Evening Star Newspaper, March 24, 1900, Page 11

‘DISTRICT TAXATION Important Meeting of the Washing- ton Board of Trade. SOME VITAL QUESTIONS CONSIDERED Reports of Committees and Reso- lutions Adopted, IN DISCUSSIONS OF interest was he'd of much A meeting of red to them. was the one from the commit taxation a nt In the measure proposed by the District Commissioners in regard to the personal tax and the license After discussion the his report were adopt- ed. President John Joy Edson presided. The Committee's Report. After the minutes of the last meeting ere read by the secretary, Mr. ¢ Harries, and approved the repo: nd assessment was eon taxation a read by the secre Taxation and Assessment. The report sta ° assessment and s in the Dis- her purposes the Commis- opin= apap 2 and peel ring the > corn= is to be tion, so ns should proposed In the t t n takes ¥ for the taxation fter referring Varring System. ¢ that the bill and corpo- y varying of all uni- also report bill be Ne THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1900-24 PAGES, WwW CURES “My experience with the remedy shows its effect is to’ make the tubercle bacilli inactive, gradually but surely eradicating them, building up the system, renewing wasted tissues with marvelous rapidity and without causing any complications whatso- ever. “T regard it as wonderful a discov- ery as has come to my notice in my thirty years of practice. “Have not had an opportunity of testing this remedy in the treatment of Bronchitis, but I have used it in Asthma with absolutely satisfactory results. “(Signed) “CHAS. DRENNEN, M.D.” Dy 3 & TINCTURE APAL is equally efficacious in the cure of ASTHMA, Bronchitis, La Grippe, etc. It is put up in 24-0z. bottles and is already being prescribed by Wash- ington physicians with marked suc- cess. The laboratory of the TINC- TURE AMAL MANUFACTUR- ING CO. is located at 11 West Ger- man street, Baltimore. An interest- ing booklet is mailed free to all who write for it or it can be had of drug- gists. TINCTURE AIAL Is sold in Washington by the follow- ing-named Druggists: ACKER & AFFLECK, ANDREWS, GRAY. ATKINSON, T. H., & CO. BAOHRACH, SAMUEL B. BANES & BROS. BASTABLE, EDWARD J BEALL, HERBERT ) BECKER, CHAS. A. BELLER, JAS. H BENTZLER, RAYMOD BOWDEN, HARVEY D. BOWBN, JOHN B. BRACE, WM D. BRADFIELD, ROBT. L, BRONAUGH, ALFRED T BROWN, JOHN C. BURROWS, ARTHUR B. BURY, GEO. B... BUTLER & CLARRIDGE. BUTTS, HARRY T. CARDOZO, GEO. H. CASSIN, JOSEPH R. CHRISTIANI, 4. DE SILVER. CHRISTIANI, THEO..... CISSEL, E. B...... 10th and COBLENTZ, JOSEPH D.Cor. Fla. ave.& CONCORD PHARMACY, +1429 Pa. ave. 20-735 2d aw, 2101 G st. .Tennallytown 1201 16th st. -1501 9th st. Cor. 10th und R. I. ave. -Brockland M st. 2308 14th st. 300 Monroe et., Anacostia .Cor. 3d and Ind. ave, -4th and Mags. ave, 35 C se. 1901-3 7th st. 8534 M st. CROPLEY, THOS. L,... ED EDMONDS & WILLIAMS. EICHHORN, ALOYSIUS. ii TE PLAG That was the ancient name given to CONSUIPTION, for centuries deemed incurable, and the scourge of the race. , . But a positive CURE for Consumption has been found. TINCTURE AMALIS® CONSUMPTION Dr. Charles Drennen, the eminent physician of Birmingham, Ala., says: 1234 and H sts. 1418 14th at. Cap. st. Y. B NDS & IRELAND. EISENBEISS, iGo... ELIOT, RANDO! L. ELLERY, ALBERT 8.2... ELLIOT, CHAS. H. Binney sts. EPPLE x 14th and Welling pl. 1428 Md. ave. nie. PATRICK J. B01 4% Bw, Cor. Tth and Md. ave. PHARMA I “H st. te, 1ith and Park pl. 201 Harrison st., Anacostia 659 Pa. ave. -826 E. Cap. st. Benning 21400 14th st. -2080 14th oR, MA NOW. 1B, ARMISTEAD T, J. HERY q ROBT RICE B. Cap, st. 6th and Hone, Tap. and HI sts, Mass. ave. ne. -1800 32d st AEFER, § HAPHIRT, AUM, F. RER, CHAS A SIMMS, G. C. SMITH, WM. L. STAFPORD, 6. STi Mol 724 E. Cap. et hand Pa. ave. o Vt JOE 3 WALTER B.. & COL. 55 th we wath and K sts SOO Qoth st 17th and H sts 121 P: WILLIAMS, F. S. & CO. WOOD & Co... - 801 F at ave. and L wt chase of homes. It would favor industry by htening the burden of taxation upon houses, which fs the great product of la- bor. It would result in the use of larger lots of land in connection with individual homes, and would facilitate the pure by poorer citizens of better houses than they now occupy. The relief from paying $15 per year per $1,000 may not seem to be much, but the report states that it repre- ts the full average weekly wage of a anic. The report further urges that reduction of revenue would no ably be more than that it wou'd be offset speedil. 