The Washington times., 1904-10-23
Fighting for Better Car
Service to TakOma
Park.
Want a Public Park Out on
Columbia ROad-AsseSs-
ing Benefits.


ing Of the Brsghtwood Citizens Associa-
ton Wednesday night has attracted
wide attention
Judge c. S. Bundy. president of the
Columbia Heights Association. has writ
ten Mr.. Shoemaker, announcing his in
tention OF introducing the resolution al
the next meeting OF the association II
is probable the matter viii be taken
up by other associations and III the
course OF tine presented TO Congress.
In discus sing the resolution, Mr.. Shoe
maker said:
THE object sought TO be attained is
e correction, il possible, OF some OF the
disadvantages under which We are Nv
ing without changing the present FORM
OF government or the administration OF
municipal affairs under IT,
tIf We continue 10 burn the candle so
TO speak, at both ends. how long VIII II
last? How long can the local land
owner stand the constant deduction OF
taxable area and a continued increase
OF rate OF taxation on constantly m
creasing assessments upon that when
remains. together with repeated VIOLA
lions on the part OF Congress 10 i've up
TO the compact it made with the DIS
trict in 1878 and consequent refusal 10
pay nalf OF all authorized expenses?
Mistake Of Congress.
s'Thus we find that COngress is de
handing drst. that taxation SHAH De
constantly increased: second. that tax
able area shall be continuously reduced
third. that IL reDudiates its obligations
10 the local District government fourth
that IL denies our request Tor "a bond
issue I'm order that current revenues
may be used for current expenses In
stead OF for large and extraordinary inn
proyements. for which such revenues
are inadequate. such as the sewerage
system, the Union Station, the filtration
plant the Municipal Building, bridges
over the Potomac and ROCK Greek,
street extensions all Of which arc
largely for the benefit OF future gener-
ations and All the time the District
land owners are left without suht-ieut
water. light, and sewerage facilities, so
that we now have thousands residing in
homes without the advantage OF OBJ
serving sanitary laws and regulations I
wEile every department Of the District
government, according TO the Commits 1
sioners. reports. the Fire Police, Sur [
VsyCrs Office. Inspector OF Buildings, Of
nee. Schools and Health office. are in
ADEQUATE Tor the purposes OF the gov
eminent and the necessities of our peO-
pie.
can these disadvantage be the cause
Of SO many of our people going beyond
the District into Maryland and Virginia
10 make investments and establish
hOmes2
Heavy Tax Burden
-One citizen paid last year $500 an
ruaI taxation, and S17. COO special assess
ments FOR speculative and imaginary
benefits If these special benefits do
actually exist he viii, OF course. be
called upon by the regular assessor 10
pay again on these falsely increased
while "a
fact that much real estate Is in the
market for which there is but slight
demand IL is not sufficient 10 say
that lhis form OF government is proper
ly administered. We hope that IL is
and 50 far as the Commissioners them
elves are concerned we feel that this IS
true, buJ an investigation now and then
demonstrates the fact that we have our
municipal weaknesses and indrmiuies
just as other municipalities have them.
Assuming however. that We have. as
some contend, and as We all hope an
admirable form of government ldemoral-
izing ana bad in its example as IL must
be TO the youth not only OF this COM
munity but the country generally so
far as its un-American and un-republi-
can foru is concernedJ, unless IL be true
that we are RIGHT and every other muul-
ciuaIity wong, yet we can but feel that
IS directed by Congress apart from
what The Commissioners ana their
sflb1rdInates may do, there is a great
Fundamental error OF administration
resting with Congress itself, which II not
corrected VIII necessarily lead SO greater
distress on the part OF our local land
owners than we are now experiencing
.Iuze a stream 10 may be free from
contamination along It's course. but II
polluted al its source there exists an
eyu which ought TO be corrected This
H.rr HllI-
part or Congress that u viii;
--T7irst-Pay 10 the District all that IL
owes by reason OF It's departure from the
compact or 1870.
Assessing Benefits.
secondhand 40 imaginary specula-
tive OF special benefits shall be assumed
70 exist and be assessed. thus avoiding
Tie present practice OF requiring our
people % pay twice for the same public
advantage uT Improvement because we
assume and have q right 90 assume that
an increased valuations, III they exist
by reason of public OF private improve
fneuts viii be- asceILaiued by the gem
eraI assessors, always iu Office and
whose sworn duty 10 is 10 ascertain {
them and levy assessments accordingly .
s-Third-ThaU all current revenues shan .
be used for current expenses. including F.
interest on bonded indebtedness and .
contribution a. sinking fund.
--F0urrh-That q Iong-term loan or
bond issue shall boz authorized from the +.
proceeds OF which payment cau be- made /
Tor an large and extraordinary improve I
meHts OF "a permanent character. de- /
signed and necessary for the future as +
wei as the present generation
when this has been done there viii be- .
no necessity for continued increase OF 4
taxation Ola real estate except as fits .
actual value advances, It VIII be iu .
demand People should rather wish 20 .
own land within the District than be-
yond g. The annual requests OF the /
Commissioner for current expenses viii /
BE- granted instead Of being denied as
they now are. and NOT merely the old /