Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-13

as Mr. Benton used to say. is much
too thick to swim in and not quite
thick enough to walk upon. On the
whole. SO much malice against st.
Louis crops out from the Tribun"
article that ii is not likely to greatly
advance the chances for the removal
of the capital to that city
An interesting collection of silver
presents came to Washington from
MEXICO fifty years
Presents From ago. as noted in The
Star of July 10. 1869.
mexican. as follows:
The collector of customs ut the
port OF Georgetown few days since
received magnificent collection OF
solid silver articles intended as press
ents for President Grant. Gen. Sherman.
ex-Secretary Seward and the widow
OF eN-President Lincoln. They mere
sent to this country from Mexico by
Sabos Iturbide. on behalf of a modest
Mexican. who refused to have his
name made known and said that in
his transport of delight at the aboll-
ton of slavery he was prompted TO
Of the principal actors in that great
work President Grant receives ~
silver coffee set of thirty-six pieces
and some dressed leopard skins. Gen
Sherman receives an egg boiler and
holder For Ex-Secretary Seward
there is an inkstand and penhoider
most inGeniously contrived. besides
a call bell. and Mrs. lincoln's por-
ton of the lot is 4 heavy card basket.
All of the articles are OF solid SILVER
without any dcarth of metal. and OF
the most beautiful finish and work
manship. President Grants and Cen.
Shermans portions were delivered
yesterday and some idea may he
formed of their value from the fact
that the duty on President Grants lot
was s14S and on Gen. Sherman's slo4."
An editorial in The Star of July 10.
1869. relative to municipal finances
indicates a rather gloomy
Tool prospect for the District
half century ago:
AdAeS' Much anxiety is felt by
propertv owners generally regarding
the action of the new councils as I"
the ratio of taxation in this city for
the ensuing year. in the present
stagnation of all classes Of business
the general prostration of real estate
operation and the great number OF
tenantIess houses. the imposition OF
high rate of tax upon the largely
increased assessment OF TINS spring
could not fail to check. If not destroy.
all building operations. Washington
has experienced serious blow since
| the last presidential election in con-
sequence Of the uncertainty felt oy
a large proportion of its population
as to their tenure of office. the vast
decrease of the clerical force in the
departments. as well as the nunierous
removals neceSSitated by a chanee OF
administration: and while there iS
little doubt that the present Var Will
be one of the dullest that the country
at large has ever experienced. esp
ciaIlv will it be the case in this
metropolis. which has no outside
trade or resources. but is dependent
wholly upon its local business.
we have heard the opinion eH,
pressed by many of our most enter
prising business men. who are thor-
ouehly conversant with the capacity
and wants of this city. that rate or
tax exceeding 81 on the hundred would
prove very hurtful and disastrous TO
it's growth and progress. 1t IS urged
by them that the above amounts
would yield a revenue of 100000.
which. with the licenses. will aggre-
gate a million of dollars, as much. It
is thought, as the corporation should
REQUIRE under the present fiat condi-
ton of things and general prostration'
of business. AS matter OF poiicy IL
strikes us that these views should re-
ceiye proper consideration by the new
boards. 1t is well enough to take the
rose -colored view of our affairs such
as some of our cotemporarles ana
correspondents indulge in continually,
but the facts will not bear them out
, Property is not holding its own; rents
are falling: building is stopped TO q
great extent, and the impetus received
since the war is well nigh checked
Everything should be done to en-
courage private improvements. there
by giving employment to the thou
sands OF needy ones who are depend
emit for their subsistence on their daily
labor. and anything that tends toward
a prevention Of such enterprises viii
do great harm to our material inter-
est In view of our present conditions
and prospects we earnestly urge upon
our city fathers the necessity OF
keeping down the rate of taxation to
the lowest point possible" n