National Republican., 1877-07-03
y. 4. II.
which Means the "Fennsyivania-Avenue
Pavement-Mr. Columbus Alexander Pro-
tests Against Excessive Taxation for Poor
wsrk.

wsrk.
In regard to assessments for repairs of Penn.
sylvania avenue, tho following propositions are
well worthy the consideration of the taxpayers
| of said avenue:
l. That part Of the Avenue repaired from First TO
fifteenth street has been repeatedly repaired vt the
cost Of owners Of private property abutting there
. The replacement Of the former carrlarcway
was rendered necessary by reason Of the want ol
care and intelligence in the officers or agents ni
Congress, who selected and caused to be put down
a worthless wood pavement at great cost and II
should be remembered the entire cost Of which was
charged against the private property fronting on
the Avenue and but for this carclessncss and neg
ligonCc and want Of proper interest in selecting
would not have been necessary II Is the frt in
stance in which congress or any other legislative
body has required private persons 10 pay for thc
rvpRvng or replacing the worthless improvement
that they thcmsClVcs have caused TO he made, The
injustice is evident and the oppression fragrant.
Congress correcting is errors at the expense OF pri'
vatc citizens
j. Under the principle laid down in IIammctt W.
city o: Philadelphia, recently decided, where
street has once been opened and paved, aud thus
assimilatcl with and made part Of the rest Of the
city all Subsequent repairs of the city should be
paid for 10y the city nt largc-a Just and fair princi.
pie So In this case, even the wood pavement taken
up should have been paid for by the Government
that owns the Avenue in fee simple or by the city
OF Washington Gt large.
iziug the rcpavcmcut Of Pcmnsy lyania avenue from
Flrst street 10 Fifteenth street, the Commissioners
were required To select and cause To be put down
the "best Kind Of pavement" But the COMMITS
SiOncH In point Of fact exceeded their authority in
the frst nstanCe and diSrrgnrdcd this positive re-
qulTcment by selecting two kinds 0f pGvcmcnts, of
which both could moi he the best These two
pavcmrnts differ IN character, material used and
IN the mode of putting them down. aud In dura'
bility.
s. The commission was intended to be composed
of dikinterested persons hut the event proved that
two, al lcnt, were committed already to particu.
lTF Eftl1 nf nd Iha NnFN IllNt
they selected In the hrst instance for the whole
avenue, the Grahanite. so the form they went
through Of advertising the bids under different
patents was ridiculous hrCe, and an imposition
upon the tax.paycrs rs also upon the numerous
bidders who were competitor for the different
kinds of pavemcnts submitted To the Commission.
a. The act requires expressly that the pavement
shall he OF the best material and laid In the most
substantial manner, and without unnecessary de.
lay" But " we are IN believe the published state
mcnts Of intelligent persons who care tly watched
the progress Of tho work throughout not one Of
these conditions has been complied with. The
material used for both foundations aud surface was
inferior-the laying down was indifferent not sub
stantal. aud the delays were frequent and unnec-
essary, Frequent complaints Were made, and con
tinued for months, because the Avenue was OBJ
structed with materials hauled and len unused
until trade len the Avenue, To the great loss Of per
sons doing business thereon.
| :. The commission refused or rejected bids foi
the LAYING down Of pavcmcnts with well. known
and esSsl:ssa sasa at greatly less price
! =. The principle OF assessment to wit the tnxa
/ Il N by frontage area and without regard u
value Is at war with every principle Of justice, and
| C Intrnry 10 the equitable and equal rate upon
which general taxes are laid upon both real and
personal property by every civilized nation on
earth. This repair or repavcmcnt Is In no sense
! Local. II was intended for the convenience and
benefit Of the general public, aud ought To be paid
| fIr by the general public.
0. As the cost Of these experimental pavemcnts J,
excessive and great as this pavement has been
subjected To sufficient test IN prove Its character
or durability; as the frequent repairs In the tirs
year of it existence Is well known; as there seems
TO be no limit to these special assessments agains
citizens; as the provisions Of the sct Of Congress
have apparently been violated; as property owner
are simply holding their property for the benefit %
others to reap the profits ihcreffOm by taxation, a
| continual raids are being made on property owner
through designing men operating upon the Distric
committees Of Congress, and the powerful influence
brought to bear thereon In questionable manner
Us the question Of almost actual COniscntiOn o
private property by excessive taxation Is squarely
prevented, therefore would 1t not he well 10 tes
the question by judicial inquiry, az well as by NJ
appeal to Congress before paying the assessment
against private property fronting on the Avenue?
would be pleased to confer with any on'
assessed for this Improvement so-callcd, whit
concurs in these views, or deems them worth,
of consideration, with reference to future ac
tion in the matter.
CoLUMBUs ALEXANDER.