Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-28
THE DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
STREET RAILROAD TICKETS.


alton Of street railroads in the District OF Co
lumbia, which amendment provides that i" all
street railroad Operations whose tracks inter
sect the tracks of the Capitol and North c
street railroad shall sell on all cars run by said
companies, at rate not 10 exceed six cents, g
special passage ticket. which shall entitlt
holder TO be conveyed upon any car of the Cap
ltOi and North o street railroad from point OF
intersection TO the bureau OF engraving and
printing at 18th and b street southwest. The
Capitol and North q street railroad is also &c
sell tickets at not more than six cents each
good upon all roads which intersect it,
TAX or DISTRICT RAILRoDs.
An amendments to Senate bill No. 1912, con-
corning street railroads in the District OF Co
luni bia. was presented in the Senate yesterday.
by Mr.. Rollins. The amendment provides that
after the passage of this act no tax snail De
assessed upon the roads OF any street railroad
as real estate. but, in lieu of such tax, such
railroad companies shall pay tax or three per
cent. upon their gross receipts for such fiscal
under severe penalties to make proper returns
OF their receipts.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE
on the District Of Columbia yesterday, heard q
long argument from Montgomery Blair, VINO
represents certain claimants interested in the
passage OF the Mayhem claims bill, which re-
Gently passed the House. Mr.. Blair advocated
the bill. Ii was referred TO a subcommittee
consisting OF senators Dorsey, Rollins and
Harris, who viii probably amend it in several
particulars.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR STREET IMPROVE
MENTS, ETC.
Last month, Dir. Rollins introduced in the
senate bill relating TO assessments for Spe-
cial Improvements in the District OF Columbia.
Yesterday, he introduced long amendment to
that BILL which among other things provides
that no lot shall be twice assessed for like i'm
prOyementS on one street, nor shall assessments
be made for repairssor for lowering OF water
mains or relaying OF water or sewer service
pipes, where such work is caused by change
of grade. for the purpose OF equalKng the as
seSSInent for sewers, waere sewers have been
cost charged shall not exceed that OF 15-incb
sewer pipe.
CAPITOL HILL TAXPAYERS HEARD.
The House District OF Columbia committee to-
day gave hearing to representatives of the
taxpayers on Capitol hill. to present alleged
grievances with reference TO an alleged unjust
discrimination made against the eastern section
OF the city by the late board of public works
ard the District of Columbia Commissioners i'm
the matter OF improvements.
DR.. C. {. Cox, as chairman, said that Capt. A
Grant would present the grievances as to street
improvements. and DR.. Mckim and Gen UOvey
as To the scarcity OF water
Capt. Grant complained that the District
commissioners had charged The Capitol hill
residents, in 1871, for work done by the board of
public works in 1872 and 1919. He also COM
planned that the property had been charged
more than four times the value of the work
five miles of pavement, there had been laid 113
miles welt OF il.
GOV. Claflin:-Dfd the people of Capitol hill
ever ask Tor any more work than they received?
Was there any organization among them which
went before the board of public works asking
for additional Improvements?
Capt. Grant:-No, sir: am sorry our people
were not organized. Ii they had been, some OF
these people would have been hanging to trees.
Capt. Grant. continuing, challenged the Dis
lTlct commissioners to produce figures TO show
MAI hsl6 hDO
the Capitol He claimed that even the expen
Slye sewer which had been laid on Capitol Hill
drained property west OF the hill, and it was
charged up TO the Capitol Hill prOperty -ho]ders
1t drained into Tfber creek, whereas the Canitoi
hill property severed into the Eastern branch
lie complained, also, that Capitol Hill had had
no parking BENEFITS except at Lincoln square
ana that the real reason for this neglect was
because the eastern section OF the city had no
District commissioner, but that all came from
Otner sections OF the city. He complained, too
ha o apspl n d was not represented in any OF
nloNal OF Gen. Hovey from the school board as
a Just cause of grievance for the residents east
Oh inc capitol; that even the jail and the poor
other sections OF the city. Incidentally Cant
Grant said that the people OF Capitol Hill ia
VOred suffrage.
GOV. Claflin:-Did the people east of the Cant
tol ever petition for suffrage?
capt. Grant:-NO, because we knew Won Com
hglesSlnan wouldn't give it to u.s.
Gov Ciaflin:-l merely made the remark.
because if they ever united in such a petition
this committee never heard of it,
Gen. HOyey complained that two or three
bankers over on 18th street had controlled the
votes OF al the people as well as appointments
10 Office under the District COmmis StOnerS
DR.. Mckim was heard with reference to the
scarcity OF water ON the Hill. He thought the
cause OF tile scarcity was on account of the
drain upon the supply by the low lands The
remedy, he thought, would be to lay a 36-irch
main direct 10 Capitol Hill. He thought Gen
Mefgs reservoir plan would cost more than
3G-lnch main II the proper bridge was built At
system, and said there was no such thing as a
correct water meter; out of eight experimental
with al WtesbadeD. four OF them stopped regis
teTiEg in one year.
Commissioner Phelps said that he thOurDt
the Capitol Hill people We're laboring under
mistake in asserting that they had not had
their proper proportion OF street improvements;
that in proportion TO the assessed value Capitoi
Hill had received under the board of public
works more than any other section OF the
city. In support OF the statement he
read an article on. the subject pub
lished day or TWO since in TIE EVENING STAR
With regard TO the scarcity fwater on Capitol
Hill; the complaint was just as grievous
ROW as it was six years ago. before the last So
inch main was used He attributed the scarcity
TO a wastage OF the water. He thought the
true policy ought to be to repress the wastage.
rather than build another main, which would
not remedy the complaint. He thought all
check the waste. He said the water depart
ment was now in debt: occasQned bv the lawns,
OF the last 36-incil main; that the sinking fund
10 pay the bonds issued in consequence thereof
and The interest, takes nearly half the present
revenue nom water rent tax; that q new main
would cost 100000 TO lay; would necesState the
issue OF bonds TO pay therefor, and If laid would
take the entire revenue OF the water depart
ment. He thought a slight increase OF the
water rate would enable the water department
10 divert the 3O-tnch main from the 2O-inch
main. which supply South Washington and
capitol Hill, and the latter portion OF the city
would be thus benefited.
Mrs Briggs (Olivia) said that she was a prop
efty holder On Capitol Hill, and depended for
her supply OF water upon an old well on her
premises digged in the days of George Wash
ingtOn. III the Commissioners said they have
spent the money on Capitol Hill they claim Ia
have spent they have been bad financiers
Major 1Winlng thought that Gen. MeigS plan
or a reservoir was the best to meet The in
su1ilClent water supply, but that there were
manifest falacleS in his estimates OF its cost
He thought it would cost 100000 at least TO
construct such reservoir. 1t would also he
necessary TO construct a dam over the Great
Falls OF the Potomac at cost OF S2O0.O0O To
meet such an expense he showed that II would
be absolutely necessary to increase the water
tax in the ratio OF 5 to 9. that is rates now
charged at S. would be So. He thought whether
the reservoir plan or the 36-inch plan was adOn-
ted that either horn OF the dilemma would neces
state increased water rates. He advocated the
meter system and thought il quite practicabe
After further informal discussion the commit
tee adjourned.