Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-02-10
DISTRICT TAXATION
CONGRESS SHOULD NOT sHIRK
ITS AGREEMENT OF 1878.
Deficiency Bond Issue and Street Elk
tension-Citizens Should Be
Fairly Treated.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
AS all know, that, aside from the failure
Of the general government to live up to it's
agreement Of 1878 by paying it's half Of the
expenses Of the District, and which 1t
agreed to do, because it owns considerably
more than one-half Of all the property in
the District, which 1t does not and
never has paid any taxes, as European gov
ernments do in their capitals, the street ex-
tension has been, and is today, the main
cause Of the present deficiency and it's at
tendant troubles.
I notice The Star urges the purchase of
the land for these street extensions now
because, as it says, 1.-The land can be had
more cheaply and with a larger percentage
of donations than at any time in the flu
| ture.''
AT the same time it is urged that 1t would
be unjust to impose this burden on the
present taxpayers; that as the street ex-
tensions will benefit the future more than
the present population, therefore some
means should be adopted by which the flu
ture residents should be made to helm hear
the burden. For this two plans are sug-
gested-one that the treasury advance the
| necessary amount, on which the District
shall pay interest, and the other which is
advocated mainly, If not solely, by the own
ers of suburban property, is to increase the
District debt by the issue of $4,000, 900 Of
thirty-year 3 per cent bonds
Those who advocate this latter plan seem
to ignore. the fact that If adopted it will
largely increase the burdens of the present
taxpaying generation, for, of course, there
would have to be provision made for a
sinking fund to pay these bonds in thirty
years. This would require some $67O, 600
and that, added to the sinking fund for the
present debt, which in round numbers is
$1,2l4.0 600. would make 81 914,OoO to be paid
! Of course, would lessen by nearly So, GOO 900
our means for providing the actual neces-
stiles, such as completion Of the sewer sys-
tenn, the filtration plant, increase of police,
| fire engines and support Of the schools
Not only that, 1t would furnish an addi-
tional excuse for increasing our taxes. as
| is now advocated by some in Congress.
The District Debt.
The present District debt is s14,71275o.
and If we add $13, 300, O00 more, as proposed.
| 1t would be S27, 712,75O. or almost IS 600 600
more than 1t was In 1878. the amount then
being 500. 1O8, $50. and which at the end of
twenty-four yearsfis but one-third paid. It
| would make the per capita debt 500. a..
which is far greater than that Of any city
! proposed for the city OF Ogden, and which
President Harrison vetoed because as he
| said it would make their per capita debt
$S7' which was excessive and unreasonable.
| Or, If we divide 1t among the 81 .O45 tax
payers of the District 1t would be $500 az
per capita! This, OF itself. ought to SATISFY
any reasonable person that there ought to
| be no such increase or the debt, and that
| the bond scheme Is wholly untenabIe.
ad Instead ,s 10 Of bond issue what ought to be
| share. and If 1t would do that from the
| time 1t took possession Of the District In
1880 not only Would there now be no de-
| ficiency, but large surplus in the District
| revenues. Indeed. II Congress would an
propriate its ne-half from 1873, as 1t agreed
| to, there would now be no deficiency. But
as 1t does not seem disposed to do that tbs
| question is, what can or shall be done to
| tide over the present deficiency?
A Treasury Advance.
1t would seem that the proper thing to do
Is for Congress to authorize an advance
from the treasury OF SO much as is neces-
sary to provide for the absolute necessities,
such as the completion of the sewer system,
the filtration plant. Increase Of the police
| and fire departments, and let the other
| matters wait for a while.
! As to the street extensions. much better