The Washington times., 1894-07-03
SHALL BONDS BIZ ISsUED9
More Opinions from Leading Citizens
on This Question.
GENERAL SENTIMENT ADVERSE
District Has All the Burden It CaneDear.
Citizens Ought to Vote Upon It-Powsr Of
Discrimination Should Not Be Given to
Three Msn-singls Tax Idea Advanced.

The majority sentiment Of thu local labor
organizations, as expressed In the interview
that have heretofore appeared in this paper
and those of to-day, as well as in the resolu-
tions adopted at the mass meeting held at
Bricklayers' hall recently, seems to be averse
to the incurrence of additional Indebtedness
by the District.
The proposed bond issue for the purpose OF
public improvements, while regarded AZ q
temporary advantage in the matter OF supply
ing the unemployed with work, Is neverthe-
less considered by many as the foundation OF
burden which the taxpayers Of the District
ought not torbe asked to shoulder. Direct
and indirect taxation will be greatly in
creased, they say, and those affected by In
direct taxation are believed to have already
as much pecuniary obligation as they can
meet.
Those whose opinions are published below
are officially representative OF the District
workers. and. although speaking for them
selves only. they are believed to reflect In the
main the sentiments OF the organizations to
which they are accredited:
TENANTS SHOULDER THE BURDEN.
E. W. OYSTER, ex-president of the Fedora
tion of Labor, No. 1922 Q street northwest:
81 recognize the fact that the expenditure OF
the amount OF money to be obtained under
the loan would be temporary advantage to
the laboring people. but at the same time the
people OF this city are still paying the last
bonded debt in the increased rents that re-
suited, and the debt is still hanging over US.
In other words, an amount sufficient to
liquidate that loan two or three times over
has been exacted from the renters of the city
by reason of the increase in the rents. am
opposed to any further addition TO the bonded
debt. If we had republican form OF gov
ernment in this District. which Congress
should give US without delay. SO that the
citizens could vote upon the proposition and
upon Ill like questions OF importance, L
should be willing to abide by the will OF the
majority, but do not believe in permitting a
few men, no matter how much money they
represent, to say what burdens shall be
placed upon the people at large. l am in
favor of raising the revenues of the District
by n direct tax on land values. eXempting all
other property
DISTRICT CARRIES ALL IT CAN BEAR.
GEORGE J. SUTER, president Of the District
Carpenters Council, said: ~ am opposed to
the issue of bonds for any purpose at this
time. / have not given the matter very much
thought, but believe the District has about
all it can attend TO without incurring more
debt There may be a time when 1t can be
done"
We SHIELDS. president of Columbia Typo
graphical Union l0i. No. 104 E street north
east: II am opposed 10 the issue OF bonds
opposed TO the creation of additional debt for
the District to pay"
JAMES Z. COLLINS. member of Painters As
sembly, lI9s. h OF l., No. sos II street north
west: Il fully concur in the views expressed
by d. A. 66 and the Federation of Labor
upon that question in the resolutions as pub
lished in The TIMES several weeks ago.
c. L. HERFURTH, secretary of the Cigar
Makers International Union, No. COL Louis
lana avenue: Il believe it will be a good
thing. Ii will be a grand thing for the labor
ing men. and give many of them comforta-
bic Winter. Il will give employment to many
who would not otherwise get it. and who will
need it, no doubt, before the Winter is over" {"
PEOPLE OUGHT TO VOTE UPON IT.
S. H. Bell, delegate to the Federation of
Labor from L. A. 2672. K. of L., and ex-dele-
gate to d. A. No. &C, also member Of Colun-
bia Typographical Union, No. 101: sin the
first place, think the people should have a
vote upon the question. / believe that all
the money necessary for Improvements from
year TO year ought 10 be raised by tax on
the value of the lands. without reference to
the improvements thereon. | am opposed to
this particular loan unless the people are per-
mitted to vote upon it, because otherwise u
few individuals will have the entire say RS to
where and in what way the money is to be
expended. Certain localities will be favored
and others Disseminated against, as always
has been the case. What is needed here
above all other things is municipal form Of
government, which should be a model of all
the cities of the country. and by means Of
which the people resident hera should have
full control of all their local affairs.
WOULD GIVE WORK TO UNEMPLOYED.
A. NJ. COOKE. No. 500 Ninth street north
west: 81 believe every citizen ought to be
willing to do all he can for Washington and
if possible. make il the model citv of the
world. When saythat do not mean merely
TO make it such from an artistic and archi-
tectural point of view, but in the matter of
government as we'll believe part Of the
object in getting the loan placed is to give
employment to the unemployed, and that is
main consideration with me at present. II
obtained, the money should be equitabfy dis
tributed. and rot used to improve the suburbs
exclusively, when there is SO much work nec-
essary to be done in the city to make the
streets and sidewalks presentable. We are
proud of Washington, and there are many un-
slightly sidewalks in plain view in the heart OF
the city that do not make very favorable
impression upon strangers who visit the capi-
tai city ofthe nation"