Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-29
Almond has a majority in favor of the bill
which he has just introduced.
The Largest Property Owner.

Almond has a majority in favor of the bill
which he has just introduced.
The Largest Property Owner.
Gen. Birney went on to say that the JUS
tice of the claim OF the city is shown by the
fact that the government owns a majority
of the real estate. According to a state
ment prepared in the year 1884, the United
States owns real estate estimated to be
worth $SS.OOO.OOO while the amount belong
ing to the District was about Sl,S45UOO.
The amount exempt from taxation was
$.72l.O OO. The total property not taxed was
valued at s96OOO.OO0, while the total on the
tax list was valued at xO.OooOoo. The ex-
cess Of property in the District, not taxed,
was about $5,OOU,OOO.
At this point the chairman interrupted to
ask how the value OF the property of the
government was ascertained. Gen Birney
replied that the tax assessors returned this
valuation in the same way as they returned
the valuation Of private property. He spoke
also or the property exempted from taxa
ton by Congress. He thought that IL was
not wise to oppose Congress on this point
as it might turn out in somewhat the same
way as the contest between the chicken ana
the worm.
I'VE are the worm." interjected the chair
man, with a smile.
Yes" replied Gen. Birney, that is the
case, exactly"
He then went on to say that the govern
ment had, OF course, a right to exempt
property from taxation for reasons OF pub
lie policy. but when 1t did SO it ought rot
to put the entire cost on the District. He
also referred to the property exempted for
various purposes. such as the reform school.
st. Elizabeth's, the Columbia Deaf and
Dumb College, the Soldiers Home, the res
ervoir property, &c, comprising q total
area OF 3,53S acres. Under this system. he
said, the tax lists are continually decreas-
ing. which has the effect OF diminishing tie
revenue of the District, and counting the
government proportion to the revenue raised
by the District, the loss was a double one.
The Citizens Should Unite.
It's easy to see, he said, that IL this pro-
cess goes on the citizens will soon own very
little real estate. and the burden OF the gov
eminent will fall on the few. In view of
the present situation, he thought the citi-
zens of the District ought to present
united front in opposition to the DeArmond
proposition. In all equity and fair dealing,
he thought that there was no question but
that the government ought to pay its share
of the expense OF carrying on the District
government He cited the injustice In the
Rock Creek Park bill OF assessing benefits
against abutting property when half the cost
of the park was paid from the District
funds Also of the recent act in imposing
half the expense OF opening North Capitol
street on the District, and In the street ex-
tension bill the whole expense OF opening
the suburban streets. In the latter case
he said IL the citizens are made to assume
the entire expense. they ought to have the
right to say what work is to be done and
how II is to be done.
| In conclusion, he said that by present.
ing these and other facts to members of
Congress unfavorable action could be pre-
vented.
The chair said that, no doubt. there was
general unanimity of opinion as to the jus
of fha a,d -has
in his opinion. remained to be done was to
bring the matter to the attention OF Con-
gress. The personnel OF Congress Is con-
stantly changing, new men are coming in.
and it's natural that there are many MEN,
bers that are not aware of the conditions
here He supposed that the purpose of the
meeting was to devise means OF presenting
| the case OF the District to Congress.
As to the Taxation Rate.
| Mr. NJ. I. Weller spoke at some length.
cor-oborating what Gen. Birney had said in
regard to the motives of the members of the
East Washington Association that nothing
was intended to be done by that association
looking to a change i'm the present relations
unless Congress took some unjust action
He referred to the act passed by the board
of aldermen and city council Of this city
in 1S'5, asking Congress for authority to
lieu thereof that Congress should make
some reasonable appropriation. This act
was presented to Congress with a memorial.
Mr.. Weller said that he had not the data
at hand, but he knew that in the case OF q
number of the capital cities I'm Europe the
government contributed toward the support
of the municipality. This was notably SO in
| the case of Berlin. In his opinion good
| could be accomplished by presenting these
and similar facts to Congress- and IL q
change was made in the present relations
between the District and the United States
then Congress could be forced to make some
an 70 a FFa
question of how all the citizens could be
represented In presenting this matter to
Congress. The largest section Of the city
containing the greatest proportion of the
popula ton and wealth had no citizens as
sociation.
Mr.. weller's Resolution.
He offered a resolution authorizing the
| chairman of the meeting to issue a call for
| a citizens convention to be held at an early
date and the appointment of a committee
OF seven to make arrangements for this con-
vention. for the proper representation OF
citizens at the convention and for the cleo.
| ton of delegates. Also the appointment OF
presentation to Congress on the subject OF
taxation and the duty of the United States
In the opinion of Mr.. Summerville the tax
payers rather than the citizens generally
should take this matter I'm hand. He saw
difhcultfes I'm the way of getting the tax
payers together
| MIR. F. A. Lehman was in favor of form.
ing an association of citizens and inviting
the cooperation of all associations
mass meeting of all the citizens where
they could express their opinions was
| thought, by Mr.. +. Il. Berry, TO be the hes,
plan.
The representatives of all citizens asso-
Citations could take part in such a meeting
and a committee could be appointed to pre-.
pare report
The objection to a mass meeting. MIR.
Weller said. was that il represented no one
III those attending the meeting were sent
there as delegates then il would be known
who they represented. He thought thai
not only the citizens associations. but thai
all corporations, banks, financial institu-
tons and building associations &c, should
be invited to send delegates to such a meet
ing.
| Action Now Premature.
Mr. F. l.. Moore said that he would be
obliged to vote against the resolution. be-
cause. i'm his opinion. it is premature. The