Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-17
Curious INSTRUMENTATION

The recent debate in the House over the
appropriation for the removal OF snow and
ice from the streets OF Washington devel-
oped statements involving some curious
misinformation concerning the relations of
nation and capital. The discussion was in
the nature Of filibuster upon the Mica
raguan canal proposition and in this fact
may be found the explanation of Iooseness
and inaccuracy of expression, of which the
people Of the District might justly COM
plain. If the words were seriously intended
as anything but time-consumers.
\ South Dakota representative, for in
stance. referred TO the tax burdens which
his constituents bore for the benefit Of the
comparatively untaxed people of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. and spoke of the latter's
low tax assessment.
The District Of Columbia contributes more
10 the national taxes than all South Da-
kOta. In the item OF duties on imports the
former has custom house, through which
considerable contributions fioe into the
Rational treasury. II the consumer pays
these duties. Washington, as u large sea-
cuaSt city, is ii far heavier consumer of i'm
ported and dutiable articles. and conseq-
u-ntIy a larger tax payer than an inland
prairie community like South Dakota. The
only national taxes that fan directly, IN
m'stakahly and in ascertainable amounts
upon Americans are the internal revenue
taxes. The District of Columbia contrib
uted in $50 in internal revenue taxation
for the support Of the national government
not only more than South Dakota. but
more than the combined contributions of
South Dakota, Maine, Vermont, Missis-
sIIpi North Dakota, Idaho and Wyoming.
These states cast fourteen votes in the
SeLate and eighteen in the House while
the District. which exceeds their COM
0ined national tax contribution has no
rei,res ntatiye in the national legislature
which Is paid from and which disbursas
this national fund. The per capita contri-
button OF the Washingtonian to internal
revenue taxation Is greater than that of
lAe residents Of twenty-five states and five
territories The Washingtonian paws into
The fund from which are drawn the sal
ares OF the South Dakotan's representa-
lives and senators nearly six times AZ
much as the South Dakotan himself. The
south DakOtan total contribution to tn.
national taxes is insignificant. and to the
SinaI amount devoted 70 the national capi-
tai its contribution Is infinIteslnlal. Its tox
9urdeh Oh mis- description is hardly discern
lSle through u microscope
assessment OF the Washingtonlan is equally
inaccurate Our tax rate as fixed by Con
gress Is low, but our assessment is so very
nigh that the actual tax burden of the
Nashtngtonian. the per capita tax levy. Is
greater, according to the census OF 1890.
than that Of so out of the MSS American
municipalities which had a population ex-
ceeding 400.
The assessed and taxed fraction Of Wash
ington is less than one-half Of the entire
area the government owning the exempted
remainder. The streets are not included as
alleged in the House In the governments
half II appears from extra bulletin No
81 OF the census OF 1890 that the local half
Of the capital was assessed at more than
seven times the value of all Omaha. more
Than three times the value Of all Indianap-
oils. 10 per cent more than the value of all
the great city Of Cleveland. and ten millions
more than twO-thirds of the assessment of
Chicago, with lite vast area, more than