Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-22

Assessments for Special Improve.

Editor Sydr:-The democracy has practical
Cohlrol OF congress, and consequently is re-
Sponsple Tor all legislation or failure TO LEXIS
late. Can IL, therefore. afford 10 adjourn with
9ut adopting some measure OF Justice for this
piStrlct In the matter OF special assessments TO
feneNe our people from the terr0rs OF confsca-
uons FOR ears prior 10 the campaign OF 1876,
as uurlng that campaign, the democracy de-
sUi, rUui,.ed the late board of pubic works as
55Sm,S 5SSrt,S ol every crime in the calendar OF mai
aa,,iiaislTauon ao ,i and fraud, and its assessments
o., o. 1ne uliamous products OF it's criminal rama
n,sn, III rac tuieNtao!e results OF negro govern
l. hIeul. Inc Hunton assessment af,t N Ihe last
SESSION practically legallzed an Thai. a. tho
@ u@stno,IdVE 1 propose 10 insist upon an aet 80
unjust" VIII Congress win fbo ,.s@,o,s,a,,,>
Inquire into tie faCtss Take sD[ ~ ~ ,a,, vs.
sessmentS-take my own as an rlus1ratton of
huhofeds OF others. Ny castle" Is situated
on corner loi. with frontage or X faet nv ION
feet deep, and contains 7 $40 SIuafc fes.i os
lald. My neiGhbor on one street has the same
tront and Gepth OF tot, ana Jha square feet OF
land. and my neEhh0r OD The other street mas
a frontage Of rs feet : inches and 81 s,uars
feet OF land. TIE assessed valuation of ia, lui
ard It's improvements Is between = zab ard
SI.4Gc. IL '>GN AID iNt9 paid the old uYnisi-
pal government s'rH Tor brick foot nlyement
around the premises. In i>13 the lac board
tore up that Improvement. relaid n. put Il lwn
weed on the lOad-htd, and sent r!- 4 O.ll Of
SG:2.si for uEc street aud SG5 o. Tor 1 az other
StiDet-SC'S5.i, OF an aggregate in i've years OF
near Sl,2ce-3 sum nearly equal 10 The whole
assessed Valuation Of the property. That, too,
In ADDITION 20 The current taxes for tiG support
ol Tie ICcai government. What is tAats l. IL
not cUnii>CaIiou?
As rule corner LOT is always regarded a
greater III value than the inner lots of a Dlo,-k
but rarely. II ever, ole hundred per cent greater
or double In value. but here is an asSesSmen
railing corner lot at six and fifteen luadred
per cent, SIX and fifteen times greater, Is H.
possible lof alN property. however valuable 10
Tear taxation so CNCThitant? the constitution
declares that private property" shall not bc
tlheh lor ubiic use without just CON naeasatiOn.
are mol the Improvements OF streets for the
IubilC ttheiit"-fOr public use:'' Caa even
congress Therefore arbitrarily authorize excess
size ana unequal taxation tnvolVln., ihs. scizcr,,
ana sale Of private property for the navment of
pubic improvements
IL Is = very grave question. The rrlrffcaI
Geciaiatch tI tne recent Supreme court decl-
SION feSieCiing these ASSESSMENTS is raat our
CiIlthS nave no rights which Cpn ,reSs Is
buunG 20 resi- Get. and cOnSeq IenIiy lS.fIbpS 20
lhat bod3 a power under which our people may
be deprived arbitrarily. ana without fast cause
or Ieditss. Lot merely OF property, baJ 0. liberty
and itlC,
Examine tIesc assessments further. N nthe!r
GATE Ia 1872. i>45 and 1e.I. the sgTcrUAlcs al a
heatS discount, WIS the current money OF The
country. Property was held at iauajeJ prices
as We're al materials and ldbOr-eyeGytEIns cu-
tt!tliS mo tic cost or the unDYDNCIaa.r. The
rates Ot ASSESSMENTS were cpufp--t.tlfg t.v1rni-
tant, even a, tne nominal prices pad for inn
lloNelEeilH- The contractors. UV mos q tt,aIl
lnS;eaG Gf bong paid As iGCir coIlra.I- ~'iaU-
lated. ia Ian lGl inane, OF me L. I9 ii,e t,-
pTCClEteG g4teHbaCt, were paid ia til.. :. ,.n ar
the boalG. In certificates OF iudebfrlneSs-
NHt i'tt'E lt-Stii' even til El''iD t'-S OnlS 90
ana =" per cent. Indeed As tOw a~ u4lN ~ 1rr
cent 81 the amounts }feicadr y g.f art
'hG' gsd ".'l'1st Ve I.rOp.Itg. Prppr.l- here
since, las fallen - and even lep Der cent In
NaIuc- and Tie proposition now Is 10 enforce NJ
our ileStLt g0!d rates. lie payment OF tlt., as
SessEcLtS, h&de rs above. against our homes.
VII ~, %, &C. and even % per cent. added as
interest
Gould anything be more iniauitous or uaiusfq
If Tie ''rGpSCty' OF the late board WAS ..crini-
Eai.' Is daily charged for years by ne denoc-
raCy- " hat Is tie character Of this 9rup0silfoug
Can Tie democracy afford TO shoulder 80 great
and grave wrong? Ii IL proposes 60 le galtZe
the "fdpaCity" q the old board. u endorse and
adont the ''lnf8my' Of the Old '.felrber duSter-
rule, Tie iniqUity" and criminal malad-
ministra'iOH" of negro government n THIS Dis
tT!ct. they must expect TO be confronted with
tie facts on every stump Ia l>Sa. More anon.
fGEru3tN Is, lN.9. 4 CITIyES