Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-27

The District Investigation.

COMMISSIONER DENT AGAIN BEFORE THE COMMIT
TIE.
The House committee on the Distsict OF Co.
lumbia to-day resumed the investigation OF the
charges against the District Commissioners.
made by Treasurer Glfllan.
Commissioner Dent was recalled. and testified
that since May, 1876 no tax lien certificates had
been issued: the records do not show why the
suspension of such issue was made, except In
the report of the Commissioners made In 1877;
the tax lien certificates were by law required to
be issued on the original assessments, but the
work of revision having been ordered they were
suspended. Witness as told by Commissioners
Phelps and Bryan that the suspension Of tax
i've assessments by the board Of public works;
this is the only knowledge witness has why the
tax liens have not been issued. Witness is OF
the opinion that interest on special assessments
should date only from the date Of revision; that
is not now the practice OF the Commissioners;
the attorney of the District gave different
opinion, and the commissioners have followed
certificate is reduction Of the liabilities Of the
taxpayers to the District. Witness opin-
ion Is that no recourse should be taken
S Work Of the re1sion of is entirely
completed. Witness said that prior TO october
LIST, 1879, many tax-payers called and made
tender Of their taxes in money, but their &C.
counts were not adjusted; subsequently, when
their accounts We're adjusted, the Commits
Sioners gave them the benefit of all the pro-
visions OF law which were In force at the time
such tender was made, as 1t was no fault Of the
taxpayer that payment WaS noJ made prior to
october 1st, 1879 Witness said that between
october lst, 1870, and December 31st, 1879, the
cash receipts on account OF the payment of
special assessments, amounted to $21393, and
from January 1St, 1850, up to the present the
amount aggregated $54.s2.
@. So the amount OF cash received since this
investigation has been going on has increased?
A. Apparently; but drawbac certificates you
oI,ln fIo NJ
taxes. This investigation has intarfered With
the collection OF the revenues OF the District
quite seriously. Continuing, witness said the
order issued by the commissioners annalnng
cause the work was Of such character, ttnat in
the opinion of the commissioners Il uld not justi-
fly an assessment. Again, iarrn lands had been
assessed at so much per front foot, which was
unjust. In the cases where the assessments on
county roads were annuIled. the Improvements,
which had been assessed, were part OF the gen.
eral fund of the District; the commissioners
basis as streets In the city, was fnequitabie,
ard they acted in accordance with that under
standing. The commissioners understood that
the act of 1878 gave them the power to annul
assessments; his own recollection that the at
torney of the Commissioners ever gave an
opinion to the effect that the Commissioners
had no authority to annul our assessment or
Ry Mr.. Aidricli-There is such an opinion in
existence.
Mr.. Aldrlch put in evidence decision of the
Supreme Court Of the District, declaring the
assessments upon county roads to be valid.
Judge Dent said he understood that decision
to have been made subject to the revision of
such assessments by the District Commits
SionerS.
Witness said he was not present when the Or
der revising the assessment on Water street.
Georgetown, was made; he refused to be pres
ent; the Linthicum estate was one of the bene.
ticiaries by the revision; 1t reduced its taxes
from 50 GOO to $500.
@. Who is the beneficiary OF the Linthicum
estate?
A. Mrs. Linthicum first; If she dies, any son
when he becomes OF age; If he dies, meanwhile,
then the Linthicum heirs.
Judge Dent said that, as Mr.. Aldrich was evil
IDENTIFY aiming to reflect upon him personally,
he would like to make statement in connec-
ton with the matter.
Mr.. Aldrich disclaimed any intention to re-
fleet upon the witness in any way.
Mr.. Sanford asked II it was the practice of the
Commissioners to refuse to act on matters in
which they had an interest?
Judge Dent said his recollection was that
there had been several cases where one or the
other of the Commissioners had refused to act
ON matters In which they had an interest.
Witness said that he knew nothing OF the
manner of revision of assessments in detail;
such matters were attended to by Mai. Twin
ing, and the Commissioners always took bis
Judgment as authority in all matters of assess
mentS and their revision. In all his testimony
concerning assessments witness wanted to be
understood as having given 1t upon informa-
ton given him by the officers of the special as
sessment division and Maj. Tw1ntng.
The committee, at 12.o'clock, adjourned until