davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

Columbia shall be transmitted to Congress
by the Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia at the same time that the regular
annual estimates for expenses of the gov
eminent are submitted by the Secretary OF
the Treasury, and with his action on the
same to be printed in the general book OF
estimates.
1.-The Secretary of the Treasury shall
carefully consider all estimates submitted
to him as above provided, and shall ap-
prove, diSapproye or suggest such changes
In the same. or any item thereof as he may
think the public interest demands: and
after he shall have considered and passed
upon such estimates submitted TO him. he
shall cause TO be made a statement of the
amount approved by him and the fund or
purpose to which each item belongs, which
statement shall be certified by him, and
delivered together with the estimates as
originally submitted to the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia, who shall
transmit the same to Congress.
ITO the extent to which Congress shall
approve Of said estimates. Congress shall
appropriate the amount of 80 per centum
thereof. and the remaining 30 per centum
of such approved estimates shall be levied
and assessed upon the taxable property and
privileges in said District other than the
property of the United States and of the
District of Columbia, and all proceedings In
the assessing, equalizipg and leyying OF
said taxes the collection thereof. the list
ing return and penalty for taxes in arrears,
the advertising LOT SAFE aiu llt sale OF
property for delinquent taxes. the redemp-
lion thereof, the proceedings to enforce the
lien upon unredeemed property. and every
other act and thing now required to be done
in the premises, shall be done and per-
formed at the time and in the manner now
provided by law, except in so far as II
otherwise provided by this act"
Credit Due the Experimental Govern
ment.
he passage of this bill and the assump-
ton by the general government Of one-half
of the expenses of the District afforded I'M
mediate rel.ef-;he amount collected for the
wear 1878 was about S3.0o0,000. one-half
derived from taxation ard oEe-half appro-
priatod from the treasury OF the United
States This act has now been in force for
twen.y-four years: the debt OF the District
has bean reduced about $1,000. 600 by the
operation of the sinking fund. and the in
sreasing expenditure OF the local govern
mont for general expenses and enlarged
improve n,ents fully met. Much criticism
was evoked at the Revolutionary acts of the
exnerinental government of 1S71-1s74, but
it is generally conceded now that to the
bod assumption CT authority exercised by
the board of public works. to the unparal-
e.ed zeal and courage of Its executive. the
pre sent city owes its position as worthy OF
character as the capital city and as .
=. :. CT ocal pride and congrtulation
~i;i2sna LEWIS ]. 0AvA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

Alexander Ray. VIM. j. Stephenson, Chas.
Edmonston, Samuel Bacon, E. E. White
John Pettibone. John Marbury, jr.
''Taxation-Wm H. Clagett, VIM. Dixon,
George w. Cochran, John F. Cook, G.
Lansburg, Nathaniel Wilson, John w
Boteler, j. ]. Johnson. Richard w. Tomp-
kinS.
District finances-W. w. Corcoran. Lewis
J Davis H. Nj. Sweeney, Edward Temple
Daniel B. Clarke, Samuel Norment, ]. c. G.
Kennedy, ]. Fl. Savi,le.
County statistics-Conway Robinson, E.
]. Middleton, jr., DR.. Christie. B. d. Car
penter. b. T. Swartz, ]. p. Klinsle. John
Saul and E. c. Dean.
ION motion of General Beale that a COM
mittee of five be appointed to wait upon
Speaker Randall and urge that the commit
tee of the House of Representatives in
which District affairs are considered, be
composed of none but members friendly
disposed to the District considerable dis
cussion followed, developing variety of
views, but the motion was finally adopted.
and the chair appointed General Beale. J.
6. Berret S. v. Niles and Horatio King"
The Statement to Congress.
The committee appointed at the meeting
at Wizards Hall went to work at oncs
with great zeal and industry; the memor-a
or petition was signed by our people aimas
universally. and the committee Reported Is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

