Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-08
THE CITY'S WANTS.
Continued from Ninth page.)

plan is spreading rapidly.
With such experience at home and abroad.
there is no room left for doubt. There is
not shadow of question but that it would
be greatly for the benefit OF the public for
the District to furnish the light. both cleo
trical and gas, not only for the streets, but
for private use also.
IL IL be objected that it would deprive the
present companies or corporations of prof
liable business, we reply that the public in
tereSts are superior to those Of private par
ties, and whenever the two conflict, the lat
ter should give way.
The company, the report asserts would
have no reason to complain, for it mas made
enormous profits. Half million year, it
was asserted. taken from the public
and put into the pockets OF the stockhold-
ers of this company. large portion OF
whom are nOn-residents, so thai the money
paid by our citizens is not even paid ou-
here.
After reviewing the subject at length the
committees report conclude ed as follows:
In view of the foregoing facts, your com
mittee recommend the adoption CT the fol-
lowing preamble and resolution:
Whereas. artificial light - Il necessity,
and whereas, experience at home and
abroad has demonstrated the fac; that the
public can be provided with artificial EspI,
both electric and gas. cheaper and better
by the municipal authorities than by con-
tracts with private parties or corporations,
therefore
Be it resolved. That this association is in
favor of such legislation by Congress as vii!
enable the District 10 furnish both eiectric
and gas lights 10 the fun extent of :he local
needs of the United States government, the
District and the citizens thereof.
Be IL further resolved, That in the opinion
Of this association the Commissioners of
the District should AXE immediate steps to
secure from Congress the legislation peces-
sary to enable them to provide the means
for furnishing and controlling the light sup
ply for the District rs above set forth.
The report was signed by William Birney,
as chairman. W. G. Dodge ana Chas. a.
Shields.
The report was listened to with great in
>terest and at its conclusion was applauJed.
Upon motion of Mr.. lehman, the report
and resolutions were adopted. He moved
vote of thanks to the committee for 80
able and exhaustive repor:.
Upon motion OF Nc. Lehmann. the presi-
dent appointed committee composed of
Messrs- W. c. Dodge, Gen. Nm. Birney and
Mr.. F. A. Lehman to present the report
of the committee on water, lights and sew
ers. respecting the municipal control of gas
and electric lighting TO the Commissioners
and both committees of Congress on the
District of Columbia.
The Federal Appropriations.
Gen. Birney called attention to til pre-
vailing misunderstanding regarding the fifty
per cent appropriated by Congress from the
national treasury for the expenses of the
District. ne said:
In the act of June IL, 1890, providing per-
manent form of government for the District
of Columbia. the Commissioners were di-
rected TO submit annual estimates of District
expenditures for the next fiscal year, and it
was enacted that to the extent to which
Congress shall approve OF said estimates,
Congress shall appropriate the amount of
fifty per centum thereof
Al that date it was thought that the
value of the real estate held by the United
States. the District of Columbia and ex-
emDte1 was nh
that held by other parties, and the contri-
button OF fifty per cent by the United States
was regarded as the equivalent OF taxes on
lts land and improvements 1t was not in
tended that the government should make a
free gift to the District, but should pay
what was fairly due by il as it's share of the
expenses OF municipal corporation of
Whlcn II was component part and CHIEF
benenciary. The adoption OF an exclusive
real estate basis was not fair in view of the
TACT that private individuals were taxed on
personal property as we'll on real estate
II the personal property OF the United
quota OF the government would have in
creased TO at least sixty per cent.
That a national government should pay to
the capital city an equivalent of its proper
share of taxation is not a new principle 1t
Is recognized and acted on in several coun-
tries OF Europe, notably in Prussia. The
royal government keeps its accounts with
the city of Berlin, and pays its share of the
eitys expenditures with the most scrupu-
lous punctuality.
The fairness of the 80 per cent system was
first fmpeached in 1850. BY the official val
uation of that year the landed property not
subject TO taxation was appraised as fol-
lows:
United States property.......sS S.4l6.1l1
district OF Columbia. ....-........ 1,2JO, 166
Property exempted by United
states statute 5,390,J9S
Exempted property, total. sso,o5I, 40
Value Of taxable property......- So. $50, $50
Excess of exempted property. s2O1T,11O
There has been no official appraisement
since $50. but IL is fair to estimate the
growth in value of taxable and non-taxable
property as equal. II there is any difference
II Is in favor of the exempted portions, be-
cause OF the expensive buildings erected
upon them
The quantity. however of taxable pro7-
erty has been greatly diminished AMI that
Of the nOn-taxable greatly Increased IN the
last thirteen years. The government has
become the owner of the property taken
Tor the new post office. of the observa ,ory,
Maltby and Butler property and buildings. Of
the Congressional Library and of the large
tracts taken for the Geological and Rock
Creek parks Under the operation of the
statutes large amount of land taken for
school houses. churches and benevolent
institutions has been taken out of the tax
lists. In a few cases individuals nave had
their taxes remitted by law. This process
of erosion of the tax lists has been going on
with unusual rapidly for few years past
The facts make 1t probable that the OK
empted classes of real property excel in
value at the present time the taxable real
property by sum not less than twenty
millions If so, the per cent of the contri-
button of the United States to the mlni-
cfpal expenditures should be largely in
creased.
The form Of the present law is obiec-
tionable. No reason is stated for the Ter
cent agreed on: il does not appear why It
should not have been 10 60 or any other
per cent On the face of the law the per
cent has the look of a donation. This Con-
gress should not grant or the taxpayers re-
ceive. a plain statement in the law Of the
truth that the erCentum to be nppro-
priated is the equivalent of fair propnr-
tional taxation on property exempted by
the United States would prevent the fire.
quent mfSapprehensiOns and explanations of
this matter in Congress. No honest man
would object to have the government bear
Its fair share of the municipal expenses
Most of these. indeed. are caused BY he
fact that this is the capital city of Il great
nation. / propose. therefore. the fOllowini,
resolutions for the consideration of the as
ISOLATION:
Resolved. That all real estate lying in the
in proportion to value.
That the taxes real estate exempted by
Congress should be paid by the United
States.
That one Of the first duties Of a new board