Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-26
THE SINGLE TAX GAsE.
What DR.. Buck Says of the Action of the
Former Commissioners.

HYATTsyILLE, Nd, July &C. 1892.
A number of citizens of this town visited
Marlboro today for the purpose Of hearing the
arguments in the single tax case. Mr. ]. H..
Ralston states that he is daily In receipt Of
numerous letters from prominent men in tho
various parts of the country indorsing his
course and offering to assist him in his under
taking. The following is a specimen:
CAMBRIpaEFoRr. MASS. July %, 1892
Mr.. Jackson Fl. Ralston. Hynttsville, Nd:
Dear Sir-Stnnd by the ringle tax the battle
through. The principle on which your reform
is based is irrefutable and needs only discussion
on the one hand and actual application on the
other. Only false, unscieutiac sociology can
deny the axiom that the land belongs to the
people and the obvious corsllary that those who
enjoy special privileges In soils or sitcs must
pay accordingly. The principle is exactly the
same as that il accordance with which we pay
more Tor a seat in the parquet than in the upper
gallery and more for a state room on ocean
steamer than for passage in the steerage.
Sincerely yours for equity and fair play,
THos. z. WILL,
Professor of History and Political Science,
Lawrence University
DR.. A. r. Buck, a member of the last board
OF commissioners, sought The STAR repre-
sentative yesterday and said. in answer to o
statement made by Mr.. Ralston to the effect
that the present board of commissioners had as
much right to en- bpt improvements from tax
alton as the one OF two years ago bad to exempt
personal property, that at that time there was
no evidence that there was any personal prop
erty reported to the board; that the matter was
preached at meeting Of the commissioners
last year, but he knew personally that 1t was
not acted upon for the reason that II II had
been they would have been placed in the same
condition as the present board L. by exempting
improvements tAlE ad OF m
formally by the members Of the board, and he
strongly objected to taking action upon it as
body, but not as individuals They informed
the assessors that If they did not report any
personal property they would have nothing to
act upon when they (the commissioner met as
board OF review and equalization. Mr.. Raj
ston was the gentleman who brought up the
matter, and he Or. Buck) objected TO 1t on the
ground that it would be illegal for the board to
instruct the assessors to exempt personal prop
erty. The action was taken upon personal
property, as there was none at that time to
either exempt or collect taxes upon. therefore
the non-appearance Of personal property in the
assessment list Of last year stood in a very diff
ferent light from the deliberate action Of the
present board in exempting some $3.50, 900
worth of improvements which had been re-
ported by the assessors. There was q material
difference between leaving out personal prop
erty not reported BY the asEessors-slthough
each individual member OF the board Of COM
missioners might have known there was such
property in existence-and that of cutting of
from taxation large amount Of property
which was reported officially by the assessors.
The doctor further said that his property had
been assessed under the old system at 81, 400.
the taxes upon his house amounting to IS and
that upon his lot to 81, and that he Was now
only taxed 81 upon his lot but that he believed
in principle and would rather not save the S5
under such circumstances.
A citizen who seems to care very little
whether single or double tax prevails in Hyatts-
vile when told by an opponent Of the new sys-
tenn yesterday that Its advocates were all cranks
replied that from certain observations he had
made he was Of the opinion that the other side
was not without it's share.
Dial Shreeves, jr., the young man charged with
attempted rape on Jessie Bailey colored, gave
himself up last Saturday to Justice Hurley in
BladensbUrg. The case was tired in Rogers
law Office that evening before q large crowd Of
curious spectators, the defense being conducted
by DR.. j. W. Rogers. The girl testified that
Shreeves threw her upon the floor and tore her
clothes in attempting to accomplish his pur-
pose. During the trial Mrs Bailey, the mother
OF Jessie, was impudent to Justice Hurley and
came near being committed to Jail for contempt
OF court. Shreeyes WAS held for the action Of
the grand jury under bond of 5000.
Mr.. John q. Lepper, accompanied by his
father and Messrs. William A. Ellis and Marion
Fowler, made his first trip down the Eastern
II
the Ariel. large crowd gathered on the banks
OF the stream to witness Its departure. About
1850 the whistle sounded and the little steamer
started on its journey. The party went as far
as Benning bridge and spent the night there,
returning at o'clock Sunday morning. The
yacht and its entire steam works were inRenu-
ously designed and made by Mr.. Lepper and
his father. A few evenings since he attempted
to take trip down the branch. but the tide
being too low he was obliged to postpone it till
more favorable time.
NOTES.
The members of st. James Catholic Church
will give lawn party and fete on the tennis
grounds of the Hyattsviile Athletic Club on
Tuesday evening August l6, for the purpose Of
raising the means to purchase a new horse and
buggy for their pastor, Rev. VIM. T. Russell
Misses Maggie Duffy and Marie Cru.chett will
give an exhibition Of their fancy dancing on
| that occasion.
Apleasant excursion down the Eastern branch
to Benning bridge was given in the Water
Lily last Friday evening by Messrs. Charles
and William Lynch to their mothers guests,
Mrs. and Miss Smith of Baltimore. The party
consisted OF Mrs. Andrew Lynch, Mrs. and Miss
| Smith Of Baltimore. Misses Julia and Rosa
Lynch and Blanche Walker and Messrs. Charles
| and William Lynch.
The Hyattsville Base Ball Club visited Laurel
last Saturday and defeated the club Of that
| place In closely contested game.
Rev. Edward Wall, rector. of the Pinkney
Memorial Church, exchanged pulpits Yesterday
| with Rev. MIR. johnson of Laurel The latter
preached an interesting sermon at that church
! Miss Clara Turner Of Woodville is yisitina her
| sister, Mrs. Chas. Ii. Welsh.
Mrs. DR.. Buck and Miss May Buck will leave
| in few days for Berkeley Springs, ". Va.
Miss Helen Todhunter is visiting the Misses
Levin at Merose.
| Miss Lily Hcadley of New York is the guest
of her sister, Mrs. Frank II. Cash, at Bladens-
| burg.
Miss Belle Dobbs has gone on q weeks visit
| to friends In Washington.
The Biadensburg Amateur Orchestra is max
ing preparations 10 give concert in the sum-
mer park in that village some time next month
A number Of Washingtonians drove out to
Badenfburg Sunday evening and partook Of
the water Of the spa spring.
Miss Josephine Mcpherson, the soprano of
the quartet choir Of the Congregational Church
Of Brooklyn, n. Y, is visiting her aunt. Mira.
John II. Patterson, W.B.H
TT Tn Thefr Tn,