Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN THE STAR

At this time fifty years ago Washing
ton was in a turmoil over local politics.
An election was to be
Municipal held in June for munich
r.-.: pal officers. Federal pol
Oo1nP"i6A. itics entered into the
campaign, and the question of loyalty to
the Union was involved. In The Star
April o. 1853. is the following paragraph:
I'VE question whether a more truchlent
article than that of the Chronicle this
morning with reference to our approach
ing city election ever appeared in print.
1t is evidently the design of that journal
to cram it's candidate or candidates
down the threats Of our fellow-citizens,
unquestioned as to their real identity
with the interests of Washington. or
their fitness for the trusts with which
1t seeks to clothe them. To that end, it
assumes boldly that all who prefer
others prefer them from disloyal
motives: a charge too preposterous to
require refutation at our hand.
The Chronicle labors in vain in in
sinuating disloyalty against the great
mass of the resident citizens of the
federal metropolis. who have in a thou
sand ways testified the earnestness of
their support of the government in its
efforts to crush the rebellion. Were
its aim to reduce the number of the gov
ernments supporters to a mere hand
full of men bitten with the idea of the
propriety Of negro equality in this COM
munity it could not have started out
upon a basis more likely to accomplish
that end, as far IS it's influence may go
We are for charging the number of
actively loyal men here until the list
shall embrace all our fellow citizens. In
that way only can such support be secured
for the governments war measures as
is necessary to insure them success.
and we leave the public to judge which
policy in this particular is likely TO
prove best for the public interest
LAS it is evident that a bitter war.
waged with all the usual appliances OF
INSCRIPTIONS and irresponsible small
politicians. is being made upon the pres
ent collector, Mr.. Dixon. we may not
inappropriately remind the voters of
Washington that no other city officer
ever discharged his duties better or more
to the satisfaction of those having
business with his Office: while no other
person has ever stood higher as man
in the estima ton of his fellow-citiZens;
nor may we fail to add that his devotion
to the cause of the restoration or the
Union by the unf1inching use or arms
has. from the beginning of the war. al
forded an example which has done much
indeed to bring the sentiment of this
community up to its present so salts
factory condition with reference to the
necessity of giving the governments
war policy the heartiest support.
In the issue of the next day. May I.
1863, is another extended comment on the
local political situation.
Rnwdvism Two nights before ward
meetings had been held to
neDuhcu. elect delegates to con-
vention. with result Of an overwhelm-
ing sweep OF the city by the "Cncond:-
tional Union forces. The Star said:
at is our duty to caution those VINO
have recently become citizens OF Wash
fngton against the impudent efforts OF
parties who are using the gang OF petty
officeholders, small contract mongers. as
pirants for municipal offices they are un-
fit to fill and rowdies who now follow the
pursuit Of ropers-in of inebriated soldiers
who are suspected of having money In
their pockets, who attempted by violence
Wednesday night to prevent the uncon-
ditional Union citizens of the various
W
gates to their city convention, TO create
the impression that the administration
sympathizes with their roWdy assaults
in some of the meetings upon popular
rights or regard them as its opponents
in our local affairs. On the contrary.
they are as well known to the admfnistra-
ton as to the old residents OF Washing-
ton as persons bent on feathering their
own individual nests by the use OF any.
possible means The administration. the
public may rely on it. realizes and ap-
preciates at it's true value not only the
mode by which these par
ties seek to assume to control the Selec-
tion of candidates to be voted for by the
Unconditional Union men in the an
preaching election but also the unf1inch-
ing loyalty Of the present incumbents in
tie CITY government the reelection, of
whom the cabal are striving to defeat.
From TIE commencement or the war TO
this hour the present city government.
the administration knows well. has given
its war policy the heartiest and most UNI
flinching support: thus STRENGTHENING Its
hands i'm the work OF supDressing the re-
ballion in a manner that has at all times
ELECTED its warmest commentator We
repeat. those new residents here who
are sought to be deceived by the rowdv
tricks and violence Of this cabal should
place no faith whatever in their innudent
assumntion N identify the administration
with thejr efforts to reduce its snnnorters
in midst to the number Of their own
handful. after the nresent city govern
o-ap+ hv IFS u,H'nchrg Support Of the
adm, :nistratinn throughout its late une~-
ampled trials. has succeeded in bringing
the pnnular sentiment of the federal re-
tropolis so fairly and squarely I'D to the
work of sustaining its efforts. one and
ALL to overcome the rebellion
In The Star Of May .. 1858. is a news
story which has pertinent interest at
present. inasmuch it
Income Tax deals with A decision of
n..:: the Treasury Department
SoAAi on a question arising under
the war income tax. possibly foreshadow
ing issues to be later referred to that
department under the proposed new tax:
1.-The commissioner Of internal revenue
has made the following decision: Where
a husband and wife live together and
their taxable income is in excess of 5000
they will be entitled to one deduction Of
$500, that being the average fixed by
law as an estimated Communication for the
expense of maintaining family Where
they live apart, by divorce or under con-
tract Of separation. they will be taxed
separately and each be entitled to a de-
duction of $780,
PFAcFMAKFR RRVAN