surate with the prlncely grant under which
the government now holds nearly a hum
dred millions of real estate, or with tho
grand design and expectations of the
founders of the republic and its capital. an
manifested by their early acts. they have
al all times admitted the national obiga-
tons and responsibilities in this regard"
See report of Senator Southland, I'd Feb
ruarv. 1850
See report of Senator Brown, 18th May.
1858
See report of House committee on d. c..
18th Nav 1872.
See report of House committee on judi
ciary. LIST Junr 1874.
See report of joint committee Of two
houses. 9TH December. 1874.
See report of joint committee of two
houses, 1876.
1t would take too much space to quote
more largely from this and other reports
made by the subcommittee TO the commit
tee of one hundred, able and exhaustive al
they are. They may be found printed in
full in the pamphlets published at that time
by the committees.
The Organic Act.
The following is part of the text of the
act
"Bill providing for the permanent gov
eminent by the District. introduced in the
House of Representatives, II. r. 1888"
THE annual estimates of the District OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

81 Columbia. consisting of a governor,
council and board of public works. appoint
ed by the President of the United States
and confirmed by the United States Senate.
and a house of delegates, elected by the
people
One OF the first acts Of the legislative as
0embly was passed August 3d. 1871, entitled
IN act prescribing the duties of certain off,
GERS for the District Of Columbia, and fix
ing their compensation. This was a very
comprehensive act. going into details of
taxation. OF the duties Of officers Of the
local administration and their remunera-
tion, and Of the application of the sums
collected to the various expenses of the
District government.
The board of public works was only so
far referred to in this legislation, as in the
act OF August 10. 1871, entitled An act
prescribing the mode Of assessments for
special improvements and providing for
the collection thereof"
A Debt Fixed in 1872
In the assembly on January 10, 1872 an
Gct was passed for the payment Of the
debts Of the corporation of Washington,
and a similar act. June 20, 1872, for the
payment of the debts of the levy court.
and for the payment Of the debts Of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

membership upon the general committee
should hand them in, it was des irable to
have full representative member. hip. He
asked if it was the sense of the meeting
that in the announcement of the commit
tees the chair was prvil god to go outside
the general committee for selections.
THE meeting dtc dtd AFT mativtiy.
The following committees, far filed
out, were then announced:
"EXecutive-W. w. Corcuran. George Tay-
lor, Richard Wallach, S J. Bowen, John F.
Cook. 5. V. Niles c. &. Church. DR. \. y.
P. Garrett Thomas p. Morgan, Judge Mac
Arthur Horatio King Joan Hitz. J. F.
Ennis, J l.. Simms, A s. Solamons, H. A.
Willard. w. s. Cox. W. Il. CldgSett l., =.
Gobright, William Dixon NJ. W Gait, W.
G. Metzerott W. H. Philips, c. II. Mat
T. Britton. r. c. Fox. w II. Ga t, VIM.
Sticlney, j. +. Barbour Conway Robinson.
S. II. Kaufman, Judge Andrew Wylie.
J. A. Baker, VIM. Ballantyne, w. d. DAY.
idge, Joseph Shillington, w. NJ. Beverage,
j. G. Berret, Ct. a. Bohrer, ]. NJ. Wilson,
E. j. Middleton, jr., j. NJ. Van Buskirk, G.
F. Pefk, Gen +. f. Beall.
"Printiug-S. H Kaufman. ]. G. Judd.
Richard Mohun, j. E. Fitch, W. II. Morri-
son.
"Finance-Wm. Dixon, ]. L. Barbour, B.
H. Warner. r. w. bowman, ID. w Middle
ton, jr., Horatio Browning.
"Press-A Gobright a. NJ. Clapp. John
Lynch, j. c. Miller, Dom Piatt. ID. c. For
ney. L n. Burritt, John Morris and w. II.
Clarke.
Public schools-B. G. Lovejoy, W. W.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

