Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-06
The District in Congress-.


Commissioner Phelps, W. X. Rogers. ESQ.,. prl-
vate secretary to the President, Mr. James S.
Barbour and others were before the House COM
nerce committee to-day in advocacy of an an
preparation for the Improvement OF the channel
OF the Potomac river. 1t was urged that Con-
gresS should place the channel In such position
and Of such depth as to admit OF ships coming
TO Washington and Georgetown and unloading
IL was urged also, with force. that the present
surrounding it had a tendency to impair the
hublic health. 1t was thought that $4,000
would go long way towards the desired i'm
provement. The estimates of the engineer de-
paTtment call for S244, ,O0O No action was taken
by the committee.
The PROPER WATER SUPPLY MEASURE.
Senator Rollins submitted to the Senate this
morning draft OF resolution making a I ap-
preparation OF $4,000 for extending the Wash
ington aqueduct to the high grounds north
Washington, at some point near the boundary
10th street and New Jersey avenue northwest
TIE aqueduct Is to be extended according to
the plans and under the direction Of Gen. NJ. c.
MelgS. q. s. A. Accompanying the resolution
Is letter to Mr.. Rollins from Gen. MeigS en-
closing profile and map Of the locality Of the
extensions. A survey made recently shows that
a direct line for the tunnel is preferable: that
nearly the whole work will be tunnel at mod
crate depth, needing only six shafts, the depth
CT which will only be 20 feet. The valley of
Foundry branch is to be crossed with plate
iron conduit 9 feet in diameter and about 100
feet long, supported upon masonry. College
branch is crossed on grade by tunnel. Rock
creek VIII require syphon of plate iron. cylln-
lower pa1t OF the SypbOn is to rest upon piers
CT rubble masonry. to allow free passage for the
creek water and roadway under the conduit.
me syphcn VIII be l,5oo feet long. With six
shafts the work can be done in IS months. or
Dy doubling the number Of shafts in II months
1ne mead or fall OF wafer from the re Sc, yOir to
l4th street Is five feet. The letter and draft of
resolution were referred to the District com
mttee.
TAXATION IN THE DISTRICT.
Senator voorhees, presented to the Senate TO-
day three petitions, one Of which was ''on be-
half of equality Of special taxation in the city
and county OF Washington, d. c.; another for
the suspension OF the act of June 49, 1875 for
enforcing collection OF special assessments
issued by the District Commi 5sioners for Ger
taln work, which it Is alleged. had not been
dcne; the third petition asks relief from erro-
Teous and excessive special assessments in the
stances OF irregularity of special taxation re-
Sulllng from the mode OF assessment adopted
Dy the board OF public works and the District
commissioners and from which the act OF June
10. 1875 gives 70 relief. Petition No 9 repre-.
Sents that during the administration of the
BOARD OF public works or District Commission
ers special assessments were made for the
alleged Improvement OF certain streetSfn Wash
lnStOn under the act OF the legislative assembly
or August 10, eI1,withOut Justification, because
no work was done ON the streets for which as
slghers OF petition No. 3 ask for the passage OF
an act that no property be sold for non-pay-
meht OF special taxes until the property owner
or his agent shall have had revised statement
and all proper credits for work done fronting
his property by permit or otherwise. That no
charge be made against any property for other
than work done Immediately fronting the same
Also, that special assessments paid in good
faith when enormously charged Shall be given
the benefit OF the revision.
THE DISTRICT ESTIMATES.
commissioners Phelps and Twining were in
conference nearly all Of to-day with Gov
Claflin and Representative Mayham, OF the
District of Columbia committee with reference
10 the estimates OF the District. 1t seems that
Iheie are some radical points OF disagreement
between the commissioners and the committee
with reference to what the general government
should pay for the next fiscal year. the commit
tee Claiming that the United States should have
some credit for what 1t advanced last year
THE PENNY LUNCH.
Mr.. ToWnshend, of Ill, reported bill for the
relief of tie Penny Lunch to-day, but Mr..
Jones objection cut Off its consideration.