupa.
tions as require The surveillance OF the police all
Inc monies necessary for the government of the
District can be raised
WITHOUT TAXING PERSONAL PROPERTY.
which is, understand, q system adopted In the
state OF Pennsylvania, and is regarded with favor
by the statesmen OF that commonwealth, OF
course, the question as to what pr operty shall be
taxed Is one OF policy and not OF principle and the
wise legislator is he who, regarding the condition
OF the whole people and their probable future
VIII levy taxes upon such property will be least
DurdenS0me to the people and at the same time
Will tend most to the futue prosperity of the COM
munity at large. In Ohio, owing to unfortunate
personal, and mixed, tangible or Intangible. must
De assessed for taxation at Its full value in money
Consequently
CAPITAL IS DRAWN OUT OF THB STATE
and the prosecution Of manufacturing ENTERPRISES
rs discouraged. great many Ohio statesmen,
recognizing this evll5would be glad to see radical
changes made In our tax system, which cannot be
done except by amendment to the state constitu-
| tioD-very difficult, II not impossible, to obtain
In Washington all powers in regard to the assess
ment and collection OF taxes is vested in Congress,
anu as congress has determined that one-half Of
the money. appropriated for the uses OF the dis
trlct shall be paid by the people thereof 1t is en-
tirely proper that their wishes.
SdOuLD BIZ CONSULTED AND RESPECTED
as to the mode and manner In which their portion
of the money appropriated shall be collected Of
them. After careful ascertainment OF the views
OF the largest property holders and most enter
prising citizens OF the District, to which have
devoted the three years Of my membership on the
District committee. am satisfied that the prevail
ent opinion is that the best interests of the Dis
trct present and prospective. require that so far
as possible all personal property particularly that
which is known as Intangible, shall be exempt
growth and prosperity OF the District, depends
largely upon Its becoming winter residence of
prominent public men and the retired business
men. 1t Is. therefore, necessary to encourage
them in this direction, by so shaping laws In re-
gard to taxation that thsy will not be burdensome
upon this class OF people,
you spoke OF three bills, Mr. Neal how as to the
Others"
Mr.. Neal.-'The second bill is for
THE COLLECTION OF TAXES.
The present laws are 80 crude and imperfect that
1t Is estimated at least twenty per cent annually
OF the taxes assessed are not collected This may
be owing In part to the negligence OF the officers
charged with the collection of the same cannot
tell; but whether so or not, the laws should pro-
Vide ample machinery for the collection OF the
taxes, and should also hold the proper
offcers strictly accountable for any negligence
AS the laws now are no encouragement is held out
to any individual to purchase real estate at deln-
quent tax sales, as the only result will be- If he un-
dertakes to enforce the title he acquires law suit
to his lawyers fees, the costs to pay The District
committee had this matter under consideration
to secure the passage OF a law which has been
reported TO the House and is now upon its
calendar, which, In their opinion, will remedy
the substantial defects Of the present law, and
hold the collector OF taxes to strlcter RESPONSE
bll1ty than he has ever yet been subjected to.
We hope that If this bin should become a law,
instead Of there being 20 per cent delinQuincies
annually, they will be reduced to mere nominal
figure.
of Is one for
THE REGULATION OF LICENSES
in the District. The committee propose to remove
all licenses upon trades, occupations and profess
slons, useful in their character and to impose H.
censes only upon such as require to a greater or
lesser extent the surveillance OF the police. 1t Is
not my purpose individually to take any steps
looking to any change of the present laws in re-
out OF Difference to the Views of Commits
sioner West He is decidedly Of opinion that
ability Of the District to raise the necessary ar
amount OF money to pay their moiety OF the APP
preparations without the taxation of personal
fore desires that no legislation shall be attempted
IN this direction until experience determines
whether his views are correct or not. Ipresume
there viii be other. matters of more or less
interest to the people generally. which will be
presented for the consideration Of the committee,
but do not now think OF any OF special import
ance Future committees ought to deal with the
procedure, civil and criminal, OF the courts OF the
District. ! am informed that there ls great delay
in the trial OF persons charged with crime, and
that many are compelled to lie in jail for months
government does not provide courts sufficIent to
give them what the constitution guarantees speedy
and impartial trials My information upon the
as should like, nor as mean it shall be before
Congress convenes. One thing, however, am
informed by the Commissioners that great many
cases brought before the police judge for the vio-
lation of what might be called the NUM-
ciDal laws ha for thar