appeal TO Congress and an investigation
After thorough inquiry and investigation
the acts of the board as to the creation OF
the debt were disapproved. and the powers
which had been exercised by the members
thereof transferred to the three Commits
sloners authorized to be appointed under
act of June 90 1874. There was at this
time left unsolicited vast amount Of spe-
cial taxes and an undetermined amount Of
District debt incurred by the board of pub:
lie works. This last sum was evidenced by
certificates of the treasurer Of the board
and other claims growing out of the execu-
ton of contracts. and 1t was provided that
all such claims should be submitted to a
board of audit, composed OF the two con-
troilers of the treasury, which should issue
certificates for the amounts found due on
the same, and in the act of June 20. 1874,
the commissioners Of the sinking fund were
dire ted to issue bonds OF the District bear
ing interest at 3.C5 per cent per annum and
having fifty years to run and to exchange
said bonds for the certificates previously
authorized. The amount of such bonds is:
sued to November. 1878, was s13, 743, $50, and
the total District debt so. 122. 941.
The Government Pledged.
In authorizing the issue Of the 3.G5 bonds
Congress inserted in the act, and sthere
was inscribed on the bonds, the following
pledge OF the faith Of the government:
And the faith Of the United States Is here
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

OF acting in this matter by previous ap-
preparation, without having first fixed by
general law the proportion of cost of i'm
provement chargeable to individual proprie-
tors and the proportion chargeable to the
United States"
This uncertain condition az to the proper
Tomato liability for the expenses of the Dis
trict as between Congress and its citizens
Is further exemplfed by the heavy expendi-
ture Of the District government in other
branches of administration In December,
1873. the superintendent of public schools
writes: 1T is clearly evident that the city
cannot sustain the burden of taxation
CURED to carry on our present system of
public schools. For the purpose of ascer-
tanning what proportion of the parents or
guardians of pupils in our schools are tax
payers here, l recently procured a complete
list from the registers OF our schools The
list contained the names of 2iG parents or
guardians of pupils and of this number
only GO, or $3.50 per cent, were taxpayers.
The list might be extended to other
sources of expenditure by the government
OF the District for police, board of health.
interest, etc, showing how, in the event of
the financial burdens resting upon the Dis
trict not being relieved by permanent law
assuming on the part of the general govern
ment a just proportion of the District liza
bilities, ii must inevitably result in the
bankruptcy of this community.
The Commissionership Government.
The system of government was again
changed, June 90 1874. continuing. however,
the sinking commissioners, but placing the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

ward. Let them cultivate little OF the
missionary spirit and all improve every oc-
caSion to impress upon Congress the I'M
portance of simple justice TO a people impov-
erished by a stupendous debt imposed by
agents of the general government. 1t was
not his purpose nor his disposition to criti-
else the acts of individuals in the past; the
present was enough for them to meet. The
eyes of the community are upon them, and
every member of these committees is ex-
pected to do his duty Love of country and
the place of his birth, where he had spent
the best days of his life and expected to
end his career. The taxable property of,
the citizens of this District and that owned
by the general government are nearly
equal and the duty of this committee to be
announced by the chair is to impress upon
every member of Congress the equity of a
division Of the costs of running the capital
city of the country and making 1t worthy
Of being the national metropolis. (Applause)
Judge Joseph Casey was the next speak
er. He said the statistical statement made
by Mr.. Davis, that the debt of this Dis
trct was upward of S23, 100000 was a sad
commentary on past public mismanage-
ment, but should arouse them to their duty
for the present. They are reminded by this
showing that their entire real estate in this
District is mortgaged to the extent of over
p per cent of its value. This condition Of
things has a most depressing effect upon
real estate here. Here real estate has never
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

