Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-01

ne meant IN speaking OF a meeting last night
last night.
Mr.. Edmunds replied that his statement had
reference 10 meeting OF some body which he
unoerstood had been held last night, and that
at that meeting this amendment had been
agreed to.
Mr.. Thurman added that no meeting OF the
committee nor OF the members or IL nad been
held last night.
The resolution was here tabled in order to be
printed.
The District Appropriation Bill n,
the House To-day.
HOCSE.-Pursuant to an order made yeSter-
day, the session OF to-day began at II O'Clock.
The morning hour having been dispenser
with, the house at 11.30, went into committee
or the whole mt. Converse In the chair On The
DISTRICT OF Columbia appropriation bill.
All amendment was offered py Mir. Blrba:
that the sum for the relief OF the poor be 1n-
creased from $4,000 10 Sl2,6OO. 1t Was voted
down.
COMMISSIONER TwINING'S s PAY.
"hen The item In The bill was reached that the
Engineer commissioner shall hereafter be en-
utled 10 the rank, pay and allowances OF d col
onel OF engineers, point or order was made
made against ii by DIR. Aldrich. The Chair sua-
talled the point OF order, and the item was then
defeated.
SHARP DISCUSSION ON THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT
DIVISION.
An amendment was offered by Mr.. Hunton
providing for an appropriation OF $500 for the
OF the District government Offices
Mr. Aldr1ch opposed the amendment, saying
1hat the DISTRICT pays more for clerks and the
size i'll the United States. He heard That the
commissioners had promised 10 complete In
revision OF assessments by January lst and Il
thought they were completed He said the re
vision ought to have been completed in sX
months, instead OF three years: that the resuli
OF the revision had been 10 reduce the TAXATION
OF the District 8, ,eOO 600, and the greater pa't
n lot NJ rt,g,
charge OF the special assessment division va.
the one CT course, who recommended It's CO..
tinuance. whereas, instead Of retaining him. ii
should be
LEGTsLATED OUT OF OFFICE
Gen. HuntOn defended the ame admentS ba
cause The District Commissioners VITA on
voice say the continuance OF the offlce Is nece-.
sary. BE did not think 1t fair to strike a. ii
single Office of the District government
Mr. AldIich said he agreed that other div-
sions should also be reformed. He thought the
special assessment division should be abolished
because there is no further use for its existence
de said he SpOke OF his own knowledge IL
making the assertion that the treasury depart
menI officials did not want the appropriation
Tor the support CT the special assessment
division continued. In the estimates OF The
Secretary OF the Treasury 1t ha1 been over
looked by him or would have been by MIN
Mr.. HeDkle said IN many cases the special
assessments on property amounted almost %
confscation. Congress eventually offered
The affairs OF the District were In chaos. the
relic OF ring rule. The officer In charge OF the
special assessments divisions was capable
man-a perfect encyclopedia Of District affairs
MR. NEAL THINKS THERE ARE TOO MANY DISTRICT
EMPLOYEES.
MI Neal said he Was inclined to be fair to the
District, but he thought there were more en-
ployes On the pay roll than were necessary to
co tie work Of the District government, He said
the law which authorized the revision OF special
asses smentS had expired by its own Limitation.
He believed the special assessments liens
On property was the most Ubiquitous law ever
passed by man to eNtort money from his fellow
men.
Mr.. Cobb said there was no obligation on the
part OF the United States TO pay any body for
services which were not required TO be per-
formed. He said why MI. Hunton urged the
one appropriation for Work, which the DiStrict
commissioners had said In a letter would be
completed by January 1sJ. he could not see.
unless 1t was TO pay men for work which tne5
would Lot be required TO perform.
Mr.. HuntOn repealed any such insinuatton
Mr Neal said there was now no provision OF
law 10 levy special assessments. Streets aud
avenues improved were now paid for in anoJberi
way; he had been Informed there had been al q
ready no less than three revloiOnS OF special as
sessmeGts. He had seen receipt on account OF
sueh revision for S54 paid out, whereas tue
original assessment was only SIS. He thought
the board OF revision could well be spared for
one year at least, and he hoped no appropria
t1on for the special assessments division would
be made.
Mn ALDRiCH ON NIX. ROOME.
Mr.. Aldrich objected to the District Comnlis-
sloneIs getting Mr.. Roome clerk to write a
letter asking for the continuance of the special
assessments division while they themselves
SAID sad nothing: since he had been on the Dis
u1ct committee the Commissioners had never
asked 10 have salary reduced or an Office
abolished. He did not think their recommen-
dation, one way or the other. should weigh the
pending bill. He thought any one who heard
the testimony touching Mr.. Roome developed
at an investigation had by the District com
mittee would unite with him 10 saying that Mr.
ROome was not the proper officer TO Investigate
the accounts of anybody.
NO APPROPRIATION FOR SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
RRyISIONS
The amendment was voted down The effect
and his clerks and abolishes the special assess
mentS division.
THE INSANE ASYLUM
An amendment was offered by Mr. Neal, con.
tinuing the supervision OF the Insane Asylum
under the Secretary OF the Interior and direct
Ing the officer OF that Institution TO report to
the Secretary OF the Interior as heretofore. 1t
was adopted.
1HE OFFICE OF DISTRICT TREASURER ABOLISHED
Mr. Fort said he saw no reason why Jnere
bia He thought all the funds were deposited
with the Treasurer OF the United States
MT. COBB said he saw no reason why there
sioners, however, had, under the law, the reyu-
lat'on OF subordinate officers, and saw fit to
nave one. He said now to pay taxes, tax
payer had to go through three processes. He
thought either the treasurer or collector should
be abolished. The management of the District
0ffcts he thought, was extravaganG to the
people OF the District. He hoped members OF
ters and frame q law which would cut on The
now existing extravagance. He had intended
to offer an amendment to abolish the treasu-
reI's once, but upon refle ctton he had decided
iTA0