Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-05
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENC


TIE CoUNCILs.-The Board of Aldermen
met last night at tho usual hour, Mr. Clark
in the chair, (Mr. President Hill being still
confined at home by indisposition.)
The Chair laid before the Board the Mayors
communication covering the report of the in
spector of the are department for the months
Of October and November
This report states that all the fire apparatus
Of the diterent companies are in order, except
~ follows:
On the LIST of December, the apparatus Of the
Northern Liberties Company wan cd cleaning,
and its suction required overhauling in the
valves. The Perseverance then had a new
suction, and its apparatus was in complete
order. The Columbia hose reel was then out
of order. The inspector could not get kew
therefore could not inspect their apparatus.
In his report for the month of October last,
he states that he could not inspect the Perse-
verance apparatus, as he could not get kew
to their premises. The Franklin and North.
ern Liberties at that time had hose which re-
CURED cleaning and oiling, while the Colum-
oia hose reels wanted repairing, one of them
being unfit for service
The Chair laid before the Board a bill from
the lower Board to grade and gravel Seven
tenth street wes from New York avenue tn
purpose; referred to tho committee on i'm
provements.
Also, q bill to pay the expense of the grading
ralllng, coping, stone steps, &c, required on
account of the change of grade of the street be-
lore the house of Mrs. Louisa Wadsworth. in
FRANKLIN Row; referred to the committee on
finance '0o VI
Also, a bill for the relief of John II. O'Neiu
10iMTuons - % over tax paid by him
Inc Chair explained the nature of this
clam; and the bill was referred to the com.
raittse on finance
Also, bill to remit fine imposed on G afin
Nally, because of his son, lad, by Justice
Crandall; referred to the committee on claims
=, Mr.. Pepper offered a resolution, granting
the use of their chamber for a meeting of aoi.
diers OF the war of 1872, on Wednesday night.
December 6; passed.
MI Evans presented the petition of Henry
Johnson, for liberty to erect hay scales on the
poollo space On the east front of square No.
Mr.. Pepper presented the petition of John
Considine, for the remission of a 6ne: re-.
ferred to the committee on claims
MI. Magruder from the committee on finance,
to whom had been referred the petition OF
Thomas Miller and others, reported a bill for
tho appointment of a temporary board of an.
peal ION taxation,) to consist of three citizens
to be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice
and consent of the Board Of Aldermen, to hear
All appeals from the assessments for 1854. and
TO equalize, decrease, or increase the assess.
nents as may be proper-making the comnen-
satlon OF each member of tho board 81 Der
day.
Mr. Fitzpatrick thought that the Board had
no right to authorize such board TO increase
any assessment.
Mr.. Magruder explained that that PORTO,
OF tho bill was copied verbatim from q previous
law. MI Nd at some length, argued to show
that many errors had been made By the Score
tsry OF tho Board OF Assessors, in transcribing,
Tnion required correction to secure justice to
the tax payers of the city. He mentioned
half-a-dosen particular cases There were
complaints OF enormous and exor bitant assess.
ments, which should be looked into He CON
celved, further, that such board should act
before the finance committee could under
standingly report on the project for decreasing
taxation In the city generally MI M. also
expressed his willingness to strike out the
word increase
Mr.. Reed held that it would be improper so
to do; as, according to Mr.. Magruder's show
ing it was clear that so ne of the assessment.
had been accidentally, but very clearly, made
too low.
MI Pepper also argued to show that MANY
and grave mistakes had been made in assess
ing the real estate in Washington; explaining
half dozen particular cases
Mr. Houston held that this business could
Be done without the Intervention of a new
Beard of Appeal NV"
Mr.. Magruder differed from the last sneak.
or, arguing to show that it would not be
proper to mako the Board of Assessors, the
Board Of Appeal in this case.
Mr. Fitzpatrick also addressed the Boa I'd
In few remarks against the bill He co n
ceived that the present charter Of the city
made the assessors a suitable board of appeal
In such cases. If this board should be ap-
pointed, it could have no legal power to in.
crease assessments which were VIGOROUSLY too
low; They could only decrease such as were
too high
Mr. Msgruder contended that tho new char.
ter merely changed TIE manner of appointing
the assessors, by no means changing their
rights and duties
Mr.. Houston argued that the proposed bill
was to secure justice to such citizens a. b ad
failed to obtain it at the hands of tho board
OF assessors. He did not believe that it was
expected that this proposed board would in.
crease any assessments. His objection was to
the feature OF the plan which made the pro-
posed board temporary, rather than perma-
nent
Mr.. Pepper and Mr.. Clark presumed that
no application would be made to the proposed
board, II created, to increase taxation. and
DOTH therefore advocated striking out the fea-
lures of the bill authorizing them to do any.
thing with the assessments, except to dscreass
them.
Mr.. Marks argued in favor of the posi- lions
taken by the two last speakers named above.
Mr. Fitzpatrick, again taking tho floor, e1-
planned that the new board would not, of
course, act on any case except on application
OF appeal, all of which would be for de-
crease of assessments
Mr. Magruder then, by leave, struck out of
the DILL the word tnerease, and otherwise
amended it, so as to deprive the proposed
board OF any powers, except to act on appeal.
mr Houston suggested that they be allowed
to set FOR 80 days, rather than 10, as the bill
proposed.
Mr. Magruder explained that that would
greatly increase the expense
Mr.. d. then declined urging his suggestion.
Mr. Pearson thought 80 per diem compen-
posed board fO
Mr. Magruder commended hat under the cir.
cumstances, "a per diem was little enough
Mr. Pearson contended that So being the
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