Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-11
FIFTY YEARS AGO In
THE STAR.

ILL ~ AAANs
| Fifty years ago interest was mani
tested In matters pertaining to the
| District half q cen
A Hundred fury before that. In
Years Ago. 1870, is an item
headed Congress and tho District
Fifty Years Ago." as follows:
"A friend sends Us a copy Of the
Washington Gazette Of December
81. 1921. published by Jonathan Ell
| lott. It is yellow with age. but its
leading editorial Is as apropos a. II
written today. for 1t treats Of the
failure OF Congress to appropriate
public lands for school purposes for
the District of Columbia, as It had
for other localities; 1t urges that gov
eminent should aid in the work Of
improving the capital OF the nation
to the extent, at least, OF paying
taxes on its property hero, ana in
reference to the failure OF Congress
to legislate for the District-it seems
to have been felt fifty years ago as
well as now-says that the chairman
Of the committee on the District of
Columbia in the House of Repre-
sentatives has frequently complained
at the indifference and neglect shown
| to every measure that the committee
| recommends, and expresses the morti-
hcation 1t causes him."
y +
In view Of tho proposition that re-
Gently received the approval of the
House of Represent
Ro1f;,nor> atives to increase
the District rate of
Lowers lax. taxation by two
| thirds, It seems incredible that the
| tax-nxing body of any community
should ever have actually proposed
| reduction. This. however. was the
! case fifty years ago. as noted in The
Star of April 5. 1870. as follows:
Baltimore has the anomaly OF
city government that proposes 70 re-
duce the rate of municipal taxation
| The proper committee of the city
| councils of Baltimore. after having
duly canvassed the necessities or the
| present year, have proposed the rate
Of tax at $50 on the 500 OF CITY
| property, which is 10 cents less on
mtt+sa NJ any council of any city forty
| miles or SO from Baltimore shoulo
| fellow this example, we dare say
there would be no objection maze.
Half a century ago there were three
municipal jurisdictions In the Distric.
of Columbia, the city OF
The Levy Washington. tho CITY OF
Georgetown and the coun-
Court. ty. The affairs OF the
county were regulated by an organ
lization called the '1evy court an
ielectiye representative body that met
monthly and passed on matters OK IN
Iterest to the residents Of the District
beyond the boundary of the two mu-
nicipalities. In The Star OF April D.
I1s70, is the following account or 9
session of the levy court. which Is OF
Interest as showing the range Oh suo-
Ijects considered:
.sThe regular monthly meeting OF
the levy court was held In the aiaer-
mems chamber. city hall. yesterday.
Present-Messrs. Nichois, 2sesias and
lTenney, with N. N. Callan. secretary.
la communication was read from NJ =:
Redfern. representing the heirs OF
samuel Redfern. protesting against a
road being run through cemeoeny ,r nm
nication from Julia Barrett, protest,
ing against the construction or ROAD
near Tenleytown. dividing her prop
erty into two parts. rendering one
from John Wilson. requesting that
500 paid for a liquor license not ap-
proved by tho police board be refund-
ed to him: referred. Also q petition
from several citizens In the county
asking to be paid for serving as our-
ors in cases Of coroner's inQuests; re-
ferred. Bill of Charles p. Belt. for
work on stone culvert; bill of Robert
Boyd, eealer of weights and meas
ures: bill Of David M. Wheeler. for
against the corporation Of George
town. for repairing certain roads.
were referred to the finance commit
tee.
to the deductions for prompt payment
| of county taxes, when it was decided
to allow q deduction of 10 per cent II
paid before the LIST of May; per cent
If paid before the LIST of June. and
'Dr. Rowland, from the committee
on public schools. made q verbal re-
port, stating that a project was on
| foot in Congress to change the en-
tire system Of public schools In the
4 u
| for the entire District.
| The resolution submitted at the
last meeting relative to the retro
cession Of Alexandria to the state
of virg1nia came up. and Dr.. ROW
land. the mover Of 1t. stated that he
| believed 1t was the general wish to
have that portion of the county south
| Of the Potomac river restored to the
District. Mr.. Plant said that Con-
gress gave only one day month to
| District matters. And there was but
little hope OF their taking action. 1t
! appeared to be the wish OF the peo-
ple of Alexandria to return to the
| District again. Mr.. Penney thought
1 that II was not the part of the court
| to interfere in this matter and moved
l that it lay over; agreed to.
"a communication from y: D. TIP
petit asking leave to exhibit to the
court a model planitarian which
| proves the Newtontan system OF as
| tronomy to be an error was accepted.
| 'Dr. Rowland presented petition
| from citizens OF the county asking
: the removal of powder mousse con-
structed by the city OF GeoIge.oWn
| in the county and enoangerns 'no
lives of citizens there; referreo.
| sMr Plant offered q resolution ap.
| nronriating $4,000 for repairs or
roads in the county; passed Ad-
| journed."
Those who think they are unduiy
crowded on the street cars OF wash
ington nowadays
uIi may be consoleo