Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-06
WILL OPPOSE SINGLE TAX.

Citizens Of Hyattsville Will Protest Against
the Recent Order of the Commissioners.
There appear to be some residents Of Hyatts-
vile who do not believe in the single tax, or
at any rate, are not willing that their town. at a
time when it is rapidly growing and needs i'm
provements, should be made the field of expert
ment in taxation. The following is being cir
culated among citizens Of the town for sigma
otures:
"We. the undersigned citizens of Hyattsvile
do hereby suggest that a public meeting of the
citizens be held in the Hyattsville Athletic Club
rooms on Wednesday, the 9th instant at $50 D.
m, for the purpose of expressing our disap-
proval of the recent order of a majority of the
town commissioners in exempting all improve
ments from taxation and to take such steps az
may be necessary to prevent the enforcement
of such an order. A full meeting is requested. ~
A resident who is not in favor Of the single
tax and who is engaged in promoting the move
ment against it said to a STAR reporter: 1.-The
adoption Of the single tax system on last Thurs
day evening by the commissioners of Hyatts-
vile was a surprise to the minority of said
board and the citizens of Hyattsville. When
the report of the committee on assessments was
read objections were made rs to the legality of
such an action and also a request was made to
put the matter before the town and get vote
upon whether or not they would adopt single
tax system. If they should adopt said tax then
the commissioners would be exempt from all
blame; but they were not elected for the pur-
pose Of making any radical change in the Or
ganic law Of taxation or any other radical
change without consulting those who would be
affected by it.
referring to the report we see by 1t that by
last years assessment the value of land and i'm
provements was S469, 900, yielding, at Is cents
per 800, $70353. This year the assessment.
valuation of the same land alone is fixed Of
$685. 709 just S99, 315 less than the valuation of
land and all improvements, consisting of 172
houses at an average value of S575. Then with
is made. to show that less sum at q greater
rate per cent will produce revenue in excess
of last year. Now, what is the condition OF
Hyattsville? The road committee from early
last fall up to the present time have been re-
quested to do certain work for the health and
have had no means OF doing work necessary to
comply with the request, but have given their
word to do the best they could when they should
receive the money from taxes. The sidewalk
on the pike is in a dangerous and unsightly con-
dition, the water pipes insufficient to carry of
the drainage, the street on which two of the
churches are situated is and has been from
early last fall and during the winter almost i'm.
passable. The great growth of our town de-
mands that We have more and better streets
pavements and waterways. The legislature saw
this and in its wisdom allowed an increase OF
Is cents per s100 in the levy to meet these ex.
penses, which would. upon an assessment OF
land at a reasonable amount, together with the
Improvements, give us for internal and neces.
sary improvements about 81, 900, not one cent
more than is really necessary. The action OF
the commissioners in putting the tax higher or
land and exempting all improvements il mop
perfume, to cay the least"