Evening star., 1899-11-14
Discussion at Meeting of Northeast
Washington Citizens.
EXEMPTIONS OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
Report of the Committee on Street
Improvements.
COM MITTEES APPOIN TED

tlof Inc SUBJECT announced Tor discussion
was the exemption from taxation of real
estate in the District of Columbia. Visiting
members of the several associations were
invited to take part in the discussion.
Before the discussion started President
Tucker thanked the visitors for their at
tendance. and said he desired to announce
the associations committees for the en-
suing year, which he did. as follows:
Executive committee-Evan H. Tucker,
chairman; w. J. Frizzell, DR.. E. W. Kirby,
]. B. Burke, J. R. Colvin. S. Sowerbutts, A.
H. f. Holster. H. H. Martin. n. L. King
and Loring Chapel
On steam railroads.&c.. ]. Frizzell. chair
man: A. H. F. Hulsten. W. o. Miller. NJ. NJ.
kouzer, b. J. OBrien, c. H. Aschenback,
I. A. Rover, Nathan CowsilI and p. w.
Smith.
On streets. avenues and alleys-H. H.
Martin. chairman w r Carver. Jacob
Frech; Loring Chapel, G. B. Rose. S,
sowerbutts. DR. E. W. Kirby W. J. Dunno
A. H. Frear. DR.. l.. d. Walters.
On water, lights and sewers-A. H. F.
Holsten. chairman; J. R. Colvin, ]. B.
Burke. J: H. Rupert, B. Ostman, w. G.
Dunno. W. o. Miller. John II. Eckert and
On assessments and apportionment of ap-
propriations-N. L. King, chairman; w.
Frizzell. ]. B. Burke. Arthur Cowsill, All
bert Robinson, C. H. Mayer. w r. Carver
B. F. Edwards and w. G. Lang.
On pubic parks and spaCes-J. R. Colvin
chairman: J. P. Rudy. J. B. Burke F. A
Gardner. Meyer S. Cohen, NJ C. Connolly
d. K. Hackman and A. ]. Buehler
On schools-Loring Chapel. chairman
G. B. Rose. w: o. Miller, H. H. Martin, W.
b. Patterson, DR.. Starr Parsons, Meyer S.
Cohen. F. A. Sebring, F. D. Foster, A j.
Buehler and w. @. Lang.
On public conveyance-J. B. Burke,
chairman; n. L. King, p. w. Smith, N CT.
Fowler. G. B. Rose, B. F. Edwards, David
Burdette and J. p. Rudy
On proposed legisiatiGn-Evan H. Tucker
chairman; DR.. f. NJ. Gallaudet, w |. Friz-
zell, Arthur Cowsiil, DR.. h. W. Kirby,
Jacob Frech, DR.. L. D. Walters and e. A.
Sebrins.
On sanitary affairs-Dr. E. w Kirby,
chairman; w. r. Carver. G. II. Aschen-
back, w. j. Dunno, DR.. l.. D. Walters NJ
{. Connolly, DR.. Starr Parsons, F. d. Fos-
ter and Meyer S. Cohen.
On police and fire departments-S Sower-
butts, chairman; j. w. Hughes, w. Don
aldSon. T. A. Perry. G. Gr.eDeI. Never 5
Cohen, John A. Eckert, A. Ostman and G.
H Aschenback.
Objects of the Meeting.
Mr.. Frizzell was called upon by President
Tucker to outline the objects of the meet
ing. In reponse to this invitation Mr. Friz-
zell read a report of the assessor made
several years ago, which, he said, showed
that Al per cent of the property of the Dis
trict had to bear the burden of taxation.
Since then this property has been increased
until now only about IL per cent of the
property pays the taxes. Reference was
made to Howard University and Ceorpe-
town University. The former. Mr. Frizzell
said, lends money, and when a foreclo-
sure is made and the title is transferred
1t Is Immediately placed in the list of non
taxable property. Concerning GEORGETOWN
University, he SAID part of the land about
the institution is used for agricultural pur-
poses. Other colleges, he said, own large
tracts Of land on which they pay no taxes.
Regarded as Injustice.
Mr. F. L. Siddons, who addressed the as
sociation, said The present method of taxa
ton falls heavily upon the owners of homes
and it is to them unjust. He realized the
Importance attached to the question under
discussion and said he thought it was one
a IL aHce, not OIsry to the peo-
pie of the District, but to the country al
large. The question: he thought, should be
discussed in all its phases. The method of
taxing people, he believed, should be given
a full ventilation.
Mr. L. NJ. Saunders. representing the
brlSht"ood Cltlzcns Association, said the
n pc pc an uppor-
tunty of voting upon the question
President Linton of the North Capitol
and lexington Association said he ia
vored every man bearing his share of the
burden of taxation. He favored the TAX
ing from the statute books of the personal
tax law He believed in lending all assist
ance possible to churches and colleges, but
this, he said, should apply only to the
ground actually built upon. All should be
treated alike. He said he knew of two in
stances where churches pay taxes on ground
adjoining their little structures, and upon
which they some day hope to build. He re-
ferred to the lexington Presbyterian
Church and the United Brethren Church.
President Shoemaker of the Brghtwood
Citizens Association also made a few re-
q of whit ha
pimented the citizens associations for the
good work they are doing. He did not be-
neVe the Commissioners were giving the
question of taxation the proper considera-
ton. He read a decision of the United
States Supreme Court. and said in view of
that decision property owned by churches
and not actually used for church purposes
is not exempted.
Major J. B Burke addressed the meeting
at length. He said he is opposed to the
exemption of any property from taxation
except that of the general and local govern
ments.
Quotes Former President.
Mr.. Chase Roys read an extract from a
of the late President Grant to Con-
gress in 1915 concerning the accumulat ton
of church property. He favored the tax
alton of church property and said it was
due to the accumulation of church prop
erty that the trouble in the Philippines is
III progress. he Sdlu ne realized that
pressing the question might provoke some
antagonism, but nobody anticipated a
change without trouble.
A letter was received from the North
Capitol and lexington Association asking
Tor assistance i'll 5 efforts TO have arith-
metic taught in the eighth grade of the
public schools. The letter was referred to
the school committee, with instructions to
report at the next meeting.
Report of Street Committee
Chairman Martin of the street committee
presented report of his committee which
was in substance as follows:
by an examination of the report of the
District Commissioners for the year ending
June 30, 1898, we find that the northeast
section has but 13. 70 miles of paved streets
while the northwest has 90 Sc miles paved.
and while the northeast has $3.50 per cent
OF its streets unimproved, the northwest has
but 7.So per cent unimproved. BY personal
inspection of the streets and avenues of
this section we find them to be in very
bad condition, many being in state of ma
ture, without even cutters or crosswalks:
and while many Of the streets are built
upon by good class of property and the
residents are compelled to endure the mud.
dust and inconvenience of these roads
many streets in the other sections have
been and are being paved where there are
no buildings