Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-02
WANTS A BOND ISSUE
REPRESENTATIVE McDERMOTT
ON LOCAL EXPENSES.
Opposes Proposed Re-Enactment of
Cause of the Deficit Explained.

The House Of Representatives debated
the District Of Columbia appropriation bill
until o'clock yesterday afternoon, and
agreed to take the measure up under the
five-minute rule today. The feature of the
debate yesterday was the question raised
by Mr.. McDermott Of New Jersey, who
claimed that the amendment proposed by
the appropriations committee would, If
enacted, make it possible to collect per-
sonal tax from residents of the District for
all the years since the law of 1877 was
enacted to the present time.
Mr.. Burkett speaking for the committee
said 1t had not been intended to make the
clause retroactive, and if there was doubt
about it an amendment could easily be
made which would leave no doubt that it
was not. Mr.. Burkett believed, however,
that If personal tax had been legally as
sessed on any person in the past, and that
assessment was still standing on the books
Of the District unpaid, the present law
would make it collectable. But" he add
ed Judge Clabaugh has decided that the
assessments under that law were not legal
ly made"
The speakers, after the report in The
Star closed yesterday, were Mr.. McDer-
New Jersey against the proposed tax pro-
vision, Mr.. Morrell of Pennsylvania, also
against it; Mr.. Burkett Of Nebraska, for
the proposition Mr.. DeArmond of Missouri
y
toward the expenses Of the District govern
ment, and Mr.. Perkins of New York, who
expressed the belief that even If the provis-
ion were enacted no personal tax would be
collected under 1t.
Mr.. McDermott's View.
Mr.. McDermott Of New Jersey declared
emphatically that to levy a personal tax of
IL per cent was not only practical con-
fiscation of property in the city of Wash
ington, but was saying to the entire world
keep your money outside of the city of
Washington
Many Of the items in the bill were de-
clared by Mr.. McDermott to have no right
full place in 1t.
There is no precedent to be found any
where for assessing the people nearly half
a million Of dollars for sewers he de-
clared.
Mr.. McDermott maintained however, that
the expense Of these improvements should
be distributed over a long period of years.
He then referred to the water works i'm
provement and said that it should be finish
ed by the issuance of 100000 worth of
bonds at per cent and putting in the
tax levy only sufficient to pay interest and
create annually sinking fund. Any other
way was an outrage on property owners.
Tax Rate Elsewhere.
Mr. Richardson of Tennessee could not see
the hardship on the citizens if. at tax
rate Ol SloO d SullCiSHl revenue COulu De
raised to complete these improvements. He
asked what the rate amounted to in Jersey
City, including city, state and county taxes
The reply was $2.70.
He then asked what the rate was in New
York city, and stated that he understood
the whole amount there was 81.
Mr.. Dreamer Of New York interrupted to
ask Mr.. Richardson If there was any other
city in the country where the government
paid one-half the expense.
But" replied Mr.. Richardson, "the gov
eminent owns one-half the property, and
although / am not discussing the merits of
that system, the ownership Of one-half the
taxable property is the basis on which we
operate"
Mr.. Richardson did not believe that the
plan to issue bonds, as proposed by Mr.. Nc
Dermott, would lessen the burden on the
people of Washington.
Mr. McDermott then referred to the per-
sonal tax law of 1877, which he said he
had read since the discussion Wednesday.
And do not wonder that it's enforcement
was abandoned,"- he declared. ut is i'm
possible to tell under that law how the tax
is to be levied. To send this provision over
to the Senate as q rider on the appropria-
ton bill when no man can tell what that
law of 1877 means is vicious legislation"
Mr.. Morrel's Objection.
Mr.. Morrell Of Pennsylvania followed Mr..
McDermott, declaring that he took excep-
ton to the rule brought in. He also OBJ
jected to taking the subject from the COM