Curtis. ]. o. Wilson, ]. E. Thompson.
James Wormley, B. f. Lloyd.
'Police-A. T. Britton P. F. Bacon, John
Markriter, Z. G. Davis, DR.. w. S. Thomp
son. George White and Thomas Somer-
Vile.
Fire observation-disclosures p Morgan, G.
NJ. Oyster, VIM. Dickson, Joseph Redfern,
George r. Wilson, E. NJ. Gray and P. n.
Dubant.
'Legislation-W. S Cox, w B. Webb, NJ.
F. Morris, w. d. Davidge and Enoch Tot
ten, Eugene Carusi, w. F. Mattingly, A.
.I lellc1 W. Gait. ]. c. Hark-
ness, S j. Bowen. ]. Van R:swick, T. L.
Hume, DR.. c. b. Purvis, Wright Reeves,
H A. Clark, W. NJ Shuster, A. R. Shep-
herd. H Clay Stewart William r. Smith.
w. D. Baldwin, Judge J. w. Wright, Hor-
ace Capron, l.. w. Kennedy. II. A. Willard,
A. NJ Smith, A. L. Barbour. James God
dard Josiah Dent, c. c. Willard, VIM. G.
Moore DR.. c. B. Maxwell.
Health department-Dr. A. Y. P. Garrett,
DR.. Samuel Busey, DR.. ]. NJ Toner, g. A.
H Marks DIR. John B. Blake, Dr. Peter
Parker, DR.. Johnson Elliott, DR.. James E.
Morgan, John Marbury, jr.
''Charities-Wm. StickneF. II. Semken, NJ.
G. Emery. A. S. Solomons. John H. Cook,
A Pollock.
"Harbor improvement-Charles B. Church.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

government In the hands of three Commits
sioners instead Of the governor, council,
board of public works and the legislative as
sembly. This act also directed the issue OF
3.65 bonds, to take up the outstanding GER
tif1cates Of the board of audit issued for
certificates OF the board Of public works for
Improvements made, and in the act pledg-
ing the United States by proportionate ap-
preparations and by causing to be levied
such taxes as would do so" to provide the
payment of interest on said bonds and their
payment at maturity. By the end of 1877
the funded debt of the District of Columbia
was So, 09S, $50.
Growth of Indebtedness.
The debts so far referred to were debts OF
the old corporation of Washington and the
four-million loan authorized by the legisla-
ture; meantime the board of public works.
which was not under the control of the leg
islature had incurred a large debt outside
of the authorized expenditure OF the pro-
ceeds of the four-million loan. The rapid
growth of this Indebtedness and the lack
of provision for meeting the same alaru-ed
the citizens of the District, and led to an
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

corporation OF Georgetown. Commission
srs Of the sinking fund, by an act passed at
che same time. were authorized to settle
oil such claims and directed and empow-
sred TO issue registered or coupon bonds of
the city of Washington to an amount sufIi-
dent to cover said debts of the city OF
Washington not then funded. This act Fro
Vided that the aggregate debt of the Dis
trict should not exceed the sum Of ten
million dollars.
On July IL. 1871. the legislative assembly
passed an act authorizing the issue of
n. 10000 in bonds. In accordance with a
plan of improvement submitted to said
legislature by the board of public works.
An act authorizing an additional issue Of
khe same amount of bonds was passed Au-
gust 10. 1871; but. on submitting the ques-
6on to vote Of the people, only one loan
u 81 5000 coo was authorized.
On June 23 1873, a further authorization
Of bonds was made to cover the discount
allowed on the negotiation OF the 81. 900, 900
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
ed present annual requirements of the


Mr.. Davis explained that the tax-paying
capacity of the District. as based upon the
present assessed valuation of property,
yields S1,500 900 revenues, which Is just
about one-half of what is needed to meet
current expenses.
MIR. John T. Given said the apathy that
had been manifested by the people Of this
District the past few years, in view of their
financial condition, was to him surprising.
The exhibit just read of our Indebtedness
ought to arouse them to a sense Of their
danger. and he believed it would. To eff
feet their common object they must be
unit. This, above all things else, is neces
saTy, and they must know no sectional nor
partisan prejudices in this labor. The in=
terests of Georgetown are Identical with
Washington, and the same may be said OF
the county outside. (Applause.) Their
work, then, IS to map out what Is to be
done and make it's accomplishment a com
mon cause. They all know the Importance
Of systematic organization and unity after
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

other committees OF nine members each.
and that they be named by the chair.
Mr.. r. s. Davis thought the number nee
essary to constitute the several committees
should be left to the discretion CT the chair.
The chair remarked that he thought the
executive committee should be a large o1e
and composed of all classes of our people.
He suggested that any one present who had
names of proper persons u propose for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

