Evening star., 1900-03-24

chase of homes. 1t would favor industry by
tightening the burden of taxation upon
houses, which is the great product of la
Dor. 1t would result in the use of larger
lots of land in connection with individual
homes. and would facilitate the purchase
by poorer citizens of better houses than
they now occupy. The relief from paying
SO per year per 81 600 may not seem to be
much, but the report states that it repre-
sents the full average weekly wage of
mechanic The report further urges that
this reduction Of revenue would not prob
that 1t would be Offset speedily by the in
creased production of houses and the in
creased revenue derived from appreciated
land values.
Appended to the report are resolutions
embodying the above Views and also cita-
tionS from reports of tax commissioners
and commissions and other authorities of
the states of New York, Massachusetts,,
New Jersey. Ohio. Illinois, West Virginia,
Pennsylvania and California setting forth
the failure of the present tax laws:
The report is signed by the following
members of the committee: ]. B. Wilson.
chairman; NJ. I. Weller, Sam. S. Bond, ].
Fl. Ra,ston. V. Baldwin Johnson. VIM. Jno.
Miller, VIM. Oscar Roome. Raymond ].
Donaldson, Andrew Wilson, Ralph P. Bar
nard. N. L. Burcheil.
Question of Exemptions.
Upon the conclusion of the reading of the
report, Mr. Jesse, B. Wilson, the chairman
Of the committee. stated that the portion
referring to the exemption: from taxes Of
houses was withdrawn.
The secretary read resolutions embodying
the recommendations of the report, and
they were considered seriatm.
The first resolution provided that said
bill should be amended to exclude from
taxation charitable institutions not for
gain"
Mr.. Christian Heurich said he wished to
correct a statement in the report that brew
ers make such large sums of money. In
stead of that, he added, after paying their
taxes and other expenses there was but
little left.
In the opinion of W. R. Bramhall, when
the first resolution came up, there should
be no exemption OF any property. He
thought 1t was unjust.
MIR. Josiah Millard was also Of the opin-
ion that there should be no exemptions in
taxes on real estate. He thought that in
the proportion that his principle was car
ried out the burden of taxation would be
lessened.
A motion was made by Mr.. NJ. I. Weller
to lay the amendment on the table. and a
protest being made that this would cut Off
debate, Mr.. Weller stated that such was
not his purpose, but rather than to seem
to check debate he would withdraw his
motion.
Could See No Reason.
Mr.. V. Baldwin Johnson said that after
giving this subject a good deal Of thought
he knew Of no reason why church property
should be exempted.
Mr.. Weller stated that the committee had
considered this matter, but had reached the
conclusion that this was not a propitious
| time for such a change.
Mr.. Johnson said that the entire commit
tee was of the opinion that church prop
erty ought to be taxed. but he shared with
the committee the view that this was not
the time to press the matter.
Mr.. F. l.. SiddOns said that the resolution
did not oppose the exemption of church
property from taxation. but simply ex-
pressed the opinion that charitable institu-
tionS ought to be exempted if church prop
erty was so favored.
Mr.. John H. Magruder thought 1t would
be a mistake to tax church property, and
he was opposed to the amendment.
shown by Statistics.
Statistics were quoted by Mr.. W. ]. Friz-
eel. showing that IA per cent of the prop
| erty in the District was now exempt from
| taxation. and he thought the situation was
one that required action reducing the
amount of the exempt property
The amendment was then lost, and the
resolution was unanimously adopted
without debate:
That taxes should be collected semI-an-
| nually. as proposed by said BILL
| That. believing a tax on personal prom
Sity hIiIil4cdi TO lno DeSt interests of this
| District. We are opposed to the enactment
| of any law providing therefor"
Taxation of Corporations.
TIL next resolution was that II any spe.
| cial tax be levied on corporations not en-
| joying public franchises such tax should
| be levied on net earnings"
| Mr.. George Truesdell asked the chairman
| OF the committee why corporations enjoy
! ing public franchises should be excepted
| He said the inference from the resolution
! was that such corporations should be taxed
on gross earnings
| Mr.. ]. H. Ralston. for the committee. ex-
| planned that it was not intended to sue-
1 gest any method of taxing such corpora
| tions. as great differences of opinion existed
| on this subject, and therefore the resolu-
| tion was so worded as not to commit the
| board to any one of these views
| MIR. Truesdeii said the explanation was
entirely satisfactory. The resolution was
| adopted.
Occupation Taxes.
The next and last resolution was adopted
as follows: THAT occupation taxes should
| only be levied to insure identification and
for police purposes, or only in the event OF
| absolute necessity to insure revenue, and
| the said bill should be so amended "a IN
| attain this end and no other"
Mr.. Ralston explained that the COMMITTEES
/ submitted no resolution in regard to tins
| exemption Of houses up to 81 600 of assess.
| ed valuation from taxation but II was
| hoped the board would give attention to this
| part of the report, so that when the sub
| ject was brought up at some future day
| 1t would not come as q surprise II was
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