Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-02
Taxes Due from Stree, Railroads.

A COMMUNICATION FROM THE DISTRICT CoMMIs-
SIOEERS.
Yesterday the District Commissioners sent to
Hon. Isham G. Harris, chairman of the Senate
District committee, the following:
SIR: In answer to the communication OF the
Senate committee OF Feb. 90, 1880. enclosing a
resolution OF the Senate, of Feb. H. and request
Ing information. as to why the general and
special taxes assessed against the street rail-
road corporations in the District OF Columbia,
which are past due, have not been collected; and
whether any. and If any, what officer has been
derelict in the performance OF his lawful duty in
this tehalf; and whether additional legislation
is required to enforce the collection OF said taxes.
the Commissioners have the honor to reply, that
by section six OF the act OF the govern
ment OF the DISTRICT Of Columbia, and
for other purposes approved June 20.
1874, the question of the amount to be
referred to the board Of audit in the following
language: And said board of audit shall also
ascertain and report to Congress at the next
session thereof, the amount equitable charge
able to the street railroad companies on al
count of paving along and within the tracks OF
said companies pursuant to the charters OF
said companies or the acts Of Congress relating
thereto together with their reasons therefor"
The report Of the board Of audit thus called for
will be found in Ho. Elk. Doc: No: 40, ADD
No action was taken by Congress upon this re-
Fort. The taxes referred to have been the sub
Ject Of constant litigation and conflict of legal
special assessments was only decided by the
Supreme Court Of the United States on appeai,
on the 10th OF December, 1878, subsequent to
OF the special assessments approved June
10, 1878. Under this act it became necessary
to revise the special assessments made in puT-
suance of the act Of August 10, 1871, remaining
unpaid. Before this revision was completed
further act OF Congress, APPROVED June q, 1879.
required that the paid special assessments,
made in pursuance of this act, should also be
revised, and extended the time of payment with
an abatement Of penalties and reduction of
interest, when not specially excepted, until Oc-
tober 1St 1879.
act and the enormous labor of the revision, in
volying the denomination OF all vouchers paid
for special improvements by the board Of public
works and their successors, it has not been pos
sible to complete the required work. Congress
having taken no action upon the report OF the
board of audit, heretofore referred to- the Com
their revision upon the opinion of the Attorney
of the District as to the requirement OF existing
law.
They, therefore, in answer to a request of the
Senate committee, on the 18th inst submitted a
statement of the several accounts so far as re-
vised, but have not thought it advisable to take
decisive action for the collection of the
found due until the revision shall
have been completed, and shall have received
the sanction of Congress: The report OF the
giving in full the opinions OF the attorney
bearing on this subject, is enclosed. The board
is of the opinion that this matter, having been
referred III 1874 to the board of audit, ana
thereby virtually removed from the jurisdlc-
ton OF the Commissioners, further legislation
is desirable before final action is taken.
The averages OF general taxes have been paid
by all the roads with the exception of small
amount due by the Anacostia and Potomac in
relation to which the report of the Collector OF
the District is enclosed. The manner Of collect
ing amounts charged to and due from the COM
panieS for work done under the direction of the
present board Of Commissioners is defined by
the law creating the present form of govern
ment and no further legislation is needed for
the purpose
Signed j.. DENT, President.