been inflated as it has been in Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and IN other large cities; but
this terrible mortgage. like an incubus,
nightmare, is hanging over us, and they
must look upon this state of affairs as bust
ness men, and the only thing which remains
is to present this showing. to Congress-
which has exclusive jurisdiction, and ask
that they take the respons, bility of their
own agents. He wished to avoid touching
upon any of the partisan questions which
mad heretofore entered into cur local af-
fairs. Let the dead past be forgotten. They
know that the debt is hanging like a cloud
over them, and provision FIR its eXtinguish-
n1ent has to be made. 1t on that occa-
SION for them to suggest and arrange what
shall be done. Whatever is done, let the
plans be well laid, and the attainment of
the needed object be made common cause.
Whether this plan should be for a stated
division of the expenses of the District,
for Congress to take the entire District into
its own charge; pay all expenditures and
tax the people for reimbursement, or any
other plan, is for them to consider; but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

the children OF non-residents and non-tax-
payers and of the exhaustion we are now
laboring under from our efforts to improve
and beautify the national capital we VEN
ture to ask that the governments proper
ton of the expense be fixed at 90 per cent,
and necessary legislation provided there
for.
Potomac Rivers Needs.
1.-The condition of the Potomac river, we
humbly represent, now requires immediate
attention, both for the reservation Of COM
merce and the health Of the resident popu
lation, in which view the question becomes
a national one, depending thereupon the
health Of officers of the United States and
representatives of foreign governments sta
toned here. The well-established policy Of
the government has been to preserve the
navigation OF all important rivers and to
remove therefrom such DEPOSITS and accre-
tons as were detrimental to the public
health. The Potomac river, one of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

largest and most important in the country,
has been overlooked until its condition has
become alike dangerous to health and
threatening to navigation. We therefore
venture to ask that an appropriation be
made at an early date for the improvement
Of the river.
1.-The rule adopted by the government Of
distributing federal patronage through the
several states has resulted in bringing to
this city large numbers Of persons. male
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

fiscal affairs Of the District had drifted:
I'm continuing, by the act of March 3.
1878 to follow the method of reimburse
ment instead of anticipatory appropriations,
and In not making at the same time any
Apr opriations for future work, although
well knowing that such work must and
would be done-CongresS would seem to
have been conscious Of the impracticability
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
CAPITAL AND NATION
How Their Relations Were
Finally Adjusted.
ORGANIC ACT OF 1878
YEARS OF NEGLECT THREATENED
LOCAL BANKRUPTCY.
Great Uprising of Westinghouse
Resulted IN Tardy Congress
sional Action.
ORGANIC ACT OF 1878

The form of government which had ex-
listed from the year 1S02, under a mayor. al
derman and council. for the city of Wash
ington, under a similar form Of government
for Georgetown. and under a levy court for
the county. was changed February p. 1871,
and in lieu thereof there was established a
new form Of government for the District
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

whatever Is adopted, let all pursue the
same object with energy and perseverance.
(Applause)
1.-THE char thought the proper course was
before Congre4 esuch matters Of legisla-
ton as al agree upon as best for the Dis
trict.
Judge Casey sugEested that this COM
mittee be composed of nfteen members. and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

MT. Geo. M. Oyster.
han. The bonded debt of the District ex-
listing December 81. 1873, was, as stated by
The controller, So 521 $50: the assessed value
Of real estate In the entire District as stat
cd by the superintendent OF assessments, In
aS14. was SOC. 433, 6I2.
An Embarrassing Situation.
The following extract from an opinion
given by Mr.. Caleb Gushing will indicate
the embarrassing condition into which the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

and female, for employment in the different
departments. The frequent changes there
In and recent reductions Of force have left
a large number of these persons in our city
without means of support upon the charity
of this community, which at this time is
scarcely. If at all. able to take care of its
resident poor We beg to urge this as
strong reason for liberal appropriations in
behalf of our charitable institutions
IN conclusion, your petitioners would
refer to their record in the past as a law
abiding and taxpaying community, and ex-
press an earnest desire to cooperate with
the representatives of thes general govern
ment in making this the worthy capital OF
a great nation"