Evening star., 1902-01-17
Business Men Have Local Oondi-
tions Under Consideration.
ADDRESS By Mr.. HEERY E. DAVIS
General Governments sobligationto to
Pay One-Half Districts Expenses.
THE ASSOCIATIONS BANQUET

theme at the regular monthly meeting of
the Business Mems Association at the Hotel
Barton last night. The meeting, which was
largely attended, was called to order By
President Mitchell Dyrenforth shortly after
o'clock. Secretary Barry Bulkley read
the minutes Of the previous meeting. which
were approved. and then presented a cir
cular letter which has been addressed TO
various merchants throughout the city in
the name of the association, requesting
their support in securing an amendment 20
the new code which shall increase the pen
atty for shoplifting. Mr.. Bulley explained
that at the present time the penalty for
this offense is entirely inadequate. The
amendment proposed provides a penalty OF
not more than 500 fine nor more than
twelve months Imprisonment for a person
convicted Of shoplifting Both fine and i'm
prisonment may be imposed in the discre-
tion Of the court. The amendment was
adopted by unanimous vote.
Henry F. woodard chairman of the spe-
cial committee appointed to examine the
Proposed personal tax law, in report COW
ering ten typewriter pages, showed that
the citizens of the District are being un-
Justly taxed, and that the United States
government AZ not bearing Its proportion OF
the assessments.
Mr. V. Baldwin Johnson. a member OF
the committee, made a supplemental re-
port, attacking the law. DR. Robert Rey-
burn presented a resolution authorizing
the appointment OF a committee for th,.
consideration of the personal tax question
which was adopted.
MIR. Davis Address,
Mr.. Henry z. Davis was then introduced
Mr.. Davis announced the subject OF his
address the relation of the United States
TO the District of Columbia He said that
he was opposed to a personal tax law, and
believed that the crisis through which the
District was now passing should be met by
the government assuming its proper share
of the expense, which was not one-halt, or
three-auarters. but at least seven-eIghths
He urged the members OF the association
10 agitate the matter and go before Con-
gress and urge the assumption OF the
proper burden of expense by the general
government. In the beginning, he said, the
federal government understood it's RESPONSE
bllity. For a time the government assumed
complete control of the city and adminis-
tered its affairs as IL saw nit
In 1878 President Monroe called the atteu-
tfon OF Congress to the fact that the gov
ernment of the District was not in accord
with the republican ideas upon which the
United States is founded. The matter OF
representation was then agitsted and Con-
gress gave the people the right TO elect a
board of aldermen and the aldermen Ybs
right to elect mayor.
Date of Agreement,
Mr.. Davis claimed that the s-.u.,.o.,.
ratio of payment OF th- rnrsaS 90 th,,
District between - - - -. -.
-. IS decided in 1s2a, when suf-
a. Is first allowed the District. 1t was
IN that Congress agreed TO pay one
half of the expense and the DIstrict the
other and not in 1878. as some of the gov
ernment officials proudly claimed. Congress
makes this city one for residence only. aud
Ii shoAld be made to pay for the luxury,
said Mr.. Davis. IL does not want to be
surrounded by the working classes. The
seat OF government was moved to this
city, and this square of ground WAS staked
out SO that the government o.--cials aud
Congress might be free from mobs of
workingmen, who. in their anger at some
supposed injustice, might wreck the public
buildings and perhaps assassinate a few of
the officials. Mr.. Davis said that this was
very brutal way of putting the matter.
but that it was true. In concluding his ad-
dress. Mr.. Davis urged the members Of the
association to call upon their friends in
Congress to enact such laws as would make
the government take up its share Of the
burden of taxation.
When MIR. Davis speech was concluded. n
general discussion OF the personal tax Ques-
ton was engaged in by members Of the as
The Personal Tax Law.
II. H Darneille. assessor of the District
explained the features of the new bin OF
which he is reputed to be the author creat-
ing a new basis for personal tax assess
ments.
This bill is now before Congress. The as
sociation unanimously indorsed the bill
which passed the House yesterday author
izing the acceptance of two payments for
District taxes annually.
The association unanimously decided to
give banquet January 2s to the members
of the District committees OF the Senate
and House of Representatives.