National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-16
Coneress and the District OF Columbia.

philN-' fAllnitHA
NArIoNAL TnEATRE-Lawrcnce Barrett" Julius
Caesar"
-------- --------
Congress aud the District OF Columbia.
The District of Columbia, the Nations
Capital, contains 10000 population.
Congress the United States exercises
erclusire legislative authority over the af-
fairs of this large community of American
taxpayers.
The citizens of Washington pay the
same proportion Of general revenue tax
and import duties in support of the Gov
ernment of the United States as do II like
number of persons throughout the Re-
public.
In addition to such general revenue as
other citizens contribute in support of the
United States Government, Congress re-
qlires the property of the District
of Columbia to pay n direct tax for the
improvement Of the Nations seat of Gov
ernment-which District was upon the
adoption of the Constitution set Ppart
for the use and benefits of the people of
the entire Republic.
Such direct tax upon this community
approximates at present 100000 per
annum.
No other portion of the American peo-
pie pay~a direct tax in support of the
United States Government, or of any De-
partment or bureau thereof
The aggregate amount of direct taxes
collected from the property of the people
nj tl,ic niytr ~ nj l,n
of the National seat of Government ag-
gregates fully $50,0O0,OOO, while the great
General Government in the same time
has expended but $300O00OO for the
same purpose.
The Constitution provides that Con-
grcss shall have power to collect taxes to
be used for the general welfare of the
United States, but no direct tax shall be
laid, unless in proportion to the popula-
ton, and such tax shall be untorm
throughout the entire Nation.
The United States has granted to the
several States and Territories seventy
million acres of public lands for the sup
port of common schools, but not one
acre to the District of Columbia.
1t is estimated by the Superintendent
of the Public Schools in this District that
more than one-half of the twenty odd
thousand children in attendance belong
to families in the employment of the
General Government-citizens of the sew
eral States-and who pay no taxes here.
Congress in its generous bounty has
donated upward of two hundred and
fifty million acres of public land to sew
eral States and corporations in aid of
the construction of railroads throughout
the West, yet not an acre of the public
domain has ever been donated for the
improvement or benefit of the District,
set apart as the seat of the Government
of the United States!
1t is safe TO assume that within the
past thirty years $l0O,0O0,O0O has been
appropriated for river and harbor inn
provements throughout the country, and
in that time less than S200,0O0was appro-
priated for the improvement of the great
river and channel at the very doors of
the Capital.
Now the subject is being agitated of
recaiming the vast notwithstanding
marshes which border the river front of
the Capital City of the Republic and in
that connection it is proposed to charge a
direct tax on the property of the citizens
OF Washington for one-half the cost of
this national public work!
AS well may it be contended that Con-
gress has the power, under the exercise
of its exclusive legislation, to impose a
heavier duty upon foreign goods imported
into the District than is imposed upon
the people Of New York or any other
State Us to contend that it has the power
to lay captation or other direct tax
upon them without, at the same time
imposing similar tax upon the States.
The States of Delaware, Oregon, and
Nevada, respectively, have less popula.
ton than the District of Columbia, ye
each is represented by two Senators ant
a Representative in Congress, whicl
exercises exclusive legislation over thC
affairs Of this community.
Utah, Dakota, and Washington Ter
ritories, each with less population thai
NAii7 hA''i iNNI ii'NN NlNlNEbNNp III NDllBlNs
to represent them and aid in shaping thC
legislation aileeting the interests of thei
several communities Of people, while tn,
combined population of the Territories o
Arizona, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming
with their four delegates in Congress
does not numherwithin nearly 10000 thu
population Of the unrepresented Distric
of Columbia.
We submit the above statements fo
the consideration ofSenators and Repre-
sentatiyes in Congress exercising absolut,
control over the general and municipa
affairs Of the intelligent, loyal, unrepre
sented tax-paying citizen Of Washington
for their consideration, with the hope tina
in the approaching legislation TO be en-
acted for this District liberal, patriotic
comprehensive and just policy will gov
ern their counsels and shape their con
illusions. And for this we will eve
pray, &c.
IT will beseen elsewhere that the teleg
raphers are organizing, not for strike
but for mutual protection against the in
roads of monopoligtg