The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

bia have no representative whatever
Some Of the Suns articles have inti-
mated that the Districts inhabitants
were too eager for the old flag and an
appropriation. Tne u quoque answer
Is not always a good one. but I ask,
what American city has its skirts clear
in that respect2 The Sun cynieally jabs
San Francisco New Orleans. and Gal
weston for seeking a Panama exposition;
the Worlds Columbian Exposition. at
Chicago. was originated by washington
men and New York. Chicago, and
Charleston, besides other cities. fought
desperately in Congress to have It taken
away from Washington and placed with
IN their own borders. urging upon the
Congress enormous appropriations. which
were eventually made. The Hudson Full
ton celebration was not financed by New
York alone. do not say these we're
improper expenditures Of the public mon
ey; that is a large subject not now TO
be discussed. but the sun wasted none
OF its gall upon the promoters. although
the expense was far greater than the
total rendered TO the District Of Column
bia for all purposes.
The patriotism and loyalty Of the peo-
pie OF the District of Columbia are not
equaled by those Of any State in the
Union; this IN spite Of the fact that dur
ing the civil war one-half Of the fam
flies within its bounds were directly az
hhated with the South and had sons and
brothers in the Confederate armies. The
District itself was excised from two
slave States. and slavery existed within
IL as within them. 1t was in fact but
an allquot part Of the South. but re-
NAMED loyal
Pays Direct Tax.
In the war Of 1872 the District paid
from its scanty revenues a direct tax OF
$4,000; raised a voluntary fund Of 5000.
which It handed over TO the President:
fitted up at its own expense a building
for Congress when the Capitol was
burned. and raised a loan Of 100000 TO
rebuild the public buildings. which the
Congress authorized the President 20 ac-
cept In the Mexican war the District
furnished more than its full share Of
volunteers.
In the War Of the Rebellion the Dis
trict paid $4,000 direct tax, which has
never been refunded. while the direct
taxes paid by the States have been. Only
seven Of the loyal States filed their QUO
Ia in the army; the District filed hers
and ISL per cent over. exceIIing every
State in the Union. The first volunteers
sworn into service were citizens OF the
District; no bounty was ever paid there
Its volunteers furnished their own
equipments and have never to this day
been reimbursed for them. as were all
other troops. The first man wounded in
service was a citizen Of the District Of
Columbia. prior TO The Baltimore riot.
There were never any draft riots in
the District Of Columbia, as there were
in New York. cynically loyal and criti-
cal, and in other cities; very little draft
ing was needed in the District.
The impression prevails. a totally false
one, that the expenses Of its govern
ment do not fall upon the taxpayers OF
the District. but upon the general rev
enues Of the United States: in fact even
members Of Congress. who should be as
sumed to know the law. have made
these statements in public and at least
once in debate. Unfortunately the state
ment goes out to the country. but the
immediate correction Of II made by
well-infOrmed and fair-mtnded members
does not. I have been repeatedly as
sured by persons who said they got II
from public records that the District OF
Columbia paid no taxes.
The New Organic Act of 1878.
In 1878 an act was passed requiring the
citizens Of the District Of Columbia TO
pay one-half Of the total cost of con-
Quoting the District government. while
the United States pledged their faith TO
pay the balance. At no time after the
first year or possibly the second. as 10
which I am not Informed, have the terms
OF this act been compiled with
1t is true that a superficial examina-
ton apparently shows that the appro-
priation bill for each year is so worded:
but what is not shown is that the amount
Of taxes collected and turned into the
general revenues Of the United States
from the District OF Columbia is far
larger than one-half Of the total amount
appropriated
In this total are not included internal
revenue taxes or tariff or other Indirect
taxes. but only direct taxes upon real
estate and personal property. There is
no separate treasurer or treasury Of the
District of Columbia; all Of its revenues
are covered into and handled by the
Federal Treasury Department
This arrangement may be thought to be