Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-27
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.

COUNC1L--The Council met at O'Clock
last evening. House bill to amend an act regu-
lating the sale Of hay, was read a second time
and referred. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.-Mr.U ren in
troduced bill to amend the act relating to
IsliI It trains on streets and avenues by re-
peaIng that portion of the act prohibiting the
ringing Of bells when crossing streets.
MIR. Boswell inquired If the bill was offered
IN good faith, and receiving an affirmative an
sWer, remarked that the ringing Of bells had
nearly rendered useless the school property in
his district.
The bill was referred.
Mr.. Brewer, from the committee on claims,
reported bills for the relief OF Matthias Pabst
and j. L. jenkins; read q second time. Mr.. Bos.
well, from the judiciary committee, reported q
bill ensctiDg the first part Of the code, 1.-THE To-
cal laws,) with q recommendation that IL be re-
teTred to the committee OF the whole; it was so
ordered. Mr.. Brooks, from the committee on
Indebtedness, reported q bill for the relief OF
John Webster; read a second time. Council
bill 10 establish pounds and prevent domestic
animals running at large in the county, was
read first time, and referred to the committee
on health. Mr.. UreIl offered a RESOLUTION re.
quest1ng the Governor to close the public offices
on Saturday next-Memorial Day; adopted
The resolution offered by Mr.. Boswell in
relation to the advertisement of delinquent
taxpayers was taken up.
MIR. Carroll urged that this was a very inn
IoItant 9uestion, and should be duly considered,
and therefore he moved its reference to the
committee OF ways and means.
Mr.. boswell said that although he did not
thlnk there would be a sale, or that there would
be any purchasers, he saw that il was pro-
posed TO make bill for $50 OGJ for some hofv
and re- lie for the collector about so 900 in
commissions. The collector assumes that GER
tam Old acts are IN force under which he is act
lbS, based on an opinion, as lie Mr.. BOswelD
Understood, OF Col. Cook, TO the effect that ths
taN lien certificate law WAS null and void. He
did not think that the committee on WAYS and
means, II they had Inis subject, would give
the IN any more infOI nation than the members
have row, and in answer to questions he ex-
planned the legislation on this subject.
MIR. Fleming said he understood the tax len
certificates had been issued under the law and
by decision OF the attorney the only parties
who could sell property were those who held
the certificates. He DOUBTED whether the col
lectOr had any authority in the premises He,
therefore, was i'll favor of the resolution as in
troduced.
Mr.. Dyer said he had something to do in form.
ing the tax lien bill, aud it certainly under
stood that the bill included old taxes. The col
leetor had not replied explicitly to the resolution
OF the House, and had not cited the law, and az
it Ape AIRED to him, he was acting without law
Mr.. Carroll withdrew his motion, and the res
olutIOn was adopted.
The resolution recites the passage of the tax
lien act, and that the people having accepted
IN good falth the change made, and acting I'M
der the belief that tax liens only would issue on
their property for said arrears; and as the Col
lector OF Taxes has published a notice that he
would advertise property for sale, which notice
remains in the newspapers, and he is still send
ing out public notice that he will adj yertise All
property upon which taxes are due and in
arrears on the trst day of June, eighteen hun
dred and seventy, aud this in violation of the
act, Therefore, ResolUed, That no bills con-
Iacted for the advertisements or in any man.
ner pertaining to the proposed sale shall be
recognized In any sense or manner whatever as
debt against the District OF Columbia or either
OF the late corporations of Washington George
town, or the Levy Court, and th at no cOmpen-
satlon; extra or otherwise, by salary or com mis-
sicD, shall be charged or received by said col
lector Tor services rendered the district or the
late cOrpOra tiOns or hereafter rendered excent
the salary provided for in the act creating the
office of Collector for the District of Columbia
Council bill to equalize taxation in the Dis.
Iict OF Columbia was taken up.
MI Fleming said the amendments of the
committee were to exempt churches and burial
grounds from general taxation.
MI Boswell objected to the exemption OF
churches. He remarked that the churches were
mostly supported by strangers, and to adopt
TINS amendment would be relieving strangers
In his own case he paid special taxes for three
churches and school house, and he asked If il
was lar 10 compel people to pay for so much
property. Some of these churches which would
be exempt went beyond theaters in decorations
and yet If man attended the theater his par
son would go for him.
MIR. Urell said his church was not supported
by strangers but by the membership, nd if the
people saw fit to decorate their churches it was
their business. He favored the exemption Of
the property OF churches, particularly their
cemeteries.
Mr.. Venable moved TO amend by inserting
cemeteries belonging to churches.
Mr.. Hunt said If the District hal to nav the
taxes he favored putting the taxes on burial
grounds.
Mr.. Fleming explained that in some GENE
teres the lots are decided to the holders AMI
therefore to tax the cemeteries would be to tax
them for what they do not own. They could
not be taxed for land which did not belong to
them.
Mr.. Carroll asked if cemetery companies did
not remove bsdies; did they not sell the ground
sometimes for building puTp poses.
Mr.. BOswell.-"WeII, we are going in'o Gre
n on, and there will be 10 necessity to legs
late"
on motion OF Mr.. wall, the further con-iisr-
ailOn OF the bill was postponed, aud it was or
dered to be printed. Adjourned.