3 creased production of houses and the In- ce ed revenue derived from appreciated land values. Appended to the report are resolutions embodying the above ylews and also cita- tions from reports of tax commissioners and commissions and other authorities of states of New_York, Massachusetts, Jersey, Ohio, Miinois, West Virginta, Pennsylvania and California setting forth the failure of the present tax 3 The report 1s signed by the following members of the committee: J. B. Wilson, chairma M. I. Weller, Sam. S. Bond, J. H. Ra'ston, V. Baldwin Johnson, Wm. Jno. Miller, Wm. Oscar Roome, Raymond J. Donaldson, Andrew Wilson, Ralph P. Bar- nard, N. L. Burchell. Question of Exemptions. Upon the conclusion of the reading of the report, Mr. Jesse B. Wilson, the chairman of the committee, stated that the portion Fundamental Objections. and other ms, the report . While t..e major to this bill and to any bill that of man has yet drafted for nent of personal taxes are fun- in_its to make or which and his creditors for- may be a natural shrink- the part of the business man from the community Into his confidence 1. Because of report states, tak as to matters purely these and other faise returns as rendered. able. at the same time it is we al, and the result is the en ersonal tax law ¢ while thi principled ac Unequal Taxation. > unequal. uch a nature personal » @ per- reach those mmittee is of special tax is to be a It should t 4 qualification as to those e ct perhaps ying spe- their net, not gross, he committee adds, ne consider the best corporations, wheth- inion that is based t obnoxious.. At- ed to the inequality mber of instances are id that hucksters who pur- ion, humble but useful to the to pay $18 annu- must be borne in mind particulars license taxes ©; for instance, those en- gtven occupations should be tden- d as to certain other occupations, reasons may demand a high license. « ‘ation could be secured where neces. sury for furnishing a tag costing twenty- five or fifty cents a year. But on this point the committee adds that it is not within the purview of the report to discuss the ce question. Exemption for Houses. An interesting part of the report is the Giscussion of the question of the partial exemption from taxation of houses occu- pled by their owners, and the report, deem- ing such a course likely to prove beneficial, t rs such exemption in each case of $1,000 of the assessed value. The committee is of the opinion that such a change would increase the number of home owners, plac- ing, as it does, a premium upon the pur- in may have a pla red tn ed, an referring to the exemption from taxes of houses was withdrawn. The secretary read resolutions embodying the recommendations of the report, and they were considered seriatim. ‘The first resolution provided “that sald ill should be amended to exclude from on charitable institutions not for n. Mr. Christian Heurich sald he wished to correct a statement in the report that brew- make such large sums of money. In- stcad of that, he added, after paying their taxes and other expenses there was but little left. In the opinion of W. R. Bramhall, when the first resolution came up, there should no exemption of any property. He aight it was unjust. Mr. Josiah Millard was also of the opin- ion that there should be no exemptions in taxes on real estate. He thought that in the proportion that his principle was car- ried out the burden of taxation would be lessened. A motion was made by Mr. M. I. Weller to lay the amendment on the table, and a protest being made that this would cut off debate, Mr. Weller stated that such was not his purpose, but rather than to seem to check debate he would withdraw his motion. Could See No Reason. Mr. V. Baldwin Johnson said that after giving this subject a good deal of thought he knew of no reason why church property should be exempted. Mr. Weller stated that the committee had considered this matter, but had reached the conclusion that this was not a propitious time for such a change. Mr. Johnson said that the entire commit- tee was of the opinion that church prop- erty ought to be taxed, but he shared with the committee the view that this was not the time to press the matter. Mr. F. L. Siddons said that the resolution did not oppose the exemption of church property from taxation, but simply ex- sed the opin that charitable institu- ought to be exempted if church prop- was so favored. Mr. John H. Magruder thought {t would be a mistake to tax church property, and he was opposed to the amendment. Shown by Statistics, Statistics were quoted by Mr. W. J. Friz- zel, showing that 14 per cent of the prop- erty in the District was now exempt from taxation, and he thought the situation was one that required action reducing the amount of the exempt property. The amendment was then lost, and the resolution was unanimously adopted. The following resolutions wi without debate: 2 ere, afonted “That taxes should be collected semi-an- nually, as proposed by said bill. “That, believing a tax on personal prop- erty inimical to the best interests of this District, we are opposed to the enactment of any jaw providing therefor.” Taxation of Corporations. Th next resolution was “that tf any spe- elal tax be levied on corporations not en- Joying public franchises such tax should be levied on net earnings.” Mr. George Truesdell asked the chairman