Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-25
FORTY.FIFTH CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, April 25.

oENAIE-Ihe Chair laid before the Senate
communication from the Secretary of the
treasury in answer to a resolution Of the
Senate calling for information relative to the
issue of bonds, commissions paid. SC, since
ma March t, "a 4, 1861 Ordered printed and laid on
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPECIAL IMPROVE
o MENT ASSESSMENTS.
On motion OF Mr.. Rollins, the Senate took
up for consideration the bill providing for the
special improvements in the District of Co.
lumbia, and for other purposes.
MI: Bayard said the facts seemed to be that
an extensive system of public improvements
entirely beyond the means of the people and
Wlthout authority of law, and that from that
been successfully resisted, and the proposition
now was to sanction what was then illegally
MI. Harris said the present bill did not at
tempt to and in no way legalzed any act of the
board of public works. The Commissioners
We're authorized m to correct errors in assess
ment, but il the assessment was in violation
legal.
and lot deep canal had been dug
when these improvements had been made
Ihe old law said that in these assessments for
these improvements the injuries and benefits
should be considered. His neighbors and him
self thought they had been seriously injured
by the great outrage, and resisted the collec-
a l.,S
was. finally effected with the board OF public
works The present bill practically proposed
q reassessment of all these Improvements.
There were in all fully 1l6 miles of improve
menss; double this for the two sides of the
street and there were 232 miles, which would
make over 10000 separate lots to be reaSsessed,
with from ten to twenty thousand owners.
Ihree-tiftbs of these assessments had been set
tied. 1t was now proposed to go back and re-
open all these cases. If any body had been
oyercharged they were to be paid out of the
frnn nnHrco n11n fa1 fro
where there had been an undue assess
ment, made. The. consequence therefore
would be necessarily an increase of the tax
the District debt. 1t was useless and unneceS-
sary to reopen this matter after lapse of six
years: Injustice t !. had no doubt been done in
that those who had been wrOnged should suffer
than to attempt to readiust.
After further debate Mr. Burnside insisted
upon the demand for the regular order, and
On motion of Mr.. Sargent, the Senate ad-
hered to its amendments TO the naval apprO-
pIlatlon bill, and conference was requested.
Messrs Sargent, Dorsey and Peck were ap-
pointed cOnfereeS on the part of the Senate.
Bill extending the benefits of the % per cent.
act TO the Metropolitan Police force OF the Dis
trlct OF Columbia was passed
HOUSE.-The regular order having been
demanded, the House resumed consideration
of the unfinished business of yesterday. which
was the Senate bill to repeal the bankrupt
act.
Mr.. Kelley desired to have some understand
ing as to the limitation of debate. He under
stood it was proposed to limit it to two hours,
and that that time had been divided between
nine gentlemen.
.Mr. Mcmahon, who had charge of the bill.
said that under the instruction of his commit
tee he was bound to limit debate to two hours,
but it was within the power of the House to
extend the time by voting down the previous
question.
The bill was then read.
Mr.. Knott said that before the substitute of
the committee was offered he desired to offer
certain amendments to perfect the Senate
bill: He proposed an amendment to repeal
explicitly, besides the act of 1867 section
81, of the Revised Statutes, and the act of Jan
ualy Y, loI4, supplemental to the act of 1857