Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-09
a General Attack on the People
of the District.
ALLEGED REAL ESTATE RINGS
He Accuses the Newspapers Of
Aiding Them.
AN AMIN ATED DEB ATE


3 oclock this afternoon.
Mr.. Grosvenor OF Ohio was recognized,
and announced his opposition to Mr. Dc
Almonds amendment (Which is published
elsewhere in The Starr Mr.. Grosvenor
said the people of this country will not
favor turning the administration OF
the affairs of this District to a local board.
instead of curtailing expenses Of improve
ments he favors increasing them il II is
necessary TO conduct the affairs Of the
city In a better manner. Every effort
shouid be made to attract people TO the
capital. and IL would be very poor policy to
burden the people with unjust taxation.
he hopes to see the time when the Poto-
mac hats shall blossom and bloom.
would Favor Paying More Than Half.
he would favor the government paying
even more than half of the expenses 10
accomplish two purpcses-frst, to beautify
the city. and next. 10 keep down the rate
Oh taxation so that people will be attracted
TO Washington. He does not want 10
make a tax which will drive people away.
ne would rot want 20 make the taxes
SO low as 10 attract capital from abroad
10 an unusual extent
Mr.. Henderson Praises the Dtstrtct.
Mr.. Henderson of Illinois said he has
hoticed that every year the question OF
taxation comes UP. He desired to empha-
size what was said by Mr.. Grosvenor
and TO add that this city is different from
every other city; it is different from the
capital of Missouri, OF his own state. IL
iinois. different because It was originally
intended in the beginning to make Il
Inherent from any other. Ii would not be
fair to require the citizens to maintain
the streets, which are necessary TO the
grandeur Ci the nations capital
q N lis ,ff I
every American citizen takes pride in II.
L have met my own constituents here and
they take pride in IL. We should have the
best schools in the nation a model for
the rest OF the country" said Mr. Hem
dersoI. He safd members of Congress
bring their children here to school. pc ,ple
from all parts OF the country come here.
Why should We not make the city worthy
of the nation? Why should the people
who come here be compelled to keep -
the city?
There is not an item in this bin in which
the United States is not interested" 10
said THE government is concerned in the
whole bill and its interest cannot be separ.
ated from those of the citizens"
Property Exempt From Taxation.
Mr.. Goldzier of Illinois was then recos-
nized He said there is a practical side Of
this question. He wanted to address himself
TO the question which was propounded by
Mr.. De Armopd. "who was Influenced by his
bill to remove the capital TO Missouri" Mr.
Goldzier said that a large portion OF the
property in this city is withdrawn from tax
alton because it is government properly.
Every time the government takes a piece
of property just SO much is taken from the
taxable property OF the District The new
city post Office is an example. The govern
ment has taken from the city number OF
properties which contributed to the taxation
of the city.
Mr. Goldzier said that in this city there 10
exempt from taxation, Sl9l. .4l1 600 being the
amount of property taxed. leaving s22.ooo.-
co excess Of property which is not taxed.
Opposed To Monopolies.
Mr. Kern of Nebraska took the floor 10 op-
pose the monopolies of corporations He
chose the Washington Gas Company as an
example of such a corporation. and said the
only solution Of the question is for the gov
ernnent TO erect and operate its own plant
controlling its own necessities.
The thing for the government TO do Is to
take out of the hands OF the corporation
this monopoly which is robbing the people
of millions OF dollars. MIR. Kern read the
recent remarks of Senator Manderson upon
the proposition to utilize the Great Falls
water power for an electric plant.
Mr.. Kern said the people are paying moro
for their light than they should pay, but
that they pay for an inferior quality OF
light. Mr. Kern read from the testimony
port his statements. Mr. Kern holds that
the necessities OF life should come 10 the
people at cost and that few people formed
into a corporation should not be permitted
TO control the use of them. He referred 10
the accumulation of wealth by the rev.
There is no better place to begin the work
OF reform in this regard than at the seat OK
government.
No Evidence 10 Sustain such Argu.
ments.
Mr. Walker of Massachusetts said tnero
is not a single particle Of evidence to sus-
tain Mr. Kern's arguments that wealth 10
being accumulated by the few In greater
proportion than by the mass OF the people.
Leaving the question Of economics. Mr.
Walker said that the District hill is dis
grace to the committee which reported IL.
a disgrace to democrats ana repuohcans
alike.
The republicans should have brought In .
minority report, and insisted that the ma
jority should give sufhcient approprauohs
to conduct the schools of the city, and
furnish TO the employees Of the government
shelter where they will not be exposed 70
the dangers of unsanitary conditions
This is the meaHest government on
Gods earth for paying its debts" shouted
Mr.. Walker, "and you III know IT. ne
scored his republican associates for not
holding out more stifiiy against the low
appropriations. You are morally respon-
sible for many deaths by not appropria ting
for sewers" said Mr.. Walker He declsim-
ed also against the low school appropria-
tions and said that rather than cut tnat
sum 81 he would go without new SUIT OF
clothes for five years; he would wear
frock.
Compared with Other Cities.
Mr.. Goldzier called attention TO the fact
that I'm Chicago, with a population of 1.eoo..
600. the taxable property is S2i3,
while in Washington. with population OF
only 5000 the taxable property is 2o2.-
GA 600 this demonstrating that in compari-
only 5Oo0 the taxable property is S202,-
son with other cities Washington certainly
paws as much, IL not more than It's just
proportion of taxation. Mr.. Goldzier IN
co-porated in his remarks the memorial or
the citizens association against Mr. Do
Almonds bill
Mr. De Almond suggested that the erec-
tion of a government building here en-.
hances all property. 80 does the erection oe
any private building. for that matter" said
Mr.. GoldZier-
Mr.. kfIgore Agrees With DE Armonds
Mr. Kilgore was then recognized. lie ine
dorsed the sentiments of Mr.. DE Almond az
expressed yesterday. He thought the peo-
pie of this city should have their own gov-
eminent. The people of other cities are
capable of governing and supporting them
selves. and the people of Washington should
be pre-eminently capable of governing
themselves.
Mr. Compton suggested to Nr. kilsoN