Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Upon Taxes and Assessments:

Editor Ssar:-There Is one recomm endation
in the just published report OF the Board Of
forcement by your paper edItorially, and
that is, that ''there should be requirement
that the superintendent of assessment and
all taxes, OF whatever character, due at the
time of making out the bill, both current
and arrearages, TINS preventing in the future
the taxpayers by the advertisement of
their property for items of taxes in arrears,
OF which they never had received notice.
your correspondent would have been saved
much loss.
Equally praisewortay is the protest against
aesdR 6e Se sncb
would operate as a double tax. III, for in
stance, Gown" house assessed at 81, 900, on
extremely MANY 9y abslsSs casss the n1e
cipality would collect a dou BILE tax, inasmuch
as would have to pay tax on the entire
5000, while my creditor would have to pay
ON $1,000; but fnasmuch as he would insist
on his full interest, 1 practically would
have to pay, in the shape of premiums for
extension or brokerage commissions, per-
maps more than the amount; and thus my
self, so poor now, would be mulcted as a
penalty for such impecuniosity in twice the
Fame OF justice should all-rich and poor
alike-protest against personal tax SO uu-
even in its workings.
There is one recommendation which had
hoped experience and justice would have
dictated 10 the Commissioners, but which
fail TO find. 1 refer to the monstrous interest
OF practically four per cent. month charged
In case OF nom payment, after q certain date,
on the taxes levied 1t is true that "penalty
OF two per cent month frorn october I, 1875.
and April l, 1876" is the avowed mulct, but
1nasmueh as L can pay half the tax and be
relieved OF any penalty, for a time practi-
cally suffer the penalty OF four per cent. in
case OF total default. But even two per cent.
mOnth is mOnstrOuS, and SO far as know
(and have experience in halfa dozen cities)
is unparalleled, the customary imposition
being one per cent. per month. The tyrani-
month must rebound eventually land has
already done SOY to the serious detriment Of
the interests OF property here, and would
operate as check to Investments in the
form of mortgages, for there is a constant
liability of taxes remaining. upaid, eating
up the property in short time, investors,
we may be We'll assured, will be extremely
cautious about giving any adequate amount
on such precarious security. The impOsi-
ton must act also greatly 10 the detriment
of many investors, and Il mos a Shylock-
like proceeding on the part of the mum
cipality. 1t was certainly the source of
intense astonishment to many that re-
gather and carry through such bill. Hard.
indeed, must be the corporation that cannot
De saushed with twelve Per cent. year for
money due to il. TAXPAYER.
THE FALSE IMPRISONMENT CAsEs.-This
morning, in the Circuit Court, Judge Cart
ter, the case of ]: w. Craig against Fl. w.
Howgate, OF the Signal corps, and James a
McDevitt, metropolitan police detective,)
action for false arrest and Imprisonment
was resumed, and was argued by Mes3r5
Ross and Dean for the plaintiff, and District
Attorney Wells and Mr.. w. A. Cook for the
defendants. The plaintiff was arrested on
suspicion OF having been concerned in an at
tempt to defraud officers of the Signal corps.
The judge instructed the jury that if they
find the facts in the declaration true they
must md Tor plaintiff; and If there were
circumstances in the case which would JUS
THY the belief that Craig was not guilty the
verdict would be for exemplary damageS-a
lair compensation for the injury done. If,
on the other hand. there was a reasonable
ground to suspect Craig. the damages must
be nominal. They could find one guilty and
the other not guilty; but II they find both
measure of damages to one and another
measure TO the other.
The jury found verdict for 81 800 against
both defendants. A motion was made for a
new trial. The charge 10 the jury caused
considerable comment in police circles, and
some of the detectives openly assert that
should this decision stand. hereafter they
VIII not arrest even professionals unless on
warrant or on witnessing the offence.
SMALLPOX IN CUMBERLAND-At Cum
berland, Nd, the smallpox is prevalent,
and il must be unusually fatal, if the state
ment OF a letter from there, TO the effect that
them of victims TO the disease, is correct.
The board Of health of this District is using
every pTecaution 10 prevent the introduction
of the disease in Georgetown.
A letter from Cum berland to the Baltimore
AnieT1cdl says:-The smallpox, which II rst
made its appearance in our city ABOUT No
vemoer list, is abating, and there have been
no deaths during the last four days. Great
damage has been done to the business of the
city by the exaggerated reports in regard to
me disease, and country people avoid coming
TO town on that account. The whole number
now under treatment is about twenty four.
o,,p
the Produce Exchange last evening, Mr..
Saum, from the committee appointed at the
last meeting to confer with the District Com
mlssioners in regard TO the appointment Of a
competent flour inspector, reported that the
committee were kindly received by the Com
who assured them that the Rp-
pointment would not be made without fur
tner consultation with the exchange CON-
mittee. The committee, consisting of Messrs
saum, Howard and Hoge, was continued.
CoRRECTIoN-The twelve extra fine cat.
lie, reported by Means & Co, as sold oy Col.
NJ B. Fur to Mr.. George Heating, were pur-
the same will be offered from stalls 125 and
126, Center market, and 81 o street market,
on Tomorrow Saturday and every day
thereafter until disposed of. Lovers of really
good beef are invited to inspect the same.
j. NJ. HEATING.
SUIT FOR AssAULT-Mr. H. c. England
Today, for VIM. Reid, entered suit against
Miles Gibbons for 5000 damages received
by plaintiff by having been assaulted by
defendant on the 25th of October, and so
beaten and wounded that his life was de-
SPARED Of"
MAsoN's PATENT BRACELETS, with gold
CHAINS; gold front sets, children's sets and
bracelets, with chains; Lake George dia-
monds in gold and jet, received at Prigg's
Jewelry store, No. 451 Pennsylvania avenue,
near AZ street.
MARRIAGE LICENSES have been issued to
Samuel Deckman and Mary Jenkins, Val
entine Cusenberry and Bette Jones, Nj. j.
OConnell and Z. NJ. Schulz.
GEORGETOWN.