Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-03
THE DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.


| trict of Columbia was held this morning. TIL
committee agreed 10 report adversely bills t,
i authorize the Commissioners OF the District O
! Columbia to make deeds In certain cases; pro
| Nld1Dg Tor the pay Inent of certain obligation!
! OF The District Of Columbia: for the relief OF III
/ ID. " albridge and III. s. WalbTidge; to regulat,
me JURISDICTION OF justices OF the peace In tn,
| DISTRICT OF Columbia and for other purposes; u
| provide for taking testimony in the courts o
| The District of columbia, and to amend chapter
Is, OF the Revised statutes OF the United states
! relating 10 the District Of Columbia.
JUSTICES Or THE PEACE AND CoNsTABLEs.
I The committee agreed TO report favorably &
| bill. introduced by Mr.. Ingalls,, to extend the
! jurisdiction OF justices OF the peace in the
| District OF Columbia, and to regulate proceed
| ings before them: The bill gives justices o.
the peace in the District jurisdiction In all civil
| cases. including wrftS OF attachment ana re-
| pevin, where the amount claimed TO be due for
| debt or damages. arising out OF contracts, eX-
! pressed or implied, or damages for wrongs Or
/ injuries to persons or property does not exceed
1900 except in cases involving the title TO real
estate actions, TO recover damages for assault or
assault and battery, or for malicious prOsecu-
zion, or actions against justices Of the peace or
other civil officers, for misconduct in Office, or
in actions for SANDER, verbal or written. Sec
ton of the act provides that whenever any
constable OF the District Is defaulted
for any sum OF money, or has collected any sum
of money and refuses or negleetS to pay over
the same TO the person or persons entitled
thereto. where the sum does not exceed S309,
It shall be lawful for the person or persons to
whom the money is due, or their agent or attor-
ney, TO apply to any justice of the peace of the
District who shall issue summons against the
constable and his sureties, and upon the trial
may give judgment for the amount due and
costs against the constable, and his SuretieS. In
the same manner as If the SuretieS were bound
in Joint and several note with the constable;
and upon such Judgment execution may issue
forthwith. subject only to the right of appeal
as now provided by law. Sec g. II any con-
stable of the District receive money on account
Of any claim or demand intrusted to him TO be
from any party money TO be paid to any justice
III the peace OF said District for his fees, such
constable ana his SuretieS shall be liable for the
money so received as for money collected under
execution. Sec 4. Justices of the peace may
compel any constable TO make due return of
any process placed In his hands for service, by
attachment and for refusal TO make such return,
such constable shall be subject to the same fine
and penalty as a witness refusing to obey
summons.
ASSESSMENTS FOR SPECIAL IMPROV EMENTS.
The committee also agreed to report favora-
bly,. with amendments, a bill introduced by Mr..