of the committee why corporations enjoy- Ing public franchises should be excepted. He said the inference from the resolution was that such corporations should be taxed on gross earnings. Mr. J. H. Ralston, for the committee, ex- plained that it was not intended to sug- Best any method of taxing such corpora- tions. as great differences of opinion existed on this subject, and therefore the resolu- tion was so worded as not to commit the board to any one of these views. Mr. Truesdell sald the explanation was entirely satisfactory, The resolution was adopted. Occupation Taxes. ‘The next and last resolution was adopted as follows: “That occupation taxes should only be levied to insure identification and for police purposes, or only in the event of absolute necessity to insure revenue, and the sald bill should be so amended as to attain this end and no other.” Mr. Ralston explained that the committee submitted no resolution in regard to the exemption of houses up to $1,000 of assess- ed valuation from taxation, but it was hoped the board would give attention to this part of the report, so that when the sub- ject was brought up at some future day it would not come as a surprise. It was thought that at this time the would not care to act upon this matter. A motion was made by Mr. Brumhall and adopted to accept the report and adopt the resolution as a whole, and he added that he thought the thanks of the board was due to the committee for the able report. Municipal Hospital Needed. The next matter of business was a reso- lution reported by Mr. B. T. Janney, chair- man of the committee on charities and cor- rections, that the committee be authorized to urge upon Congress the passage of a bill to provide a municipal hospital for the District. This resolution Was adopted. Parks and Reservations. A series of resolutions for the committee on parks and reservations, Mr. H. F. Blount, chairman, were read by the secre- tary, Mr. W. V. Cox. The first resolution urged upon Congress the approval of the estimate made by the District Commission- ers of $30,000 for the care and improvement of Rock, Creek Park. is resolution was adopted. The next resolution favored action by Congress so as to secure the extension of the national park system along Rock creek, from the Zoological Park south to Massa- chusetts avenue on the’ east side, and on the west side to Road street a total of thirty acres, which, exclusive of donations, will cost about $200,000. It was stated that a numerously signed petition favoring this extension would be presented to Congress. Some of the -rea- sons for this improvement was to prevent the use of the banks of the Potomac for a dumping ground and the pollution of the stream. The Plans Explained. The city surveyor, Mr. H. B. Looker, by the aid of a map, explained the effect of the proposed extension, which, he said, contem- plated taking in the low grounds on each side of Rock creek a distance of about 500 feet. He sald Belmont street would be the eastern line, and on the west side the limit would be one of the streets in the proposed street extension plan. He said that this proposed use of the low lands along Rock creek formed an essential link in the con- nection with Potomac Park. He also called attention to the location of the land which is proposed for a park in George- town. Upon the conclusion of his remarks the resolution was adopted. Encouragement of Enterprises. A statement was made by Mr. Ben Miller, chairman of the committee on commerce and manufactures, calling ettention to @ resolution adopted by the committee look- ing to increasing the means of gaining a livelihood in this city. The resolution stated that it was desired to encourage the location here of industrial enterprises and such manufacturing plants as may be suited to the character of this clty. The resolution further authorized the commit- tee to appear before the Senate subcom- mittee on the taxation of corporations and urge the establishment for the city of Washington of a manufacturing limit. Mr. Geo. E. Emmons, for this committee, said that such plans encountered the ob- stacle of adverse taxation. He said that the action of the board this evening look- ing to making the gross earnings of cor- porations instead of the net earnings a basis of taxation relieved the situation somewhat, but St was thought that the committee should have authority to ap- pear before the committees of Congress in order to lay before them a plan for remit- ting taxes for a period and for encourag- ing manufactures. He said that a request had come to the committee from a manu- facturing concern for information in re- gard to a suitable location for a plant here. It had found that good sites were to bé found along the Eastern branch. He said the committee had found that some of the local regulations interfered with such en- terprises, and the committee was of the opinion that everything