The Washington critic., 1890-02-21

to bear proportionately heavier burdens for
the benefit Of the public at large.
Now have no doubt OF the intended |
fairness Of your paper, and do not suppose
you would willingly iniure the National
Capital or any Of its citizens. In my opin-
ion the agitation of the tax question as you
have commenced It will do both. Congress
is now in session, and your articles and the
figures given by you tend to show that the
administration Of our local affairs has been
very defective. The impression is created
that our citizens arc in many instances en-
joying freedom from taxation; that palpa-
bic wrongs have been committed under
cover Of law, and there exists such condi-
tion of things as should at once receive in
vestigatlon from Congress. In fact, the
Chairman of the Senate committee is held
up for condemnation because he does not
see the necessity Of immediate action. If
you will carefully examine the facts you
will find the assessments you speak of were
not hastily or unwisely made, and, as
rule with desire for absolute fairness by
men Of good standing and experience, who
personally investigated what they under
took to perform, and conscientiously did
their duty under their oaths Of Office.
venture to assert our assessments are
upon a lairer basis here than in almost any
other city In this country. Why? Because
no political favoritism entered into the
question Of valuation. Values have rap
idly changed here within five years; In
many instances doubled and trebled; the
question Of fixing the assessable value was
difficult one. The assessors could not
take as basis for their calculations n
speculative market, but had to determine
| what property would bring in time of de-
| preston, when bidders would not be us
numerous as when money is abundant aud
| the prospect bright for realizing an early
| profit.
| Then, too, there were special questions
| to be considered in the valuation of every
| piece OF large property. No man could
| put himself in possession of tho facts upon
| which to properly criticise the action of
the officers without careful study and cX-
| perienee.
To say to Congress that our revenues are
| not nearly as large as they should be loads
| to the belief that we are not doing our duty
and are seeking support from the General
/ Government where we do not deserve it,
| In the large majority of cases our real estate
is taxed for as much as it ought to be. The
idea that Congress bears one-half of our
burdens is fiction. The United States
only contributes its share for the preserva-
ton and care of its own property.
In the second place, money Of the citi-
zeps whose names are printed as being rich
and Influential, coupled with the sarcasm
of having been able to creep out from un-
der loads they ought to carry, are held up
in On improper light before the community.
They are at the head of prominent enter
prises, they have helped to build up and
make our city what 1t is, their energy and
money have contributed to make the prop
erty of ,others valuable, and why should
the presumption be given that they have
acted unfairly or improperly. They have
had no hearing in your court.
/ said to your reporter that the picturing
Of frauds, either of public or private
character, was, in my opinion, damaging tc
our city and should only be INDUCED il
| with the greatest caution.
do not at all agree with your editorial
in which you say: "Nothing is SO per
n!ciops as false or unjust taxation; nC
wrong against the community is so pro
ductive of wrong. The gambling, drink
ing, social and every other evil recedes into
trifling menace to public integrity by
comparison Most men are willing to pay
fair tax. If errors are made one veal
they will be found out and corrected til,
next. 1t is not possible here In this grea
Capital City for individuals to long perpe
trate Outrages against our municipality
the government of which is conducted OF
an honorable and unprecedented basis.
1t is good thing to be taxed. 1t make.
the citizen careful student of city gov
ernment 1t tmakes him feel that he is ~
important factor in its prosp Gritty.
Taxes give 1ne streets, a police protec
| n sys
TEN of public instruction. How to lev,
and collect them is a great question. /
cannot be done to the satisfaction of all
Property used for purposes making ncces
sary the presence and maintenance Of
police force cannot, under any correc
principle, be valued for taxation upon th
same basis as the attractive and costly resi-
dences which are ornaments to the city
and 1t would seem that property used BY
corporations enjoying large chartered gift
from the Government should pay q large
rate than the store or Office building erected
on private property, with no special privi
leges from the community.
Taxes should be laid on particular classe
of property, without reference to tn
owner. All persons, rich and poor alike
should bear the same ratio of publ
burdens.
Thousands of good citizens live in Wash
ipgton without paying dollar in the wa
J of taxation. Those who do bear the pull
lie burdens DO not complain of those VIII
do not, and recognize the fact that none
paid in answer to assessments is not none
thrown away; it is paid for the commo
, | veal Of all, and is one of the prices of civ
ilization and prosperity. / have not bee
criticised and have no personal complain
to make. Ny interest in the subject is 70
the city and my nclghbors. Yours truly,
b. H. WARNER.