Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-09-21
Asse-,ments for street lmprsyements

Assessments for street lm improvements.
ADJoU RNED MEETING OF OWNERS OF PROPERTY
ALONG THE LINES or INF Rov ENB NTs ON Nav
YORK AND VERMONT AVENUES AND g, H, AND
FoU RTEKNTH eTREETS-THEF ARE GOING TO
LAW.
An adjourned meeting OF the propeIty-h oiders
on New York and Vermont avenues. ami o. III
anu i4th streets along those sections recently
improved under the direction of the board of
public works, was held last evening Al the board
OF trade rooms, DIR. Thomas Miller presiding,
Dir. Noble ID. LaTner secretary.
Mr.. John Wilson su bRitted the
REPORT OF TEE COMMITTEE
10 WAIT on Inc board OF public works The re-
port states that the committee were cOurteously
received by Messrs. Shepherd and Msgrsder, OF
the board. The whole subject fully dis
cussed, and the board expressed in the strOn ysst
terms their views of the injustice and hsrdShi D
OF the laws under which they were acting. hut
their inability under these laws or the legal adj
vice given them to do otherwise than tkey had
done. The work had been done and ust be
paid for. Churches and schools were exem pt
from taxation by law, and the improve MS in
front OF them and the Crossings OF the streets
are to be charged upon the assessable pre- perty,
as there was NO general fuEd TO which TO Charge
them.
The committee insisted that property helders
should only se char geabe with one third ef the
contract price of the improve ments In frast of
their individual property, and with no portion
of the improvements in front of clutches,
schools, TeSeTv StiOns or street crossings.
Rlr. SneIIefI stated tn at az the next session
OF the legislature the board would urge the pas
sage OF bill 70 authorize the issue OF certificates
10 the property holders for the amount of over
charge In each case, said certificates To be CT
the certificates nov proposed to DC isSusd a inst
the property holders.
STATEMENT OF THE BOARD
After their report had been pc pared. fun
statehent a. 10 the work ON New York avenue
was received from Dir. Shepherd. vice president
of the board or pubic works. Tbjs st at .ment
was read toy Mr.. Laruer. IL shows full de tails
of the EXPENDITURES on New Yo-k avenue.
cites the several contracts and rates for
the work OF improving that avenue;
exhibits the bills for the work in detail, footing
up Sli29ll.Sl for pavements, and SS2i5 30 for
sewers. from which items charged in Inadvertently
are deducted, also the amounts chargeabie
to the United States and to the railroad GONNA
mics, amounting TO S24,13li5, leaving SOC OBS 10,
to which Is added five per cent. for general ex-
pe1ses, 81 sol ~, making the total cost ct the
entire Improvement OF New York avenue from
9th to 10Th street west, including five per cent
for gen. eX., 500, S2961, One-thrd of which il
cblrgeable to the property bordering on the i'm
prOvement. The squares SO i'm approved are given
In detail, showing total frontage assesssble
$3.50 feet; which, divided Into one third of
StO s29 81, is So G69.s7, equal to $40 2i 90 per
front foot. MIR. Shepherd, in Closing saws;
1.-The change of grade referred to really saved
the proPerty-owners large sum Of money and
also great damage"
THE RESOLUTIONS.
MI Wilson offered resolutions: LIST. That we
mighty appreciate the earnest Jealous and par-
severlng efforts OF the board of public works for
tht Improvement of our city, &c: but do not
feel that it would be just eXpe mt to subject
Our property to the operations OF these unjust
ami oppressive laws and look to some future
anu uncertain relief for the wrongs of which WE
no y complain; We will, therefore, apply Ia TN,
courts for such relief i'm the reniis,,s a. the
laws OF our country will give US. 2d, That til,
property holders now present, and all who may
wish to do so hereafter, come forward and sign
paper to the effect that we will apply to the
courts for relief, aud to this end will agree to en-
gage the services Of three competent lawyers 70
present our matters to the courts 3D. That we
VIII pay - per front feot OF the property
thus designated 10 create a fund from which to
! ty these lawyers retaining fee for their SER
vices; SAID money TO be paid to George w.
Riggs, who is requested 10 act as treasurer of
THIS fund, and TO disburse it.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION.
Elf a. 81. CooRbs said there was no law COM
peiing the assessment of one-tbiTd the cost on
the property benefited. The orgauis act mo
vldes that the board may assess a Just proportion
o. tne eN penses, not exceeding one third; and it
was In their power, If they saw lit, to assess but
l.ItO OF the COST on the property.
Mr. Wilson said in the conference with the
board the committee took this view, and the
board stated that the law interpreted by
their legal adviser compelled their action. In
answer to question of Mr.. Henry Piper Mr..
Wilson said the Legislature had the ROVER to
authorize the issue OF certificates to indemnify
the property holders IA the board proposad
Mr. John y. darkness said he would be glad
70 place himself fair and square on the resolu-
tons, but could not do SC without stultifying
himself, for the statements in the first reSolu.
ton were untrue. These men now say that the
assessment bill is unjust, when they themselves
drew up the bill and presented IL to the lesisls-
ture with their plan, In which they declared
they had given exact and true measurements |
and estimates,
He moved to strike out the first resolution.
which was agreed to.
The resolutions were amended; on motion OF |
Dr. Miller, SO as to provide for all incidental |
expenses of the proposed suit, and, as amended, |
were adopted.
Mr. Larner moved that a committee of three |
be appointed TO carry the resolutions into effect:
alop' ed, and the chair appointed Messrs |
Michael Green, j. L. Lehman, and y. ID. Lar |
ueT.
Mr. Wilson moved that the committee be in |
tructed to prepare an address 20 the people of |
he District, inviting them to take united action
a the matter OF resisting the oppressive and |
llegsi assessments OF the board; adopted. |
After the adjournment of the meeting the !
'onmi'tee met and decided 10 employ as counsel |
. conduct the proposed suits Nessrs. ". ID. |
Davldge, y. d. COOmbs, Walter ). Cox and |
Applcby * Edmonston.