The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-09
REASONS FOR
PERSONAL TAX.
Organic Law Requires It's
Assessment.
EVOLUTION OF THE MEASURE.
NRcfRrIund Points
ont the Necessity for Its Enforce
ment Unless Congress Repeats Oh
jectionHbIe Clause Of Act Giving
Authority TO Local Governments.

A great deal Of interest was manifest
ed this morning at the District Building
i'm the interviews relative to the pro-
posed personal tax law published in The
Times What the business men OF the
city had 10 say about the matter fur
nished interesting reading 70 the munich
pal employees. from the Commissioners
down. Perhaps the most Interested Of
all were the Commissioners themselves.
who read the interviews carefully. and
it is presumed, noted with unusual care
what was said.
Responsibility for the Law.
IN reference 20 the responsibility for
the drafting or the law. the request for
the drawing up Of such a bin came from
Senator Mcmillan. Chairman OF the Sen
ate Committee on The District Of Colum-
bia. His request was made officially TO
the District Commissioner. nud they in
turn, directed the Assessor 30 draft the
bill. The Assessor. it is understood. had
an extended conference with Senator Nc
MILAN and drafted the measure to meet
certain views expressed by the Senator.
As yet the proposed measure has not
received action by the Commissioners.
They have merely transmitted IL TO Sena-
tor Mcmillan to be introduced by hin in
the Senate. After it is introduced it viii.
Of course, be referred back TO the Com
missioners for their formal consideration
and report.
Important Point Overlooked.
Commissioner HacfsrIand today said
that there was one point that many had
forgotten. and that is that the organic
law Of 1873 requires the assessment Of a
tax on personal property In section 20
it is provided that the rate OF taxation
shall not exceed $50 on every 800 OF
real estate not exempted. and on personal
property not taxable elsewhere. He said
that without the repeal OF that clause in
the organic law By Congress the Commits
sioners have no discretion in the matter
and must assess a personal tax. Mr.
Mcfarland said this requirement Of the
law OF 1873, expressly and implicitly.
makes it incumbent upon the municipal
authority to secure revenue from this
source and ne stated that be does not
see how the personal tax can be avoided.
The Commissioners declined TO give any
expression relative 10 the proposed law.
on the ground that IT had not been Of
dCially brought Before them as a pro-
posed measure. When 1t is referred TO
them they will prepare a written report
10 be sent 10 the committees Of Congress.
Until then they prefer to keep silent.
MIR. DarneiIIe's Views.
The District Assessor. II. II. DarneiIIe
went 20 the Capitol this morning to pre-
sent the bill 70 Senator Mcmillan In per-
son. He explained 20 a reported Of The
Times that while he had drawn the bin
and had included therein his views of
what a personal tax law ought 10 be. he
said that the initiative in the matter was
taken by Senator Mcmillan. He further
said that he had devoted a great deal of
I time 10 the subject at one { ime and
another. and that his exerience in irving
TO assess personal property had served to
impress certain ideas upon his mind which
have been put into the bill
Much OF the criticism aimed al the hill
in the interviews in The Times. Mr.. Oar
nellie thought. is objection TO the per
sonal tax on principle rather than oppo-
sition 10 this particular bill Granted
that personal tax Is TO be assessed on
property Of that kind be thought the
proposed law as good as any that could
be drawn
Mr. DarneiIIe is Of the opinion that the
lack Of inquisitorial features and the
simple machinery Of assessment ought
to recommend the law to the judgment
of the people of the District. as sooon as
prejudice against any kind Of personal
tax law is removed