Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-31
The District I'm Congress.

day bill relating to tax sales and taxes in the
District of Columbia. This bill requires the
District collector of taxes to keep in his Office
1or ms inspection list of lots and squares, ar
ranged In numerical order, of all real estate
in Washington heretofore sold, or which may
hereafter be sold, for taxes: said list to show
the date OF sale, amount for which property
was sold, when and to whom conveyed, sc. 1t
snail De the duty OF the collector, Wnen called
upon, to furnish a certified statement of all
taxes and assessments, special and general,
that may be due and unpaid at the time of
making such certificate, and which may be a
llen upon any property in the District. A fee
Said certificate shall be bar to the collection
and recovery of any tax or assessment omitted
nom, and which may be lien upon the real
estate mentioned in said certificate. All pub
lie records which shall have reference to real
or personal property in the District shall be
open to inspection free of charge.
APPALACHIAN MINING COMPANY.
Senator Barnum introduced in the Senate
to-day bill which has previously been intro
duced in the Senate and House, to incorporate
the Appalachian mining company of the Dis
trict of Columbia
METROPOLITAN RAILROAD COMPANY.
Mr.. Spencer, from the committee Oh the Dis
trict OF Columbia, reported to the Senate to-
day favOrably, without amendment, bill to
amend the charter cf the Metropolitan rail-
road combaDy. to enable them to lay tracks to
Soldiers Home, etc.
The House committee on the District Of
Columbia held a meeting to-day, but trans
acted no business, the impression being that
the committee would not again be called this
session. An effort. however, is to be made to
pass the bills on the public calendar These
10 construct bridge over the Potomac at or
near the Three Sisters islands, a bill to au-
thOrize the District Commissioners to audit
and fund certain claims; a bill to prevent de-
intprpSt
on the 3-65 District bonds; a bill to provide
that persons sentenced to hard labor by the
District may be confined in the District jail;
bill for the Improvement of the sewerage of
the city of Washington; a bill to provide for
the settlement of all outstanding claims
against the District, and conferring jursdic-
Among other bills of District interest on the
public calendar, reported from other commit
tees. are the following: Bill for the restoration
OF wages in the government printing office !:
bill for the erection OF ire-prOOf building for
the national museum.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
The conference committee on the disagree
ing votes of the two houses on the bill to pro-
vide for the appointment of justices of the
peace in the District, are to hold meeting
tween the two houses is that the Senate insists
that the President shall make such appoint
ments. and the House the Supreme Court of
the District.
MI. Eaton introduced in the Senate to day
the bill introduced in the House on April 29th,
by Mr.. Clatin, concerning street railroads in
the District of Colum mbia-making the tickets
OF one road good on the others.
INFORMATION ABOUT STREET RAILROADS
WANTED.
| The Senate today adopted the following
| resolution introduced by Mr.. Rollins:
ReSOIced, That the proper officers of the
| Street Railway companies of the District of
| Columbia be and they are hereby directed to
| furnish the Senate a sworn statement of the
| amount of their capital stock; the amount of
| their bonded and floating Indebtedness; the
| amount of their gross and net earnings and
| operating expenses, with the dividends paid
annually by such respectively since their in
corporation.
| CLAIMS AGAINST THE DISTRICT.
Mr.. Barnum introduced a bill in the Senate
| today to provide for the settlement of all out
standing claims against the District of Column
bia, and cOnferring jurisdiction on the Court
OF Claims; This bill, partially amended, is
in the House some time ago. The new portion
| of the bin provides that in all cases where
! claims are made for special damages sus-
tained in consequence of improvements or
repairs made by the late Board of Public
Works, or the District Commissioners, the
referee or engineer shall, after personal in
| the amount of such damage, any special bene.
| fit caused to the real property on which dam.
| ages are claimed, and such benefit may be as
| Sessed by the court to offset damages.
| THE TAX ON RAILROADS.
Mr.. Rollins introduced in the Senate to-day a
bill directing the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia to enforce the collection of
| assessments heretofore made against street
| railroads in the District, and if it shall be
found that any OF the taxes authorized by the
nies have not been levied and assessed for any
| year since July l. 1871 the assessors shall pro-
ceed to make the proper appraisement and as
| seSs thereon the taxes at the rates prescribed
by law, for each fiscal year for which the omis.
sion was made. Section provides that in lieu
| OF any license tax upon the personal and other
property OF street railroads tax of s5Oshall be
imposed for each street used by their cars
| drawn by two horses, and $50 for each car
| drawn by one horse. The last section makes
Il me duty OF all street car corporations of the
| District to make at least once year a report
to the District Commissioners. setting forth
the amount OF capital actually paid in, the
| number OF shares of stock issued, the gross
| receipts and expenditures, and the amount
| paid in dividends or interest for each year,
| such reports to show the actual financial con.
! dltion of the said companies, and the Commits
| sloners shall tranSmita copy OF such reports to
| Congress-
THE DISTRICT JUDICIARY
Mi. Mcdonald, from the Senate committee
| on Judiciary, reported back adversely a bill to
promote the administration of justice in the
District Of Columbia. From the same CON-
inlttee ne also reported back adversely a bill
| for the better administration of Justice in the
District of Columbia. Both bills were indefin
| itely postponed. He also reported back from
| the same committee, with an amendment, the
bill to reorganize the judiciary of the District
| OF Columbia, and to expedite the administra
| tiOn OF justice in the District. The amend
ment provides that there shall be appointed
by the President, by and with the advice and
consent OF the Senate, one additional associate
Justice OF the Supreme Court of the District
| The additional justice shall have the same
! power, authority and jurisdiction as now or
| hereafter may be exercised by any of the as
| sOclate justices of the said Supreme Court:
| shall be entitled to the same salary, PAYABLE in
| the same manner as the others. Two of the
| Justices sitting at General Term shall consti.
| tute aquOrum for the transaction of business,
but when the two justices shall be divided i'm
| opinion, the same shall be noted upon the
minutes of the court. and thereupon and with.
| In four days thereafter either party in such
! cause may file with the clerk of the court
| motion in writing to have such cause re-
| argued before three or more justices, but no
| Justice shall sit in General term to hear an
| appeal from any jud gment, or decree or order
| which he may have rendered at the special
| term.
The General Term may order the terms o.
| the Circuit Court to be held at the same time,
| whenever in their judgment the business
therein shall require it. They shall designate
| the time and place of holding the same and
the parties by whom they shall respectively h
"a nd chaJl ,.lzo Il