Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-05
The District In Congress.
DISCUSSING THE BILL RELATING TO CERTIFI
CAIEs OF ASSESSMENT BEFORE THE SENAT
COMMITTEE.

The Senate committee on the District of Co
lumbia met this morning at 10 o'clock to dis
cuss,With citizens of the District of Columbia,
the bill relating to certificates for assessments
senator Rollins asked why and how a letter
lfom COZ: Philip, addressed to the chairman
o1 bne committee, had been read before being
= In answer thereto he was informed that
senator S Spencer had suggested that the letter
1or dorsey was not present. but as Senator
! kolllns had then objected to the reading as
| lndecorOus he did not seem satisfied that Mr.
notrSey had been treated with proper respect
Col. Christie proceeded to outline the force
and e1ect OF the act of February q, 1871
therance of law and afterwards endorsed by
popular vote to the extent of 1000 900 of the
expenditure, and no more, and insisting that
| !he assessments against private property
thereafter void that the total amount of au-
th0rlzed expenditure was S6,57S, 1897, of which
sZ,lg2, l99 was estimated to be assessed against
| general fund.
Senator Dorsey referred to line IA of the
| ment has been inserted in the bill providing
1or all parties who have paid excessive rates
on assessments obtaining judicial relief before
| the Board of Commissioners and their eX-
| penses reduced, and thought such an amend
ment would provide for the emergency.
| /, senator Harris suggested that an appeal to
|
Senator Dorsey contended this was very
| unwlse and irregular, for those who were not
disposed to pay their taxes would resort to the
| laws delay in all cases. and he did not see
| now such proposition would afford the settle
! ment desired.
| Col Christie stated to Senator Dorsey that
he cOnfOunded the actual amount of OutStand-
ing certificates of Indebtedness with assess
ment certificates or special assessments, so
that the bill instead of legalizing about 100000
| OF special assessment would legaliZe some
tO by he tnr
being what are commonly called greenbackS
Col. Christie thought that many parties
would gladly pay if they had their legal redress
| earlier assessments. No state has ever denied
cltizen the right OF appeal from excessive
TAXATION This power, of correction should be
left vii tn the courts where it properly belongs
senator D0rSey.-HoW are those people
whose wi. ii p property has been sold for taxation to
Col. Chrstie.-Through the courts. l think
MI. Riddle will say that he has great hopes of
a1aVOrable and speedy decision, Oh his part,
through the courts.
Mr.. Riddle stated that he had not carefully
gone into the subject, but it seemed to him
work OF supererOgation to allow the commits
sloners to tinker up a thing which was ac-
knOwledged to have no original validity in
law. 1t is difficult to see how a contract can
exist which was not covered by previous ap-
preparation: There is an act exempting school
and church property from taxation. The
board decided that the act exempted such
property from general and special taxation.
Its claimed now that this property is not ex-
empt from special taxation, and hence the OBJ
jectOrs refuse payment required under the
idea of this total exemption which enhanced
the regular assessments.
Senator DOrSey.-IS not that one of the eases
which the bill meets?
Mr.. Riddle.-I believe it is.
In answer to a question from Senator Har-
ris, Mr.. Riddle said he thought the present bill
operated as Congressional construction of
the law as against the District, and believed
the, Supreme Court would certainly go behind
and find its own Interpretation. This statute
must either recognize some provision for as
SeSSmentS already existing or establish one
The utmost he understood this act to do is to
iegaIze the assessments made under law
Which 1t attempts to affirm. leaving unsettled
the details of excessive taxation.
Col. Christie.-Would you. Mr.. Riddle as
representative of the Commissioners, propose
to enforce taxation on property which was not
defiance of law?
Mr.; Riddle thought no court would ever al
low mat question to be reopened as the deter
mination of benefit or injury was fixed with
the board by power conferred by the supreme
legislative authority.
Col Christie thought that as many improve
mems were made by sheer uSurpatiOn of ar-
thorlty, the bill should not venture to Iegalize
IN any sweeping way, and he heartily accepted
me proposition, .9Pi Of Senator Harris that. the
word "legallZe" should be dropped from the
Dill, thus leaving the equity OF erroneous and
excessive assessments with such tribunal as
1ee ei might na NIX There should be power of
DR.. May asked if, because there was fraud
and corruption in the administration of ml-
nicipal affairs, should the District repudiate
set in the District were fighting all payments
| there should be no way open to saddle the re-
naming two-ffths unpaid On those who had
in spite of immeasurable wrongs they felt
they had suffered. This bill should legaiize
SO that the wheels of improvement shall be
started. Either do this or pass an act re-
funding the money which three-fft of the
people have paid and let all stand on an equal
MIR. .Alexander.-How many of these certi6.
Gates OF indebtedness do you own, Doctor?
Dr. May.-fll tell you, sir. if you answer me
how much you owe the District for taxes.
MIR. Alexander.-All my honest and lust and
legal taxes have been paid, sir
Dr. May.-I don't want to enter iutO any per-
SOnal controversy
should create an obligation to pay erroneous
taxation if the officers had proceeded under
their charter Illegally and arbitrarily.
Dr. May Thought the debt should be legal
lied as a general proposition, and then Bro
vide for some tribunal to adjust special cases
where injuries are claimed. That in all muni;
usurpation, but that public safety required
the payment OF taxes nevertheless. That he
nad PAID aIi his us tax taxes @ without exception not
bs ne hd oee @ hss
received a portion of his damages, and in
tended to bring suit against the District for
Tie reSlQue tnat the amount or greenbaCkS
he held was not great and he never belonged
to ring
Col Christie called attention to the fact
that not only did the board of public works
but Congress in the act of June, 1874. recOg-
nize the equity of paying damages to all
property holders injured by special improve
mentS that most OF the three-fifth who had
paid special improvement had availed them
Selues of this privilege, now no longer granted
by the Commissioners.
DR.. May commented at length on the pub
lished letter of Commissioner Bryan, and Mr..
Alexander volunteered to substantiate all the
charges of fraud therein contained.
Mr.. Phelps took occasion to say that the let.
ter was written without the knowledge of the
other Commissioners and was.nOt an official
document in any sense, although bearing an
official signature.
Senator Dorsey requested the conflicting
parties to present their Briefs and said that the
bill would be carefully considered in subeom-
mlttee before any report was agreed upon
NEW BILL TO BE PREPARED.
At the meeting later the committee consid
cred the case in hearing and authorized the
chairman to write letter to the Commission.
ers of the District, requesting them to prepare
bill to be reported as a substitute for the bill
under consideration, which, while not attempt
ing to legallZe an assessment, should cIOthe
the Commissioners with the power to readiust
any assessment made for special imprOye
ment in the District of Columbia unon ami