Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-10

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The Probable Length OF the Session.
A number Of the leading members OF our new
Territorial Legislature, which meets on Mon
rNy, will move AZ once for an INQUIRY into the
fnaueial condition Of the present Corporation
OF Washington, and take some me asures to pro-
vide for the payment OF the Indebtedness, which
amounts 20 abOut three millions Of dollars. The
next step will he TO relieve The taxation of the
people o. this city, and TO order
A NEW GENERAL ASSESSMENT,
upon a similar basis Of the assessments in the
principal no. bern cities, where the assessment
ugon property rarely exceeds one -hslr of its
value, and though the percentage of tax alton
nav be higher Than x is here, the property
holder does Lot have a. much to paw as his
estate T. not valued at its highest price Oar
taxes are now SiS9 on every hundred dollars
snd piece OF property worth ten thousand
collars AM assessed al That sum. it is here,
must pay $50 taxes In other cities property
wofth that amount l. rot assessed TO much more
iran One-haif Of III sum- and ii the rae of
taxation be two or two and "A half dollars on
every hundred, tue owner has TO paw but one
hundred OF one BLURRED and twenty n We doll .rs
tsHe>. II / believed that the taxable property
here VIII yield a revenue sufficient to pay the
interest on all o. our Indebtedness and leave a
balance which, Il
JUDICGcUsLY AND HONESTLY EXPENDED,
viii provide iV more Improvements than we
have ever had efOre. and this with a less rate
Of taxation Il ~ Is now imposed upon the peo-
Ple.
NEW OFFICERS
The contest for once under the new govern
neEs which vii Re fairly inaugurated on the
lst ProSimo, Is growing very hot, and it seems
10 be a question whether the Governor shall
make the aPpOintme nts subject TO the confrua-
ton OF the upper house, or whether the two
branches % the Legislature will elect in Joint
committee. The act to provide our new govern
neTt saws: "The Legislative Assembly shall
have power 10 provide BY law for the election or
appoint Dent of such ministerial Off GERS as NAV
be deemed necessary to carry into effecs the
laws OF said District, 20 prescribe their duties
Their terms OF Office, and the rate and manner
OF their compensation" IL Also provides that
the GoveTnor shall commission all officers who
thah De elected or appointed to Office" &c.
Those members of the Legislature, espe-
claliy those Of the lower house. who have
.ueif lsTty ayes to grind and political
no right 70 make sny appointments but that
AL OFFICES must be filled by election by the two
branches OF the Assembly in joint convention,
and claim that the Governor and upper branch
OF the Legislative Assembly, both being an
pointed by the President, should not be allowed
20 MI all the Offices On the other hand, some
OF the prominent members of both houses are
OF the opinion that the Legislature, under the
clause above quoted, should authorize the Gov
ernor 20 make the appointments, BY and with
the advice and consent Of the upper branch
In support of this view they que that political
tnikers and mere Pariisans would not tren be
selected for the Offices, as would certainly be
The case If the Offices be made elective by the
two branches of the legislature
SESSION OF The LEGISLATURE
Another question to be determined at the
commencement Is in regard TO the duration OF
the session Of the Legislative Assembly, The
law PROVIDES that s.no session in anv one wear
sbsll exceed the term OF si,ty days exccp nj the
tTst session, which may continue one hundred
DAYS A number OF tie members hold that il
viii be irludiciOus for the Assembly to continue
IN session Ter sixty consecutive dave, as then
tie District would be without any legislative
body IN session 81 least nine months in the year
Governor and Board of Public WORKS. hence II
IL proposed TO
SPIN THE SESSION OFT
most OF The year by meeting two DAYS in the
week, except duriLg the summer months, and
BY tbs means the sixty days would be spread
over the whole year.
INPRcvENyNTs
The desire of the prominent members of the
two houses seems 10 be to have ali portions o,
TIE city improved rapidly as possible, with
out imposing 30 much of a burden on the tax
paye's. The system of curbing and paving.
g ahe wa.eI- I4lrs &c., upon the oaC-
oweli viii lie opposed a. being maiu ' for
the benefit of speculatcrs.
ASCEKTAISISG The INDEBTEDNESS
OF the old corporation Of " ashington will be an
important measure AT the beginning OF the new
govern ment, and it seems to be the impression
u
parties having claims against the CORPORATION 10
Present them to proper board by a certain
cate. Then the mode OF providing for the pay
meDt OF all GLAZING Will be discussed IL IL RE
intention of the new government 10 have a fresh
start. and make provision for the PAYMENT of
the Indebtedness Of the old corporation a. soon
AZ possible.
NOT BLr6IBLR.
IL il said that Frederick Douglass WIN bas
been nominated and confirmed for the upper
branch Of the House OF Assembly, is not eligible.
AZ be ls citizen of New York. and did not
register or vote here. His son resides in the
county, and while Mr.. Douglass is here he re-
sides With him, but does not claim the Dlstriet
OF Columbia as his residence.
ABANDONMENT OF THE BLIZZARD RoosrD
The old City Hall, known for many wears a
tie Buzzards RoOst," does not meet with
favor among the new officials, and 1t is pro-
posed to surrender the entire building 10 the
federal government for the use OF the cnurts
AS Heretofore stated in TIE STAR Morrison's
binding, on * street, has been leased for the
onees OF Tax Collector, Register, school trus-
tees, ana subordinate officers under the new
oveInnent, until a suitable exec utiye office
Tor The District can be erected.
A FINE IMPROVEMENT ON THE RIVER Front
Inc work Of constructing a sea wall and grad
ing water street between 9th and .rh sfreets
was commenced by the contT actors last week.
a AM 20 De continued until completed. The
fuItOn House, foot of 9Th street and strikes
Srouehs wharf about midway of his dwelling
house, which has TO be removed across ths
street 10 make room for the carriagegay This
4 much needed Improvement, and will he an
Preclated by passengers and those having vusi
hess Al the lower wharTes. A dirt roadway was
mace At this point twice by General R1ckar
during the war. but washed AWAY by the tids
~ l. not unlikely that the street railroad will Ia
eAtenCed TO the Arsenal after this Improvement
IL made.
A SWEEPING VICTORY FOR TIE RED SrocK-
lNGs--Our Blue Stockings should take comfort
u az they played the Boston Red STOCKINGS 40
close. The latter club defeated the recon-
: ucted Atlantic Club in BROOKLYN on Monday
BY score OF % 10 o. The Sun SAYS the Red
stockings did 80 well in Washin yton in Their
game with the Olympics that there was a great
curiosity 10 see them, but the spectators who
were present were wOfully dis appointed The
Aying OF neither club was up % the mark
The Boston club defeated the .HaymakaTs of
u roy yesterday, 9 TO 5, and IN the progress of
the game George Wright was knocked down ny
Cyne and injured severely, both running after
ba.l a. the same time.
IEkFREsHET.-The recent heavy rains raised
ne otOmac some, bat not 20 the extent 10 do
~ ucb injury 10 the bridges in this vicinity The
OILY 1Snage 50 far reported IL thar q, tina rail-
foAh orlcge or the Washington and AIexandria
company, already noticed in Tax ST.e Ths
damsse was slight, the travel rot beinc ;ctsr
Tupted, although the engines have -. -