Rollins on the 18th of December. relating to as
sessmentS for special Improvements in the Dis
trlet of Columbia. The bill, as amended, is as
follows:
81 It enacted, &C.. That in making or revising
any assessment 1or special Improvements or the
eIItels. avenues. alleys or roads in the District
OF Columbia II shall be the duty OF the Commits
Si0nerS OF said District. i'll determining the coSs
or Sucn improvement, to deduct One-haif the
costs OF the intersections, and charge the same
over TO the interSecting street or avenue They
snail also ascertain and determine the amount
chargeaDle To any street railroad by the terms
Oh their Charter or the general law, and also the
amount chargeabie to, or paid by the United
States on account OF such Improvement both of
which amounts shall also be deducted from
the cost OF such Improvement as found by
them. and the balance so as aforesaid
found shall be the basis OF such assessment
Sec. q The said Commissioners shall ascertain
the number OF lineal feet OF the treet,avenue or
road over which Sucn improvement extends,
ana upon the basis OF the cost thereof SO found
snail determine the cost per lineal foot They
shall also ascertain and determine the number
OF 1ront feet OF all real estate adjoining such In
proNeinent not belonging TO the United States
or the District OF Columbia which may be liable
10 TAX. anu shall thereupOn assess upon all such
property for each front foot thereof One-siXth of
the cost per llneal foot so as aforesaid aSceT-
tanned and determined; but no assessment shall
Oe made upon any lot which shall have been
damaged or injured in excess of the benefits
conferred by such improvement nor be charged
WIN tht cost or any part OF the cost OF any
pavement not laid down in front OF said lot
Nor snail slich assessment so revised and aScer-
Ialheu Oe chafSeable with interest until thirty
days from the date OF revision. No lot shall be
assessed twice for the same Improvement Tri-
angular lots bounded on two or more sides by
streets. shall be liable to but one assessment
lOI 10 exceed 0ne-half the said rate. Corner
lots shall be assessed at the full rate for the
street on which they front, but if less than
twenty feet front shall not be assessed in eX-
street. For the purpose Of such assessment
any street may be divided into sections by the
Sald commissioners, whenever. in their judg-
nett a fair and Just apportionnlent OF the cost
Sh0Il'd require such division. And the amount
81 found al assessed shall be deemeu and
lahel 10 be the prT.ner apportlonment OF the eE
pense charue,.hte to prlss,,e property according
to the benefit conferred, and r,re ~ "
said cost shall be chargeable to anc pa;G ny TO-
District. And whenever IL shall be found tina.
any assessment or revision Of assessment here
tOfOre made is not in accordance with these
rules the same shall be revised so as - con
shall bear interest until Thirty days after date
final revision. Sec. 3. Whenever it shall pe
found that the amount OF any assessment EeTe
tOfofe made upon any lot exceeds the amount
found To be due by such revised assessment, the
said Commissioners shall abate such excess,
and II such excess or any part thereof shall
have been paid, the said Commissioners shall
issue to the person entitled thereto certificate
for the amount so found to have been Overpaid,
giving the number OF the square and lot which
said certificate shall be receivable in payment
OF any assessment for special Improvements due
OF unpaid. or be payable out of the amounts col
lected On such assessments hereafter collected,
after the payment OF such outstanding certifi-
Gates as by law have been made lien upon
said Iund; and such certificates or any Other
certificates OF Indebtedness heretofore iSSuedon
account OF arrears OF any taxes shall be re-
eelyed by said District In payment OF any and
all arrears of taxes due prior to July
1st, ISIS. Sec. +. Ii no deduction shall
be made iii tie amount OF any assessl
ment, any taX-lien certificate heretofore
Issued snail reInaia in full force and effect,
and if the assessment shall be increased or a
new assessment made upon property not before
assessed. an additional certificate may hs lss,Ied
after notice, as now provided BIZ law. If any
such assessment shall be decreased, the out
star ding taX-lien certificate shall stand and be
enforced for tie amount OF tax found TO be due
by such revised assessment, with interest at The
rate OF siN per centum per annum. Any per-
son holding any certificate or certificates issued
on account of such original assessment, required
10 be changed in amount by such revision. may
surrender the same 10 the said Commissioners,
and receive In exchange therefor all equal
amount; OF the certificates issued under such re-
vision for The corrected amounts. In all cases
where certificates have not been issued on any
assessment, the said commissioners, upon de-
fault in payment within thirty days after de-
mand, shall issue certificates in the mode, and
10 DC disposed or, as now provided by law. in
accordance With such revised assessment.
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE DISTRICT.
Some time ago petition numerously signed
by nearly all OF the prominent business firms OF
Washington was presented to Congress, asking
for transportation OF goods on equaltermS with
other cities. The subject was referred to the
secretary OF the Treasury by the House COM
mittee on commerce, having the matter In
charge. Secretary sherman, in reply stated
THAT the privilege OF transporting goods, with
Out appraiSement at the port OF original entry
10 an interior port should be confined to the
large ports in the interior, where the business
ia of SllCl inheritance "a tn warrant an pSJap-