National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-02

L.
witer-main tax did you payf A. Ssven-elghths
Of one per cent. 80 49,
There has been none down there. ssy .lr
L q. But where It was placed where the property
into that viii explain the relative position q
PER- If Sss S sas hat
mates, that the Board Of Public Works. in their
aud any one who is acquainted with Washington,
as suppose you all are will bear me out that
al spens fa s, q ie o4a S
here. The District Of Columbia have appro-
prated Of that sisooo,oOo spent, I think,
Which Is bonGsdr Which sSs district government
are paying interest on in the general taxes, and
other properly Now this part Of the city, whilst
DO not own = foot In T. except own some prop.
interest upon Ire debt they have been paying the
| ppsying The interest upon water, they have been
paying for lighting the city, they have been pay
is That they are not getting specially the dement's
tie Interest and part % the sinking fund e help
police; they have none Of the large schools, except
| one-that Is the Wallach school, and then, when
them, It Is too hard upon that section Of the city
/ BY Mr.. Stewart g.: If It was put into the gen
eraf tax you would have to pay portion Of It
thenf A Yes, this portion Of the city is discrmi-
nate against while there Is no escape for It under
the law in taxing our citizens for general taxes.
4 is coming around that the law comprises an un-
| productive property. You have the highest tax
placed upon II, while the north part Of the
city, which is growing, Is very large piece Of Il
taxed less, which objected to in the bill when It
vs. BY D Mr. HubSelE Q. You voted no on TT A.
|
BY Mr.: Merrick: Do you know Of any, property
in that district which Is subjected to this tax Of
the two cents itself at market yalues A. Oh, yes;
there isa great deal Of property down in that
tends out into the Eastern branch.
| O.. Over on the eastern sectionf A. Yes, sir;
| should say all east Of Fifteenth street. IL
q. The tax is equal to the entire valuef A.
BY the Chairman: Q. Is all that portion Of the
property subsidiary to this Tiber sewer7 A. No,
sir this money is raised to build what they call
BY Mr.. Bass: q. Is there statement on the
assessors books showing the number Of square
Of assesslble property in each Of those distrctsf
Mr.. Merriek; presume So
before the law was passed.
Mr. Merrick. But the assessed value Is not
shown in any accessible form, and therefore II was
that desired to call specific witnesses to point out
particular territories where this tax was equal to
| the entire value of the property or half or one
third, as the case might be. I shall call some
have been absent to-day, and did not know this
question was 70 be precipitsted upon Us. only |
got back TO town about o'clock. - 80
BY Mr. Wilson: q. You say that the improve |
ment has been made out in the other dircctionf |
A. Yes, sir; principally in the northwest dree- |
few streets through this part Of the city. East |
Capitol street is carried to Lincoln square, and
here and there an avenue graded.
o. Yes I unlarsfand that. lint i want tn direct |
your attention to that portion Of the city. will
makem my question general, so that It will apply |
know is, whether or not the Board OF Public |
Works has been laying the wood pavement or con-
any Improvement in the way Of buildings; and If |
SO, indicate the localities and name, as far as you
can, the streets or avenues where that thing has |
board on that subject whilst have never gone to |
them. always, unfortunately, happened to be on |
lar claim do think that In numbers of the streets
the improvements might have been deferredi |
that the property at present on account Of cur Pc
wo have 10000 consumers here, and have always |
contended that.we could not make financial |
success Of paying Is To- or 70 million; upon TnPro
now in the situation that originally contem-
plated. We are bankrupt. Butin regard.to particu-
lar pavements do not know that can get my /
mind down; it is SO extensive and immense.
should Judge up through that portion Of the
rather an ordinary class Of buildings, and, pre-
sumo, will remain 50 for years, where the I'M
provement really adds no value to the property. |
II might have been deferred.
In the wisdom Of the board they have done It.
All west Of Seventh street, including up through
the northwestern part OF the city there have been
very extensive improvements made. cannot say
but what it was to some extent justlhable. I
voted for the Improvement bill, and would, II we
could afford 1t, put gilt-edged curbstOnes all over
Mr.. Christy. The question deem quite I'm
Mr. Stewart. Let the witness answer this ques-
ton.
answer it after reflection and Inspection Of the
maps showing the completed portion Of these i'm
provements. 1t would be more Intelligent and
satisfactory answer, undoubtedly.
Mr.. Stewart. He was on the stand, and Judge
Wilson wanted to get his general view Of the
A. must confess think the Board of Public
Works have gone entirely beyond the law In re-
lation to these improvements; they have certainly
gone beyond any authority that the District gov
eminent has ever given them
MIR. Wilson. That's legal question with which
The committee Will have to deal hereafter, sir
localities about the city they have built expensive
payements where there are no improvements or
comparatively few improyements-buildings
q. VIII you please Instance the streets-can
you call them to mindf The committee may
fore ask the question. A. am only giving you
my private opinion in regard to what streets
might nave DeeQ IeIL uQQOQe, tnaJ is al.
q. 1simply want you to instance those streets
where you think they have put down payements Il
where there was comparatively no improvements
that lie east of Sixth street, for Instance, and
north oC-say Massachusetts, avenue, continuing
the city that lies in there. think that those i'm
proyements might have been postponed to some
future day, and work done upon other portions Of
the city where IL would have shown the develop
Q. Is that part of the city densely or sparsely
pSpuiatedI a; rs spaisey pS0pTiatee; a. Least
living there, but 1t is rather poor class people
and rather poor class Of improvements. If you
Der Of years you would know that they do not
move, but are permanent. In other sections Of
Seee e anSanced IN yaius Sy these imprCye%ents
II is beyond the price Of this class Of inhabitants
to handle.
"a. You seem to have taken some interest in
this matter, and have made some suggestions to
the committee for which am very thankful, for
one. Are there any sections Of the city that in
with reference to these matters about which I
have asked you; n 50, would be glad to have
you; as citizen Of this city indicate them to Is
fore it might have been deferred. They were ex-
onerous on the property -owners that own that
class Of property. But think If the committee
will take . couple OF ysthey would be better
along. 1t Is quite difficult TO answer any such
question as that, and designate spots about in
large city like this. L,
Mr.. Mattngly. You have referred TO the fact
that these improvements made by the Board ef
Public Works have been north and west Of the
Capitol. Is 1t not fact that the expenditures by
the board for these special Improvements have
been heaviest or have been made In proportion 20
the assessible valre of the property-the assessed
value OF the property? A. State that again, II
you please. {
q. Has not the board made the heaviest expen- {
ditures for special improvements where the prop
erty was most yaluable3 A. You did not under
stand the point made.
@. Oh, yes did. A. say up through this sec !
tion of the city that the money has been expended
in the general taxes and these people in the east
ern part Of the city-the low-priced property |
have to help to pay for that when they are not =
getting any special benefit for It.
Q. understand you to say that these people
were complaining that they had not their I'M /
provements made in their section OF the city? A.
Oh, no; did not say that You misunderstood
me.
q. Now, do you control any Of this property !
down east Of -Four street, and south Of
Virginia avenue, running down to Buzzard's !
Pointf A. have not the agency for 1t; but ] =
know pretty much about it. ~, 1
Q. Do you know Of any single square Of ground
there that can be bought for i've cents footf A.
Yes sir; Mr. Richards offered me his three I
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