Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-17
The District i'm Congress.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE RIVER FLAT

OJner purposes" introduced IN the HOUSE Dy
Mr.. Hunton, on the 9th inst, and referred to the
committee for the District OF Columbia, Will be
considered by that committee at their regular
business meeting (not open to the public to-
morrow:
"Be it enacted ETC., That the chief of engi-
neers OF the army, the superintendent Of the
coast survey, the Chief of the bureau OF navlga-
ton of the navy, the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and the engineer In charge of
public buildings and grounds, who shall serve
without compensation, are hereby created
and Instructed to examine the present condition
OF the water-fronts Of the cities Of Washington
and Georgetown, and determine upon what
changes or notifications, If any, are necessary
or advisable in the plan of improvement of the
harbors OF Washington and Georgetown" SUBJ
mitted in the report of the board OF survey ap-
pointed under the act of Congress approved
March 5th, 1872.
Sec. 2. Said board shall thereupon proceed
forthwith to make the said improvement in ac-
cordance with said plan, so changed and modi-
fled as aforesaid and the said plan OF improve
ment SO changed and modified shall be strictly
adhered to in the prosecution of said work, until
otherwise ordered by law, and in the eXpend-
ture OF any money appropriated In this or any
future act OF Congress for the improvement of
said harbors. And said board shall adopt the
least expensive method in detail consistent with
permanent and effective results, and shall deter
mine and fix the harbor lines of all navigable
waters within the limits of the District Of Co
lumbia.
Sec. 8. The board provided for in the first sec
ton of this act shall cause notice to be given by
advertisement, twice week for three weeks, In
city, or the proposed reclamation of the marshes
In the harbor Of said Washington city, and e5-
adjustment of harbor lines and improvement
of the water front, calling upon all persons who
may have claims Of title or OF possession of any
kind whatsoever to land affected by the
Se or to any part
harbor east of the Virginia or main chan
mel OF the Potomac, or who may claim
riparian right, the enjoyment Of which is inter-
nresen Them ~ he Roapd at dav IN ae
advertisement. If on or before said day no such
claim shall be presented to the board, it shall be
taken for granted that no damages are or will
be claimed, and the improvements shall be
made, and all claims of rights, title, or damages
shall from that date be forever barred. But IL
on or before said day any person shall claim
title or rights and damages, and the board shall
not be able to agree with said person as to the
amount OF said damages, then the board shall
direct the marshal OF the District to summon
jury OF seven Judicious, disinterested freehold
ers, not related to any party interested, to be
and appear near the premises on day speci-
fed, to assess the damages, ii any, which each
claimant may sustain by reason Of the proposed
improvements. And the marshal shall summon
such jury and administer an oath or affirmation
to them that they WILL without favor or partt-
ality to any one, to the best of their Judgment,
decide what damages, If any, each claimant
may sustain by reason of the surrender of his
right but In doing this they shall take into con-
TlSllGlulueS5, anu present
use and pecuniary value, or otherwise, OF the
claim, and give their verdict accordingly. 1t
shall be the duty of the marshal upon receiving
the order from the board to give the claimants
the time and place Of the meeting of the jury
to assess their damages. The jury, having seen
the premises, considered the claim, and assessed
the damages, shall make out written verdict,
to be signed by them or majority Of them,
and attested by the marshal, which the mar
shal shall transmit to the board at its next ses-
final and conclusive If not objected to by either
party within fifteen VS.. II the board or the
claimant shall be dissatisfied with the verdict
made between the board and the claimant, the
board shall order the marshal to summon
second jury OF twelve Judicious, disinterested
least ten days notice of the time and place of
meeting: And the marshal and jury shall pro-
ceed as before directed in regard to the first
jurors, or by a majority OF them, shall be re-
turned Immediately to the board and recorded
as final and conclusive, and the board shall then
proceed with the improvements. Each claim
ant, before he can be entitled to the amount
named In the verdict, shall make and execute a
quit q claim a, deed In fee simple to the United
deliver said deed to said board.
sec 4. The board constituted by this act is
hereby authorized to employ an attorney,
whose salary shall not exceed 81 900 per annum,
to be paid out OF the appropriations for the i'm
provement. The duty Of said attorney shall be
to advise and counsel said board and to at
which said board shall be Interested; and the
said board is hereby authorized to direct its
said attorney to institute proceedings in the
name of the United States In the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia to vacate or annul
any patent which, in the opinion OF said board,
has been improvidently or Improperly issued
1or any part OF the marshes or flats lying in
Washington city harbor and east of the main
channel OF the Potomac river.
Sec. 5. The control of all the riparian rights
Of the United States In the water-frontages in
the District Of Columbia, and of all their rights
in respect OF the shores of the Potomac river
and OF any water lots, flats, or Islands within
tributary thereof In said District is hereby trans
felred to said District, the executive
Officers Of which shall have exclusive supervi-
sion Of all docks, wharves landings, wateT-lots,
flats, Islands and water-frontages. and may de,
fend the same In court and otherwise, in the
name of the District of Columbia.
tns sec For ne purpose q carrying into effect
- is hereby appropriated from any moneys
In the Treasury OF the United States, not other
wise appropriated to be expended under the
first section OF this act.
THE UNPAID TAXES OF STREET RAILROADS.
Senator Edmunds to-day urged, in a brief
speech, the adoption by the Senate of resolu-
tion calling upon the District Commissioners to
inform The Senate of the reasons why street
ldllIOstu ColupduitS nave nOC Deen compelled 10
pay taxes due by them. Mr.: Edmunds wanted
to know why the railroads had not been pro-
ceeded against as private citizens would have
been under the same circumstances. He
thought there had been dereliction of duty
somewhere, and wanted to know all about it.
Senator Harris said the District committee had
taken notice Of the facts mentioned and begun
an investigation. He added that the committee
would be able In a few days to give the Senate
all the information to be had on this subject
and the matter was permitted to remain In the
hands Of the committee.
INTERNATIONAL SANITARY CONFERENCE
Senator Harris joint resolution, authorizing
the President to call an international sanitary
conference to meet in Washington and devise
plans for suppression of yellow fever, was
favorably reported by the Senate District COM
miltee to-day.
Senator COnkling and the Late Sen.
atOr Morton.
The report In these dispatches that Senator
Conkl1ng had said In executive session that '.it
would give him no pain to vote against the con-
nrmation of son of Senator Morton" having
come to Senator Conkling's notice, he says that
such sentiment was never conceived, much
less uttered by him. His feelings for MI Nor
ton were OF the klndest nature. The expression
imputed to him Is SO harsh and cruel that he
cannot allow 1t to go uncorrected. Senator
Conkl1ng does not usually correct the state
menfs OF newspapers concerning him. To do so