Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-07
The Warrington Market Company.
ANSWER TO INTERROGArORIEs OF THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE.
H. Inr L. Il.


COMMITTEE.
The Washington Market Company to-day,
through Mr.. Whitney, its attorney, fled its
supplementary answer to certain interrOga-
tories of the House committee on the District
of Columbia. In response to the query
whether the company has complied with the
conditions of its incorporation. the company
say it has fulfilled the provisions of its charter,
and also the requirements Of the Joint resOlu.
tion of Congress of Dec. 10Th, 1850. In proof
May 10Th 1870. also a letter written in 1871 by
Senator Justin S. Morrill, to Madison Davis of
the District House of Delegates. which sets
forth that the Market Company did not assent
to any propositions made for change of plan.
except the removal of the hall from the wing
on one street to the other, and the internal
arrangements of the front on Pennsylvania
avenue, without however, any change as to
external appearance.
To the query whether the company has
erected all the market buildings required by
law, the company says That it has erected all
the market buildings required by the act OF
Incorporation, and that its buildings are
larger, more expensive and convenient than
the act required. AS TO the front building
Che internal arrangements OF which it was
conceded by the commission at its first meet
ing and has always been admitted by every
body might be constructed by the company
for any use it chose), the arrangement with
the District government, and transfer thereto
of the grounds for the erection thereon of a
structure as imposing as that required by the
charter relieved the company from erecting
any sense considered as part of the market.
1t may be well to notice here that the joint
resolution requiring the use of the front land
for the new and temporary front sheds render
ed it impossible for the company to commence
the erection of the front building until about
the time of the transfer named to the District.
In answer to the question, whether the
said company has paid the taxes, as required
by the act of incorporation; what sum the
said corporation has paid and are now paying
annually to the city OF Wa Vas and il any
act of Incorporation, by what authority the
same has been diminished, the company says
that it has paid all the general taxes legally
assessed against its property, and that it did
pay taxes upon the front land up to the time of
the transfer of the same to the District gov
eminent. under the act of Congress above
cited, since which time it has been advised by
Its counsel that taxes assessed against it for
the portion thus coded were illegal, and GER
tainly unjust, as the District authorities, i'm
mediately after the arrangement referred to,
took possession of SaiC ground, eXcaVated and
put in sewerage, and commenced the founda-
ton for large and imposing structure, as set
their architect. and which the company will
produce before the committee, showing them
to to be fully as imposing as desired by
Senator Morrill, in his letter of Au-
gust 7, 1871, which Improvement would doubt
less have been completed in due time had
changing the then existing form of govern
ment, which action of Congress left the front
ground, which the District authorities had Sc
cured, in an unhealthy and dangerous state,
requiring the present authorities OF the Dis
trict to convert it into park. which has been
done under the direction of the parking com
missioners of the District, the District Still re-
tanning possession and control of the grounds
originally designated by the charter as the
site OF the front building on Pennsylvania and
Louisiana avenues. The company has paid in
general taxes STE: water tax. 500; rental
for support of the poor, s. 800; with an average
annual tax in the past, for special improve
menls, of $1,000; making a total OF about
&l6,5l2 per year which the city or District has
received exclusive Of licenses from the
dealerS), for the rear portion or grounds ac-
tually occupied by the market company, and
which certainly could not be considered as Of
more than One-third the value of the grounds
described in the original charter.
TO the eighth inquiry, by what authority
the said market company has assumed control
OF what is known as the Wholesale market
grounds, at the intersection of Ohio and Louis
isana avenues with 10th and 18th Streets the
company says that under the sixteenth section
of the charter of the Washington Market Com
pany it appears that the said corporation may
prescribe rules and regulations governing
this Wholesale market; and inaSmuch as the
grounds referred to were granted by Con
gresS for a wholesale market. in order to
clear the streets and sidewalks Oh PennSyl-
vania and Louisiana avenues from this kind
OF trafflc, without making the wholesale
market any especial source of expense or
revenue TO the city, it was therefore agreed
that the market company, should go on and
cred with water in many places. and wholly
unfit for use; erect stables StOck-yards and
sheds, and other buildings to enable dealers
in the coarse and bulky articles named to
comfortably transact their business, the mar
kct company to charge Il small fee, to be de-
termlned by the governor and board OF public
benefit of the city and District, after deduct
ing the pay OF employees and ten per cent. per
annum upon the expenditures made in fitting
up the grounds for wholesale market.
n jnIS mt n Il in
the resolution the company answers that it
surrendered the front part of the land includ-
ed in its charter to the District government,
in pursuance of the contract made, under the
provisions incorporated in the deficiency ap-
preparation act of March 3. 1875. under the
terms of agreement with and transfer to the
District government, heretofore cited and
made q part of this answer.
ON behalf of the stall owners, r. X. Elliott
made an elaborate argument. to the effect that
the market company had made undue eXac-
tons OF those who rented franchises from it
that it had violated the provisions of its char
ter and t1agrantly violated law.
Amusements.
National Ihedter.-EyerybOdy at the Ma
tiOnal Thcater last evening was delighted with
Madame Mod jeSka'S artistic representation of
Camille" She is one of the finest actresses
that have appeared here for a long time, and
should attract large audience at every per-
fOrmance
Theater Cbmique.-The lovers of light
amusement will find the cosy COmique a
pleasant place to spend an evening The pro
gramme is always spirited and full of fun.
IdIindd0e H0H-Aunt Polly BaSSett'S sue
cessful "Singin' Skewl'' still keeps. This
evenings entertainment will Introduce some
new tunes, and will prove very interesting.
FOundry " E. ChlIrch.-PrOf. Hardness, of
the l. S. Naval Observatory, will deliver lee
ture this evening which will doubtless be
interesting and instructive. His subject is
An Evening at an Observatory and is one
that he will treat ably.
lis Bridae street, Geo,yetoun-Fair for
Christ Church Parish.
CONGREGATIONAL Church.-Literary and muSi-
cal entertainment tomorrow evening by
Equity Council, SOvereigns of Industry.
THREE SUITS ENTERED.-Yesterday MesSrs.
Merrick. Morris and Mattingly. for the presi-
dent and directors OF Georgetown College, en-
tered suit against the District of Columbia to
recover $30,ab9.27. which they allege was lille
gally assessed against the property held in
trust by them, and which has been paid into
the District treasury. The plaintiffs claim
that under the act of Congress approved June
i: 1870, this property is exempt from taxation.