Evening star., 1902-04-30
What Mr.. Mudd Says.

Mr.. Mudd, acting chairman .sf the House
committee on the District of Columbia. In
discussing the Cannon resolution, said to
q Star reporter today:
so far as the effect of this particular
action is concerned. have no special dis
position TO complain, because there does
seem to be some insurmountable obstacle
In the way Of action upon the personal tax
bill IN the Senate.
LAS an invasion of the rightful iurisdic-
tion of the cCtnmittee on District of CO.
lumbfa, however, and as a dangerous prece-
dent in the direction Of usurpation of
powers by the committee on appro-
priations. that do not belong to 1t,
i regard the passage of the rule as de-
ctdedly regrettable, to say the least 1t
might with Just as much propriety be said
mat II the national government were con-
fronted with deficiency of revenue and
the committee ways and means had
under consideration a tariff bill to supply
revenue. that pending such consideration
the committee on appropriations should be
Clothed with jurisdiction to pass tariff
measure as amendment to one of the
general appropriation bills. / am informed
that the rule had the unanimous support
Of the committee on rules and in such an
event everybody understands the utter fu-
ulity for practical purposes of opposition to
IT, 1t Is bad precedent, however, a dam
gerouS innovation, and in all likelihood will
not conduce to such careful and deliberate
consideration as a general tax measure for
the District ought to have.
The subcommittee on judiciary of the
committee on District of Columbia have
be en- In conference with the Senate Dis
trict committee on the personal tax bill.
1t had been informally agreed to await ac-
ton by the Senate before taking up the
measure by the House committee. My
Judgment is that the bill that We would
have reported would have been more
conservative measure, with less Of the
drastic and inqusitorial in its make up
than [ understand II iS 10 of
the appropriations committee to provide.
1t Is fair to assume from the action of the
committee on rules that those who COM
pose that committee want a more drastic
proposition than II was generally consd-
cred that were inclined to report"
Mr. Pearre of Maryland. a member of the
District committee, said he thought it was
well to have the matter of a personal tax
taken up and discussed by the House. He
saw no objection to the resolution of Mr..
Cannon.
The personal tax law of March 3, 1877,
provides as follows:
That for the support Of the government
Of the District of Columbia for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1878. there shall be
levied upon all lands outside of the cities
Of Washington and Georgetown held and
used solely for agricultural purposes a tax
Of S1.25 on each 500 of the assessed value
thereof, and upon all other real and per-
sonal property in said District, excepting
only the real and personal property of the
United States, and that hereinafter stated,
tax of S1.5O on each 500 Of the assessed
value thereof
Sec. 2. That the amount collected under
the provisions of this act shall be distribut-
ed for the purposes required under the vari-
Gus acts IN force in the District of Column
bia, upon just and fair apportionment, to
be made by the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia or their Successors in
office: Provided. That before any of said
fund shall be expended said apportionment
shall be established and published by said
IEE ct Six ironS
lively in daily newspaper of the District
OF Columbia; and said published apportion-
ment shall stand as the law for the distri-
button OF the funds herein mentioned: Pro-
yided further, That deficiencies in any of
said funds enumerated in said apportion-
ment may be supplied from any surplus in
either Of said funds so apportioned; but,
unless surplus exists. the revenues be-
longing to one fund shall not be applied to
the purposes OF any other fund.
Sec 3. That one-half of the tax levied by
this act upon real and personal property
shall become due and payable on the first
day of November, 1877, and the other one
half OF such tax shall become due and pay
able on the first day of May, 1878; and In
every case where the tax levied by this act
shall be paid in installments as herein au-
thorized, each of said payments shall be
deemed to have been made on the several
funds and for the different purposes indi-
Gated in the second section of this act, and
an equal pro rata proportion of the pay
nnentS so made shall be carried to the credit
of the respective funds.
Sections 4. g. 8 and refer to the proceed
ings to be employed In the sale of real es-
tate which fails to pay the installments of
tax within the year due and to the dis
traint and sale Of goods and chattels where
the personal tax is not paid.
SEQ. 8. That the property exempt from
taxation under this act shall be the follow
ing and no other, namely: First, the Cor
coran Art building, free public library
buildings, churches. the Soldiers Home and
grounds actually occupied by such build
ings; secondly, houses for the reformation
of offenders. almshouses, buildings belong
ing to institutions of purely public charity
conducted without charge to inmates. profit
or income; cemeteries dedicated and used
solely for burial purposes and without pri-
Vate income profit; but IL any portion OF
any such building, house, grounds or cem-
etery so in terms excepted Is larger than /;
J absolutely required and actually used fol
It's legitimate purpose and none other, or Is
used to secure a rent or income. or for any
business purpose, such portion of the same
or a sum equal in value to such portion
shall be taxed against the owner Of saic
building or grounds; thirdly, such property