The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-24

Al the meeting OF the Board OF Trade
held last evening at the assembly room
OF the Masonic Temple, Ninth and F
Streets northwest, reports Of committees
were received and the secretary was di-
rected to-read that OF the Committee on
Taxation which was. IN part, follows:
The Commissioners Of the District OF
Columbia have very cOurteously referred
10 the Board Of Trade for its opinion
bill proposed TO be introduced In Congress,
the title Of which is An act to regulate
the assessment and collection Of taxes and
licenses in the District of Columbia and
for other purposes, and this bill, in con-
formity with the rules of your honorable
body, has for the past two weeks received
the careful examination and consideration
Of your committee on taxation.
.'In the course Of our investigation we
have had regard not alone TO the particu-
lar features of the bill in question. but
also 70 the subject OF taxation with rela-
tion 20 legislation Of this general char2c-
ter, so that we might form an intelligent
Judgment as 10 the details Of the proposed
hin and as well to the rightfulness OF such
legislation.
"Rcfcrring in the first place 10 some OF
the details il has seemed To us that II
church property were 10 BE in any degree
exempted from taxation. 80 also for per
haps stronger reasons, should be property
OF charitable organizations not conducted
for profit.
again. your committee believes that
the bin is fairy subject to criticism In
that &c provides for the payment Of the
whole tax In the month of May We be-
Iicye that the interests Of the community
would be suhserved in a larger degree by
the preservation Of the present system OF
semi annual payments Experience teach
- that small payments at frequent inter
walls are more apt 10 be maintained by
those charged herewith than larger pay
menis al more distant intervals. We have
regarded the argument that by paying at
the end OF the year instead OF at the end
or each six months. the taxpayer would
gain the benefit Of six months interest as
being more specious than sound. and find
Shal frequent payments would tend toward
Systematic economy
'Fr0m the standpoint Of business men,
we cannot lose sight of the fact that even
row credit is often interfered with by the
large Withdrawals OF money from our
banks through the payment Of taxes every
six months If the Withdrawals were dOu-
bly a. large at the end Of the year. We
should anticipate great difficulty 10 our
business men in obtaining proper CONNER
cial credits during the months Of May,
june. and perhaps July
tended to provide for mere systematic col
lection OF personal taxes than at present
prevails. and for q great variety Of OcCu-
paliOn taxes in the shape Of licenses. some
OF which are reduced from the figures now
obtaining.
The report OF the committee takes up
separately the features Of the bill calling
attention TO Irregularities and contradic-
lions.
Regarding personal taxations the report
says. "A personal tax is inquisitorial in
its nature as indeed is illustrated by the
pending bill. It demands from the owner
an exposure OF the condition Of his business
affairs, which exposure, from the soundesi
business reasons, he may be unwilling to
make
Continuing It SAYS that for reasons entire
u human. false returns as to personal
property are rendered, that personal taxes
are unequal and that a personal tax does
not commonly reach those at whom ir is
directed II says. a personal tax is al
WAYS a double tax, sometimes obviously So
often times not so generally recognized. but
always Of the same character. All personal
property cannot be taxed. and for this
reason such a tax operates unequally. The
report states that a personal tax may be
eyaded and that the direct result of the
same is 20 interfere with thrift and throt-
lie industry. II further says. The asses
sor can know little Of the personal proper
ty he assesses nor can any board of as
SCISSORS be made large enough TO meet the
exigeucies Of the occasion"
Regarding the tax on corporation it is
ihe opinion OF the committee that il any
special tax is TO be levied as TO corpora
lions, 10 should be tax upon their net
earnings. this method presenting the
minimum Of evil incident 70 any tax levied
upon this special subject OF taxation.
The chairman Of the committee on char
Sly submitted a resolution TO the effect
thai The committee on charities and cor
rsrfien DE authorized 20 urge the passage
by Congress Of a bill to provide for a Mu-
uiCipal Hospital for the District Of Co
lumba The report was adopted unaui-
nOusIy.
The committee on parks and rrserya-
lions through It's chairman. offered q res
oiution that was adopted that the Board
Of Trade respectfully and earnestly urge the
Senate Appropriation Committee to insert
she item Of $50. 900 for care and improve
usnt OF Rock Greek Park. estimates pro-
Nided Tor by the Commissioners or the Dis
5rict DOB the book of estimates and which
was not reported by the Appropriations
Committee of the House of Representa-
tiYes.
Henry T. BloUnt. chairman on parks and
reservations offered the following Tes0lu-
tion which was adopted: Resolved. That
the committee on parks and reser, atoms
heartily and unanimously cOmend o the
beard OF Trade and to Congress tie con-
tnuation Of the National Park system
along Rock Greek from Geological Park.
south TO Massachusetts Avenue on the
east side and TO L Street on the west"
The tract. exclusive Of donations viii
cost i'm the neighbOrhOod of 5000, 600 AMI
embraces about thirty-one acres. as fol-
lows: JudsOn heirs. Is acres. Barnard
heirs. . acres; c. c. Glover, acres; J. W.
Thompson 10 acres; II. 2. and T. e. Wag
Eaman. 800 900 feet tdonation). The COM
mittee recommended action 20 prevent tue
use OF the banks of Rock Creek within the
city for a dumping ground, and TO pre-
vent the pollution OF the stream, by TAX
ing the ground for park, and improving
{. b. terraces and driveways A petition
10 the same effect from DR.. Busey. Presl-
dent OF the Medical Society Of the District.
was also read.
The committee on commerce and manu-
features submitted a resolution which did
not appear sufficiently clear and distinct
in lis wording. The members Of this COM
mittee advanced arguments in favor OF
Inducing manufacturing concerns TO locate
IN this city 50 that young people can find
some sort Of employment. The commit
zee Will submit at the next meeting of the
8Oard a specific and detailed report and
an evening will be set aside for its special
consideration.
Departure OF the Philadelphia.
The Navy Department was notified today