The Washington times., 1894-07-02
ENLARGING OUR BURDENS.
That's What a Plain Citizen Thinks the
Bond Issue Will Do

| To THE EDITOR: The Board Of Trade has re-
solved that the District of Columbia should grow
wealthy and its laboring classes be benefited
| by increased taxation. and, knowing the close
| relations between some of our lawmakers aud a
| few Representatives of that body, we may be-
lieve the board will succeed at any rate in hav-
ing our burdens enlarged But what proposi-
tion, Tax still more our houses to increase the
welfare of the poori Conserve the interests of
our humber citizens by course of action
which vii. restore and raise ren;sl Develop
trade, for which purpose this body was organ
izei. by multiplying taxation on our dwellings
and swelling the value of land till the poor can
not purchase it. Give this city, now drunk and
disabled from a course of land speculation
another attack of the same diseased Such is the
sapient proposal now placed before us. disguised
by prerense of concern for the welfare of those
who. because OF the high price of land In other
parts OF the District, now live and suffer in ma
larious neigh hborhoods
Examine the Board of Trade proposition AL
ready our citizens are taxed TO pay interest on a
debt OF $3.50 per head Except the plundered
Jersey City, having a per capita debt oi SlDd Sc,
no other leading city IN the country and only a
half-dozen of the smaller places are as heavily
in debt as the district Of Columbia Ii is now
proposed that h 5 Indebtedness large at pres
ent, shall be Increased TO about $ll3 per head
The small city of Elizabeth, y. j.. was pracli-
cal.y ruined by per capita debt of S9l 20. and
ours is TO exceed this by nearly so Bot some
one answers may be, that our, resources are
more extensive by reason of the fact that the
United States Government shoulders half of our
expenses pEfuitu, Dut now long VIII this at-
vantage be retained if our debt be swollen one
third
II Is remarkable how suddenly soli,,itous some
of orr welik kept citizens have become of those
less fortunate " here $ millions in IL Three
or four millions for sewerage system which NAV
offer advant igcs in the way OF health 10 some
citizens-whch ones no one knows and in con-
sideration OF this gen iO5ity three or four
millions more TO be extended in improving
streets where thousands OF citizens vet unborn
shall find their residences. Let us LOOK this gift
hprG IN q IA A h.,
Gus at another mans expense when he shall re-
ceive Tor his good wishes cent per cent in un-
earned increment.
hut it is said that many of our poorer citizens
will certainly be the gamers by the proposed
new sewerage system. What guarantee have we
for this? iiave not hundreds of thousands of
dollars of public money already been expended
in sewering lands where no man lived while the
poor have remained in their malaria. Will no,
this course again be pursued: The board of
trade stamped with disnpproval Mr. HoIbrook
proposition not to permit the District Coiainis-
sioners to dsburs SlGoO,00J until our governors
had Iirst reported where the money was to be
expended.
Is il likely that this money will take different
course from that which past experience proves
other moneys to have taken, vii, not dinners
and wines fattery and applause. business
favors and Political promises be rs potent in the
future al the D,stric; Offices as they have been
in the past? And we all know that the deuizens
OF malaria neighborhoods are not the ones who
can ofier favors They have not even the boon
OF a ballot
Some of our large-hearted physicians are be-
ing used by the spec oulatve interest pull good
sized ches,nuts fl ON the Congressional, fire. If
I, cir study were of business and human nature,
iather than anatomy and hygiene, their con-
duct had been different.
The only representatives we find of the poorer
citizcns-the Knights of Labor and the Fedora
tion-denounce the bend scheme. They UNDER
stand that the temporary boon Of employment
thrown to them will count as nothing against in-
creased rents and rising land values which their
labor will create but which they will not enjoy.
The burdens laid upon our people are now too
heavy. Let those who impose them remember
not t., abuse too much that patient ass-the pub
lie And let the general public never forget tb6t
the sewer bonds are used but as n stalking horse
for the suburban speculatnr.
Five thousand houses, empty because of lack
of employment among our citizens, while fami-
lies are by poverty crowded into unhealthy prox-
unity to one another, testify to final paralysis
resulting from land speculation Shall we not
adjust our system of taxation So as to kill spec
ulation rather thar bestow unearned benefits
upon landgrnbbers while we increase taxes
upon the builders?
l hear some one remark that our rate Is fixed.
and an increase in Londed Indebtedness means
no change of rate. Let one hug that fond
delusion Congress will undoubtedly demand
that the bonds be paid-principal and interest
from District revenues, and this cannot be done
without higher rate Of taxation
PLAIN CITIZEN