Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-30

the construction or the BOUNDARY street sewer
Those notaries public who received their ap-
pointments from the President for 1879 so are
now being refunded the amounts paid by them
The number OF Drawback certificates issued
by Mr.. Roome, clerk in charge Of revisions of
assessments up to O'Clock to-day, was 3,414,
aggregaung In amount sell 1919.
Mr.. W. W. Corcoran, in a note to the Com
mlssioners, asks that the property on Massa-
chusetts avenue, between 18th and 10th streets
relieved from special assessments, and claims
allowance for certain expenditures thereon,
growing out OF damages sustained by alleged
street improvements.
The Water Registrar states that he is making
arrangements to commence cutting OF the
water from that class OF water takers who owe
Tor the six months rent for the current year:
In each such case an additional cost OF 81 will
De incurred, which he does not desire to en-
force.
A DELEGATION OF PROPERTY HOLDERS
on street, between 5th and 9th streets north
west, consisting OF Messrs. r. Fl. Taylor Peter
DuDant, Thomas Lewis end others, called upon
the District Commissioners to-day to urge the
repaving Of that street between the points
named. 1t will be recollected that on this
street at present there are variety OF pave
ments, some portions being of wood, others of
rough blue cobblestone, and others Of medley
Of both, making very undesirable street for
one so central. The gentlemen named placed
the matter before the Commissioners 10 very
clear light, showing the injury to property
sioners stated that 1t was only question OF
money; that this street was among those esti-
mated for in last years estimates to Congress
for street work, but that the appropriations for
new work they feared would not Justify the ad-
verttsing OF this street the present season. 1t
would receive the attention OF the Commission
ers before the next Congress when the appro.
pr1atlon bills are made up.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ON COUNTY ROADS
Ine District commissioners have sent a CON-
municatlon to Messrs. Richard Wallach, Thos.
wilson and b. Fl. Warner, referring to a note
from them of the 18th instant relative to special
assessments against property for the Improve
ment of 1th street road, and stating that the
statement of the Commissioners in regard to
these roads, which We're entirely relieved from
assessment, was to the effect that they were
merely county roads Of an ordinary character.
The roads still assessed are somewhat more
than ordinary roads. In the case Of the canal
road, the property adjoining could not cOmmu-
n1cate with 1t because of high bluffs. The Com
missioners reduced the assessment for the Mac
adam carriageway on the Columbia road to
one-ninth OF the cost instead Of One-third: so
that each property holder on that road will be
charged with one-eighteenth of the cost. In
the case Of the 18th street and 14th street roads,
thus leaving but one-twenty- fourth part to be
paid by the property. holders on either side of
those roads. In making these reductions the
commissioners have relied for Justification
sented and that prepared at a meeting of
the property holders held at Brightwood on the
4th inst Had the authorities In the improve
ment or 18th street only done what would have
made it In all respects good county road. the
commissioners would feel justified in annulling
the assessment; but, In fact the object of much
or the work was to make that thoroughfare
rather street than mere county road, and
Its grades are such as might be permanent even
If the limits Of the city should be extended to
embrace the entire length of that road lying
within the District. The ACCESSIBILITY Of any
given work is not point upon which the Com
l no can pass in reviewing assessments.
Their powers extend only to scrutiny of the
charges made for work done, and they are to in
clude In the assessment only such as appears to
be reasonable and just, without regard to their
own views as to the necessity or proprtety of
the work. On the 18th street improvement, par
ticularly, they find work not at all necessary to
have made 1t good county road with easy
grades, and further, that the work was designed
to be specially advantageous to the residents
and property holders along the line OF it. After
a very careful reflection on the whole subject
the Commissioners conclude that they would
payers more than the eleven-twelfths they have
provided for In their late order.
In justice to Commissioner Dent, 1t is proper
to state that he Is, and always has been in favor
OF rem1tting the entire special assessments for
roads In the county, on the ground that he does
not believe in the principle of assessing county
road improvements by the front foot on lands
abutting thereon.
NO INTEREST ON EXCESS OF TAXES.
Mr.. James Mckenzie, as attorney for some
parties, writes to the District Commissioners
relative TO recent order OF theirs concerning
the adjustment OF old assessments which Is OF
payment Of interest on the amounts admitted
TO have been unlawfully collected" He states
that this is especially applicable to the cases Of
assessments for paving foot-ways laid by the
board of public works, under ordinances OF the
corporation of Washington, where three times
the amount now admitted to have been lawfully
due was assessed, and in many cases collected,
from property ownerS, and he invites the at
tention OF the Commissioners to the grounds OF
their claim for interest. The payment OF this
money, both that part which was just and
right, and that part which was erroneous, was
demanded alike and enforced by the collector,
imposing, In addition to penalty OF excessive
case Of nop-payment within certain specified
time; there was therefore no option to the
oWner but to comply with the demands of the
District in order sa to enjoy their property clear
was made apparently as just demand, and
paid in good faith, as a proper, Just
and legal demand; 1t Is now admitted
years. had In its possession money that did not
belong 10 1t, but to different property owners
and 1t is only right, that with the return Of the
1t has been In the possession of the District
During the time that the money has been thus
wrongfGlly detained the District has borrowed
been paid; so, also have the District issued
bonds to other creditors, upon which interest
has been paid, and is provided for. The claims
VI IntSe property OWnerS, ne claims, are anala-
gous with theen' he District has had the use
OF their money to use for the payment OF its
dues, and its possession has, perhaps, pre-
vented the borrowing or the issue of bonds OF
an equal amount, and thus saved the amount
OF interest demanded to the District. Had this
money not been peremptor1ly demanded OF
them, and taken unjuStly, but still been in their
possession, 1t, through proper investment,
would have brought its just interest, and this
they claim OF the District as their dues in the
premises The Commissioners have directed
that the attorney be Informed that under the
act OF June 27, 1879, the Commissioners have
no authority to allow interest on the excess OF
taxes for which drawbacks are provided in Sec
ton Of said act.
BUILDING PERMITS
have been issued by Inspector Entwisle to
FREQ. Douglass, ST., to construct two twO-story
Dr1ck dwellings, A, between Sd and 4th stsne;
$500. Mrs. Mcnamara, construct two-Story
Drlck Dwelling 4th, between A and SITS. se;
81, 400. John Grinder, construct q tWo.Story
dwelling, D, between 1st and I'd SITS. n e.; 81 900
THE ADAMs-SPENCER SHOOTING AEFRAY.-
The shooting Of Thomas Adams, at Fort Wash
lngton, saturday, by Spencer, it seems, grew
out OF family squabble over some property
Some years ago Mr.. Schaf and family re-
moved from Virginia to Fort Washington, and
he bought the farm on which the shooting oc-
CURED. he died, leaving the farm to his wife,
and Two or three years ago she contracted with
Adams and his brother to work 1t on shares
About that time Spencer, who had been a SER
geaQt In the dtsaha