Evening star., 1902-03-31

man believe that before we appropriate an
other dollar for expenses that the city
ought to pay one-half of, that the city
ought to be required to tax personal prop
erty in this District?'
II will say to my friend that the news
papers say that the District committees
ering that subject, and 1t has been an
ncunced that provisions to be recommended
are about ready. Your committee on ap-
preparations has delayed the preparation of
its appropriation bill for the purpose of
seeing whether or not such legislation
would be enacted, and as one member of
that committee l am not willing to provide
for expenditures for improvements of the
District proper except as the District con-
tributes it's quota.
And | trust before this bill Is enacted-I
mean the District bill that is to come later
that legislation under the lead of the Dis
trict committee of the House and of the
District committee of the Senate will pro-
vide for an increase of revenue. l trust
that will be the case
The Proposed Loan.
Mr.. Rucker-"There is proposition pend
ing to make a loan of ten or fifteen mil
lions of dollars to the District Does that
come before the committee on appropria-
tions?"
Mr. Cannon-"No; that would not. That
would involve legislation of which the Dis
trict committee of the House would nave
jurisdiction.
Mr. Rucker-"And not yours
Mr.. Cannon-"In my judgment it is not
necessary to make a loan. In my judg
rpent. if there was fair assessment of the
real estate of the District of Columbia, that
the revenues would be increased a million
of dollars, say, or more, by reason of that
fair assessment. Then, if there was fair
assessment of the personal property of the
District of tn capital stocks of the va
rious corporations, and the chooses of ac-
rhs-ta ti,Ilx lil-n ,.h tC
taxed in the states, in my judgment it
would yield at least million and half
of dollars of revenue. That would make
two millions and half, and two millions
and a half increase with like amount
added from the national treasury, will do
all the work that is desirable to be done
in the District of Columbia, in my judg-
ment, and as fast as it ought to be done
without the borrowing of one cent.
Mr.. Rucker-"Then it is the best policy
of the government to impose taxes on all
the personally and money, stocks, bonds,
chooses in action. and force the District in
that way to raise a part and the govern
ment pay its part rather than to loan"
Mr.. Cannon-"I have no doubt that the
property of the District ought to be taxed
for the benefit of the District revenues as
ii is taxed elsewhere"
Mr.. Rucker-"The gentleman doubtless
has seen in the papers that taxation of per-
sonal property might compel some rich gen.
tlemen to leave the District.
Mr.. Cannon-"WelI, l don't know. 1t
sec ms to me that if they should insist
going on that account 1 would frac-
ture the Constitution for the purpose of
constructing a flag and hiring u band as
they depart Uaughter)
Mr.. Rucker-"I am ye-y glad to hear the
gentleman say that. l agree with him.
One other proposition. If they do not go
the newspapers say they might be forced
to commit perjury in order to hide their
property. The newspapers here in Wash
iLgton say that
Mr.. Cannon--'I do not believe that many
gentlemen of wealth, / do not believe that
any gentlemen of wealth, would leave the
District of Columbia under just taxation;
and now, to be candid, for fear 1 may have
been misunderstood, 1 am very glad that
any American citizen who proper to
come to Washington to live, should come.
nor is it crime in my eyes for a man to
be rich
Mr.. Grosvenor interrupted here to ask If
there was any law authorizing the taxation
of personal assets in the District of Column
b;a.
Mr.. Cannon-"None that is enforced, as 1
understand it.''
Mr.. Grosvenor-"Why is it not enforced?
What is the trOuble?"
Mr.. Cannon-''WeI, think probably that
the machinery, as l understand it, is not
provided for It's enforcement, as Is
claimed"
Mr. Grosvenor-"And in the meantime
the District of Columbia has become a
haven of rest for those who dislike to pay
taxes elsewhere, and they drift here and
obtain a nominal residence without paying
any taxes here and reporting themselves as
non-residents of the state from which they
came
Mr.. Cannon-'I fear that is the case, I do
not know, but suspect that is the case in
many instances
Mr.. Grosvenor-"Don't you think it would
be good cure for that to refuse to appro-
pirate money until some system of taxa
ton is enforced here that will equalize
those assessed upon our own people?"
Mr.. CannOn-"Oh, as Congress is the
common council for the District, a better
cure is that knowing the evil, We apply
the remedy
Mr.. Cannon then turned his attention to
other matters in the bill.