Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-30
District Government Affairs.

The Di,tlict Commissioners have received
eStimateS from the trustees OF the reform
Scno0l OF the amount of expenditure f0r he
next fiscal year for that inStitulion-s5- O9l
This includes the expense o( two aditi nal
teachers, purchase Of a tract of land cree ion
OF new buildings machinery, &c.
he new mounted police are being equipped
today, and will be put on duty tomorrow,
making forty in ali.
Gen. Sam Elnstein, poundmaster, reports
the number OF animals impounded during the
month OF september at 90, of which mum oe~
$50 were killed and ~ redeemed.
inspector Entwi1le has notified The owner of
the rear wooden bulldins - }. AS l3% Street
southwest that owing to it's dilapidatei con
diti0n ii must be taken down within thirty
days, and he is instructed TO repair the front
portion within the same perioi of time.
me ply sleian to the poor for the fifth police
precinct has consented to continue his ser
vices graiut0uSly for time until further -
fahsementS are made. conditioned that the
Dls5rict authorities make provision for fur
nIShlng medicines to the patients unable to
pay for either services or medicines.
III order 10 facilitate the superintendent of
a. es&ments and taxes in the preparation OF
the tax books for the tiscal year ending J une
&c, 1o79 the Distsict Commissioners nave
authorized the employment of NIessrs. JOHN
3 wheeler and ko3. A. Fish to assist in that
duty.
The proper ty-ho'ders and residents On 7th
street, between ID and E streets southwest,
have FLED written protest with The District
commissioners AGAINST the location Of
bamed. as il mas teen kert free Of bar-roomS
Tor The PAST fifteen years. It is unanimously
signed.
Ihe health officer has requested and oh.
fajnFd consent OF the DLtlic; Commissioners
Tor the cleaning OF the alleys of the Dis ricC
once per week during the month OF Octoner.
ToLICE 4TAIIo,' CoNnEMSED.
Heaifn Ollcer IGW3shend has reDor ed The
old po'i2e -tatiOn- hOu.e, corner of 9th Street
and New York avenue, TO be in q bad sanitary
crDdli:0u, and recon- mendS to the District
GommlSsionerS that it be vacated rs a place OF
human habjtaH0H, Cr that it be put in a bstter
condition.
SCESTIONS FOR THE DISTRICT ATToRN,..,
Mr.. Entwisle, inspector OF buildings, il a
communication to the District Commissioners,
states that in view of the diversity OK opininn
existing as to the obligations Of owners of
buildings with reference to property adjoin-
ing their premises, and in the absence of well
tons on the following points I'll eXcavating
beioW all adjOining building, which party shall
take care OF and underpin the wall endan.
as. for instance, wall properly located, half
over the line, as required by law for par.y
walls, or as to wall being built I'D to, and
inches OR few feet from the line?" As there
Pave been several decisions of the courts in
sncn cases, it is suggested that the attorney
log tne District De requested to furnish alb
stTactS OF the same, or reference thereto for
the information or The Commissioners, before
p1epal ing instructions for his guidance.
TREASURE TROvE.
Mr. Mll!er, assistant attorney loi .ue lis
tflci- has rendered an opinion in the case OF
The app 'lcatiOl OF Edward Lancaster for the
fetufl Gt certail moneys found by him aud
.aken IL charge by the police authorities, stat
ing that he thinks Lancaster is entitled to the
possession Of the money after proper adver-
tSemeLt The property cark Is only 5nt.tloa
b2nd 10 uftn ~ Ra any property that comes ialo his
Lancaster having found the money was, as
AGAINST every one excepting the owner enti-
Led TO retain, anu if the police authorities
effort, he is entitled to the possession OF it, /
think the theory heretofore held in regard to
such cases Is erroneous: When lost property
should advertise Immediately three times, and
II the owner does not appear and claim it. it
Should be returned to The finder, or in case
there hsl g. IS & no claimant kept until the regular
course the property Is responsible for all costs
IN any event. and they should be paid before
It IS delivered. The facts in the case are that
Lancaster found glove on the pavement con-
tanning $H and some cents, which he turned
over to policeman, and no owner appearing
IL found Its way to the property clerk. who
erty OF the United STATES.
TEST CASE UNDER THE SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT
ACT.
Mr. Miller. assistant attorney for the Dis
petition Of Mrs Elizabeth J. Stone. 5 'f throueR E @
her counsel, Mr. Robert Christy, for relief
from assessment for improvements on Bound
aIy street, her property being outside that
Street, in the county. He states that he sees
nc no reason why the assessment should "be de-
ciared wholly erroneous" Her counsel relies
upon SECTION l45, Revised Statutes, D. G., to
support the claim for exemption of tax That
section reads thus: The property of that pOr-
tlon OF the District not included In the former
COZ operations OF Georgetown and Washington
snali not be taxed for the purposes either of
improving the streets, alleys, public squares.
OF other public property of said cities, or
either OF them. nor for ony other expenditure
OF a. local nature for the e1clusiue beReft OF
sdad cities, or either OF thenl," &c. This sec
tlon speaks only Of taxes" and the courts
nave always held that special assessments for
local improvements are not taxes. But
TO TO pa pay for the opening Of street; in ratio
no burden. 1t is a taliage or tax. And this
case has been followed by all the American
courts. The clause that no property in the
county outside of the cities shall be taxed for
any other expenditure of local nature for
the exclusive benefit, &C., defines the scope
tlon. The Improvement OF boundary street
was not for the exclusive benefit of the city of
washington, but was equally advantageous to
mrs. stones property where it abutted on that
StTeet. by section 15l, Revised Statutes, d. c.,
lt Is provided that the board OF public works.
board, shall assess upon property
adjoining and to be specially benefited by the
Improvements authorized by law, and made
Oy them, reasonable proportion of the cost
thereof, not exceeding one -third of such
COSTS" &C. This law Is general, and refers to
all improvements throughout the District, and
ciear'y covers the case under consideration.
THE FOLLOWING CONGRESSIONAL NoMINA-
FIOSS are announced: Bethel M. Custer, dem.