Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-14
Affairs I'm Alexandria.
INCREASED VALUES-NEw SUNDAY LAw-POLIT-
ICAL NOTES, BTC.

lNChEASEU NALUkS-NkW SUNDAY LAW-POLTT-
ICAL NOTES, BTC.
[Reported for The Har.l
THE annual assessment OF the city for pur-
poses OF taxation, which is made in the spring
months, shows the total valuation Of all kinds
OF real and personal estate this year as 81, l40,
5S5, OF which 222 254 is real estate. In 1856
the total valuations of city property was S. 769
9l1. There has been since then a steady de-
cline. In 1s7S-9 the valuation was s., ,9O5, SIS,
tnence 1t sunk until last year 1t was only
has now risen, as above, to s., ,14O, SIS, an In
crease OF about 10 per cent, and there is every
prospect OF additional increase. The taxes have
grown from 10 cents per hundred in 1914 to p
cents In 1s20 so cents Ia 1880 to so cents In 1885,
81 In 1860, 81 In 1875, 1920 In 1876 coming back
to So In 1878. and down to Sl.90 last year, with
the promise OF another reduction. probably to
ture the rate may possibly be yet further re-
duced, but 1t is unlikely that 1t will ever be re-
duced to the rate &1.50) paid in Washington,
Tor besides this city tax our citizens have a tax
OF so cents on the hundred dollars to the state
OF Virginia, making our total tax last year ST. 40
on the hundred dollars, which, in the present
state OF business here is very onerous.
THE SUNDAY LAw.-The new Sunday law
goes into effect here tomorrow, and many
dealers display anxiety to know how far 1T will
oe EXTENDED. The law expressly foroids the
for the sale Of intoxicating liquors, or the sale
OF Intoxicating bitters or other drink" To-
bacco. cigars, candy, soda or mineral water are
Specially InenIlOnoQ ana Cno0 sweeping clause
adds "any other goods, wares or merchandise
whatsoever" The act however does not apply
to milk or ice dealers In supplying their Gus
toners, or to apOthecariea when putting up
bona f1de prescriptions or selling necessary
medicines" 1t Is understood that the law will
De enforced In no unfair spirit, but that the
heart OF no pious person is hereafter to be
broken by seeing anybody make money on
Sunday, even If fifteen ed-out policemen are
not only denied Sunday rest, but have to do
extra work on Sunday without extra pay.
POLlTICs-The political cauldron is on che fire
mere now day aHd night. 1t SINNERS and sings
like pretty kettle OF fish," but it
boils as furiously every night as the
witches cauldron In Macbeth. There are
party lines drawn, but there are 50
many local parties that the lines interlace and
cross until the political field looks like SITTER
Last night the readjusters met and talked over
their divisions. and voted for candidates to the
coming readjuster state convention. There is
some dispute as to who are the delegates
chosen, but among those who were announced
as elected are Messrs. Windsor, Covan, Dudley.
Hammerdinger, Allen, Brown, Madella and
Others
MARINE RBPAIRS.-The Alexandria ship-yard,
which does most OF the work for the Potomac,
Is OF now busy. The steamer j. w. Thompson
has been under repair here for some weeks
The tug Keystone Is under the painters hands
No other vessels are there. The new tug Juno
is also under the painters hands. The Ella
Treadwell. OF Washington, is being renovated
at the foot OF Prince street