Evening star., 1928-04-08
Fifty Years Ago
I'm The Star

Half a century ago Washington was
anxiously awaiting legislation by Con-
greSS giving the District
ANXIOUS permanent form Of
WAITING government" In The
"3AeaAs' Star Of April /, 1878, Is
the following:
The District bill comes UP again for
discussion in the House. 1t Is to be hoped
that the members in dealing with the
measure viii remember that the great
vital feature of 1t to the unfortunate
people is that fixing definitely an
equitable apportionment OF District ex.
penses between the Government and
the District taxpayers. The people, OF
course, have an interest in the other
provisions of the bill. but not the in
tense anxiety in regard TO their fate
that they feel for this iInperattveiy
needed feature OF relief II Is probable
that the amount contributed by the
Government TO the District expenses
under the so per cent provision would
not exceed that now appropriated by
Congress annually In various bills, but
the benefit 10 be derived from definite
settlement Of rate would be that the
people would know exactly what
amount OF taxation win be required OF
thorities could make yearly the precise
estimates in that respect, The present
practice of taking special appropria-
tions annually for this and that object
of District expense Is q haphaxard
and-to-mouth process and compels
the District people to lose time and
self-respect by appearing before Con-
gressmen III the attitude of heggarS
every session To explain TO them the
needs and burdens or the community
over which Congress has exclusive leg
islation. 1t would not only save much
time TO the District people. but TO Con-
greSSmen. to have this question Of ap-
portionment definitely settled The lat
ter are fully occupied with matters Of
national Importance or of state inter-
est, and 1t must be q Serious tax upon
their time to give patient hearing
every session 20 the repreSentation IN
regard to District needs. And yet the
District people have no other source OF
redress and must continue 10 press
upon them with their grievances until
their unhappy condition Is remedied.
In every way II will be for the ad.
vantage Of Congress and the District
TO have this matter Of the equities
settled once for all"
The "bell-punch'' method of collect
ing liquor taxes in the Old Dominion.
hailed as an improve
noatihg the ment, did not give en-
Rail-. .pureh tire satisfaction In
""s"' The star Of April ),
1878, Is the following
THE falling of IN the revenue derived
by Virginia from the Metfet liquor Law,
owing To iaxity IN Its enforcement, Is
curiously large, In Culpeper County.
where the registers are manufactured
S6a0,a0 was obtained during the months
eastern district, while from January 20
March Is the revenue was only Sla2, rs,
In the western district. also, there has
been steady decrease since November,
the returns for that month being
$li7a6, while the amount received in
February was only sal, 30, In Fauquier,
which represents about the average de-
crease, being = mean between the eN-
tremely delinquent counties and those
IN which the crank "a regularly re-
turned, the receipts tor january were
seASpi. for February. S9OSai. and for
March, $aaS,sd, From some counties no
returns whatever have been made, The
auditor Of public accounts h reluctant
to believe that the Moffet register has
In this short time 50 thoroughly res
formed sanle sections oi the State that
their absorption Of Intoxicating heVeg-
ages has been reduced More than anep
half, and Is, net unnaturally, suspicious
that the law u not fully carried Gut
lie urges the commissioners at revenue
10 the prompt and faithful execution al
the act and requires them % report "a
him At the close Of each calendar
month, There Is no doubt that a de-