Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-15
WHY GOVERNMENT PAYS
Discussing the $4,000 Appropriation for
Cleaning Streets
Representative Grosyenor aud Grow
Justify the Provision for the EA-
pcnses of the District

On motion of Mr.. Cannon. the House Of
Representatives late yesterday afternoon
passed the resolution appropriating $4,000
To clear the snow from the streets Of Wash
ington, the money to be appropriated one
half from the funds Of the District and one
half from the treasury Of the United States
The resolution was passed after debate. in
which several members opposed the half
and-half system. Mr.. Todd of Michigan was
fearful lest the snow should be removed
from the street car tracks under this APP
preparation. Mr.. Miers OF Indiana objected
to his constituents paying anything toward
work i'm the federal capital
Some interesting speeches were made in
defense of the resolution. Mr.. Grosvenor.
replying to the CRITICISMS Of Mr. Miers anad
MIR. Todd, said
The System Justified.
This question is not a very new one. IL
is not discovery. There could not be
patent taken out on the subject-matter Of
this discussion by reason of its novelty, nor
yet, in my judgment, by reason of its url-
ity. 1t may be well enough, however. to
state that the District of Columbia occu-
pes position widely different from the
city Of Indianapolis or the city OF Columbus
or the city of New York 1 imagine the
gentleman from Indiana could ScarceN
catalogue or enumerate the vast amount OF
real estate In this city owned by the gen
eral government, and the other great in
terests that the government has here. Now,
all this enormous property of the govern
meut is entirely exempt from those assess
ments that make property in Indianapolis
a burden sometimes, and property In the
town in which I live almost calamity Co
a man. No such thing as that comes 10 an
noy the government.
so after a great deal Of study and con-
sideration, II has been thought fair. first
the United States. far more in value than
that of the citizens of the city, and because
of the further fact that this Is the capital
city. that its Identification, its care. its
proper policing, and all that appertains to
the government of a city like this. are In
the interest as well of the Inhabitants as of
the United States-it has been deemed fair
that these expenditures should be placed
upon the basis of 80 per cent to each one OF
these great classes of property holders,
Now. that is the situation precisely, and
the constituents of my friend from Indiana
and my constituents are directly Interested
in this vast body of governmental property
that thus contributes Indirectly to the care
and preservation of the lives and health
and police organization and water supply
OF the great city of Washington the best
governed city, the best organized city, the
best cared for city. among the civilized ma
lions of the world"
Mr.. Galusha Grow of Pennsylvania said:
Mr.. Chairman, / want to say a word on
this great burden of taxation. Now, If II
was apportioned among all of the districts,
the constituents of each congressional dis
trict would pay, perhaps, 212 cents for
taxes for the city, which is appropriated by
Congress Under the old arrangement as
made, II apportioned to the congressional
districts of the country. what would IL
amount to to Individuals Yet we have this
question up every session of Congress. 1t
has been the same discussion for the last
fifty years over and over again. Are men
willing that this government shall plead he
baby act and say ii has not property
enough to pay its taxesE
What sense Is there In putting onto phi
waite citizens the taxes that belong TO the
government for its own property. whether
hare anywhere else? We hear this in
every Congress, that the people of the lis
trict of Columbia, who do not own much
property in money value as the government
of the United States owns. shall pay the
government taxes. 1t is libel on the
American people to say that they are not
ready to pay the taxes on their own prop
erty anywhere. This "a cents taxes TO a
congressional district We have heard for
fifty years, and what a great burden ii Is
upon the people, and repres sntatives think
they fail in their duty to their constituents
If they do not bring 1t up before Congress
at every session"