Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-29

SUGGESTION FOR FOUNDING ONE ON
THE ARLINGTON RESERVATION.
without the Aanoysaoss Of Taxes and L.
sensss-A No Monopoly Clty-Fres Sites
For Homes - Preliminary Organization
J Already Enected-A Novel Scheme.


Already Enected-A Novel Scheme.
Lying In Virginia opposite the city of
Washington Is tho Arlington reservation,
tho property of tho United States, contain
ing 1, 100 acres about 200 acres of which
are used as soldiers cemetery and u
military post, the remaining 900 acres ly-
ing idle. There Is milo of water front on
the Potomac and high, level ground at the
back, thus affording good sites for manu-
featuring and for homes.
II has been proposed to build city on
this site, to be known as Justicia the plan
to be substantially as follows:
Congress to enact law authorizing and
requiring the secretary Of war to proceed
forthwith to lay off such land In suitable
streets, alleys, lots and other necessary
spaces; to grade and pave and otherwise
prepare for use section of such land and
to provide comprehensive plans for supply
ing sewer, water gas, electric and street
railway systems and suitable bridge to
connect directly with the city of Washing
ton.
That thereafter any who shall so desire
shall be permitted to take for permanent
use one or moro of said lots, on condition
that there shall be paid therefor, semian-
nually, a ground tax which shall be equiv
alent to the full economic rental value
thereof, exclusive Of any value due to i'm
provements thereon; such rental value to
be determined on the basis Of demand in
the same manner as ground rents in other
cities are now detcrmined that upon fail
ure to pay said ground tax within one year
after the same shall become due an occu-
pant may be forthwith elected from said
land and the improvements sold to provide
payment of all unpaid taxes due thereon.
That there shall not be laid In said city
any tax on persons, or on improvements,
or on personal property, or for licenses, or
for privileges, nor shall any fees be pay
able to any public officer, nor shall any
charge be made for water rent.
That all public expenditures shall be
met solely out Of the revenue received
from such ground tax, and that all Of said
ground tax shall be expended for the ben
eft of said city, and that the public uses
to which such fund may be applied, In
Guiding the ordinary uses incident to cities,
shall include baths, libraries, Fairgrounds
and their equipments entertainments and
any other form of use for public benefit
That in anticipation of such revenues
there may be issued In payment for public
expenditures notes which shall bear no in
terest and shall be receivable in payment
of any public dues and3egal tender in pay
ment Of all debts, but such notes shall not
exceed in volume 800 per capita Of the
population of the city, except that 81 000,-
900 may be forthwith issued to be used in
defraying the expenses Of laying out the
city. No other form Of public debt shall
be contracted.
That the local government shall lay and
keep in proper condition all lines of COM
munication or transportation requiring
fixtures to be attached to any public place
and shall retain ownership thereof.
That the local government shall consist
of an assembly, which shall be composed
Of such representatives as shall be chosen
by residents Of lawful age who shall have
resided in said city one year; that each
such person shall have one vote for one
representative and may change said vote
any time; that the power of each repre-
sentative shall be equal to the number Of
his constituents; that said assembly shall
choose the executive and judicial officers.
who shall hold office at the pleasure of the
assembly; that said assembly shall enact
such laws and regulations as may be nee
essary for the government of said city.
That the executive shall be vested In
mayor, who shall be responsible for the
execution of all local laws and shall have
authority to appoint all subordinate Off
GERS, who shall hold Office at his pleasure.
Some of the advantages which will be
secured under this plan are: Work for all
who desire employment, higher wages,
valuable land without price, low ground
1nxu oil
cal taxation direct and indirect and known
and unknown; cheaper water, cheaper
gas, cheaper electric light and power
cheaper street railway service, cheaper
commodities, right to transact any busi-
ness without payment of license exemp-
tion from payment of taxes on improve
ments, exemption from payment Of taxes
on personal property, exemption from pay
ment of marriage and burial and other H.
cense fees, an actual voice In affairs of
government, vote that will count one at
all times.
Some of the evils which the plan will
abolish are: Land monopoly, water mo.
nopoly, gas monopoly, electric light and
power monopoly, street railway monopoly,
private business monopoly secured by the
license system, high house rents caused by
the increased cost of materials due TO taxa.
tion thereon, and by taxes on improve.
ments; high prices Of commodities due tC
personal property and license taxes there.
on, the robbery Of widows and orphans
and honest people by personal property
taxation, and Of home owners by taxes on
improvements; the interference with the
right to labor involved in the license sys-
tenn, the petty robberies involved In the
fee system.
Therefore, the city Of Justicia will at.
tract
People of wealth, as place Of residence,
because there they will find beautiful
residence sites and exemption from per
sonal property taxation, and when they die
their widows and orphans will not be rob
bed under the guise of taxation.
Manufacturers, because sites will cost
nothing, and they will be at all times ex
empt from taxation on plant and product
and they can make and use patented ar
ticles without the payment Of royalties.