compatible with the interests of the city should be done to encourage the establishment of manufac- turing plants in this District. No Infringements Intended. Mr. Emmons made an earnest plea for action on this subject, so important to the interests of the city and in @ line with giving employment to our people. It was not the intention, he said, to attempt to in- fringe upon the residential portions of une city, but to keep such concerns outside. He urged that the committee be authorized to go to Congress and do what it can to promote in this way the material ad- vancement of the District. Mr. A. M. Read thought that usually the committees of the board brought forward some specific object in recommending ac- tion by the board. In this instance the committee had not named where the pro- posed manufacturing bounds should be, and he favored further consideration by the committee. He had no doubt the board would give early consideration to the rec- ommendations. Mr. W. J. Newton spoke of the difficulty of securing a start in this city for young men, and he appreciated the importance of increasing industrial openings here, but in spite of that fact he did not favor the reso- lution, because it delegated powers to a committee that belonged to the board. He thought the recommendations of the com- mittee should be more specific, Mr. Miller, the chairman of the commit- tee, sald he was willing to withdraw the latter part of, the resolution and bring it up for consid lon at a subsequent meeting resolution, thus indorsing the committee along these lines, President Edson’s Interest. President Edson said that he was deeply interested in this subject, and he thought there was no one that was more heartily in favor of advancing the material welfare of the olty. An evening would be assigned for the use of the committee, and full con- sideration given to the Mr MO-L. Weller anid the soolltons Deve were favorable for the location of manufac- turing plants, for here capital would be well protected, as labor riots could not take place. He thought that if there was a change in the public school system so as to have trade education in the lower grades it would result in training up a useful class of employes. Mr. H. F. Blount said he thought this was a favorable place for the lighter manu- factures, those that will not interfere with the attractiveness of this city as a place of residence. A resolution was adopted favoring the course of the committee in its efforts to encourage manufacturers’ interests. It was the understanding that a more detailed rec- ommendation wiil be prepared, to be con- sidered at a future meeting of the board. The board then adjourned. Some of Those Present. Among those present were John W. Bab- son, Dr. Frank Baker, W. V. Cox, N. L. Burchell, H. H. Darneille, Matthew Trim- ble, Geo. Truesdell, W. A. Meloy, Emmons Smith, Jesse B. Wilson, W. 8. Thompson, W. G. Henderson, ¥. L. Siddons, H. F. Blount, J. H. Ralston, M. I.-Weller, A. A. Wilson, Edward Graves, Thos. Blagden, 8. W. Curriden, Geo. E. Emmons, Thos. W. Smith, N. G. Ordway, Christian Heurich, Y. Baldwin Johnson, W. H. Moses, T. B. Jewell, John HL der, H. B. Looker, B. T. Janney, Lorin‘Chappell, Josiah Mil- lard, AM. Read, Pgoiemin, Miller, Anan pb. & Jr. WS “Montgomery, N. H. Shea, H. L. Rust, B. C. Pole, E. F. Droop, Appleton P. Clark, J. P. Walker, Thi Dulin, A. T. Stuart, W. J. Newton, W. Frizzell, Kimon Nicolaides, W. H. Saut ders, B. P. Davis, J. Fred Kelley, Dr. D. P. Hickling, Seymour Tulloch, John Miller, H. W. Lewts, P. J. Brennan, W. Mosby Wil- liams, M. G. Copeland and Frank Hume. SS DREDGING IN GOLD SANDS Secretary Root Sends a Statement to the Senate. No Concessions Granted by the Secre- tary of War—Permits Have Been Is- sued—No Application Denied. Secretary Root has transmitted to the Senate his reply to the resolution of March 21 requesting information on the War De- partment’s practice of granting permits for gold dredging off the Alaskan coast. He says: “No concessions or grants to excavate the gold-bearing bed of the sea at or in the vicinity of Cape Nome, in Alaska, or in other Alaskan waters, have been made by the Secretary of War or any other official of the War Department. Numerous appli- cations have been received by the War De- partment for permits to excavate in the bed of the ocean in the vicinity of Cape Nome, in Alaska, in the exercise of the au- thority conferred upon the chief of engi- neers and the Secretary of Wer by section 10 of the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1899, which provides: * * ¢ ‘it shall not be lawful to excavate or fill, or in any man- ner to alter or modify the course, location, condition or capacity of any port, road- stead, haven, harbor, canal, Jake, harbor of refuge or inclosure within the limits of any breakwater, or of the channel of any navigable water of the United States, un- less the work has been recommended by the chief of engineers and authorized by the Secretary of War prior to beginning the same. “Section 12 of the same statute makes it a criminal offense to excavate without the required authority, however lawful the work may atinew es be, and provides that the offender ‘on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $2,500, nor less than $500, or by imprisonment not ex- ceeding one year, or by both such punish- ments in the discretion of the court.’ As this statute was designed solely for the protection of qavigation, it has been the practice of tha Wag Department to grant permits to pe is desiring to excavate for any purpose when tfé work is not such as to injuriously Bert. vigation and is oth- erwise lawful. ‘Pertits thus granted are not exclusive; they*do not preclude any number of simffar ts applicable to the same territory; they“are not grants or con- cessions, and they dpnfer no rights what- ever except iminunity from prosecution un- der the statuté dbbve quoted secured in accordance wit! thé‘terms of the statute, and by reason 6f @ compliance with the provisions the! x “‘As there seettis to‘he no legal reason why all citizens of the United States should not have the same opportunity to prospect for gold and acqufte mftiing rights under the mining laws up#n Jani under water as they have upon lands not under water the de- partment deterthh , aS @ general policy in the exercise, of tHe discretion "vested in the chief of ers and Secretary of War by this ite, to relieve all citizens epplying from the obstacle interposed by this statute as long as thelr proposed op- sons do not in fact interfere with navi- on, No Application Denied. “All applications made under this statute have accordingly, so far as it has been pos- sible to dispose of them, received favorable action. No application of this description has been dented. Upen two permits have been granted. Upon a third papers had been prepared and were awaiting the Secre- tary of War's signature at the time of the Lesage of Race uses others were e cl of engineers and were in ioe tenis of che Jalxeiatvacats mn Oo! 1e@ ni Blev rs are still in the office of the chief of engineers in process of ex- amination upon the question whether they interfere with navigation. more just Wonder What Mertz Will Say Today? : Our Easter Onenitig CONTINUES ALL NEXT WEEK. You are cordially invited and will be heartily welcomed: Buyer or sightseer, you'll catch the spirit of this bigger and This is a glorious occasion — gloriously better business. inaugurated! Every eye is on us, every lip speaks of this opening event. The broad portals of our enterprise, generosity and zeal are flung wide open. Our Prices. Defending you against high prices has long been our pleasant and profitable duty—pleasant, because of the many thousands of men who have been benefited by our low i prices—profitable, because of the great aggregation of small profits. It has been one continuous warfare this fighting down prices for fine tailoring, but we win in every engagement. The people look to us for defense—we respond quickly— one of the links in the strong chain that holds trade here is the positive knowledge the people have of the genuine money-saving we give them and the thorough reliability of all our productions. Satisfaction guaranteed with every order, big or little. That means money back if you want it. (Derts and (MSerts, Makers of Made-to-Measure Garments for Men, 906 and 908 F St. Baltimore Store, 6 East Baltimore St. received are in the office of the Secretary of War, and will today be sent to the chief of engineers. Unless otherwise directed by Congress the Secretary of War will deem it his duty in the exercise of the discretion vested in him by law to grant permits in all of these cases and upon all other similar applications by citizens of the United States, provided that the work proposed does not injuriously affect navigation.” Permits Granted. An accompanying paper showed that per- mits to excavate the sea near Cape Nome were granted to George Max Esterly and Benjamin W. Stanley. An application of F. 8. Wood was awaiting the Secretary's signature at the time the resolution was received. Nineteen other applications have been received and are consideration Hank 4 nor Se BG. List Bamond —<—<—=—— Keyes, T. W. Cope, Pere G. Wallmo, 8. V. Race H. J. Davison, W. = said area; and it may be withdrawn as to future work at the discretion of the Sec- retary of War.” Satlors Eaten by Cannibals. The steamer Warrimoo, at Vancouver, B, C., brings from Dutch New Guinea the shocking account of the devouring of three officers of the steamer General Pell by can~ nibals, who caught them while on shore taking photographs. Ernest Wiegan, one of the party, was wounded by arrows, and while hiding saw trees; cut Of portions at ‘tiring Hoa ions of 4 and finally Toast and devour man-of- -war Sumatra is as Prepared to avenge the precy gsi e+ <_<