Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-07
District Government Affair.".

Tax lien certificates have been issued by Mr. W.
u. Roome, chief OF assessment division, on alleys
In squares No. 126, 159, 207 81, 400 and AS As
SeSsmentS have been revised on alleys i'm square
300, Az. reservation ID, 40, 800 and Ssa
THE PHOTOGRAPHERS CLAIM FOR REPAYMENT OF
LICENSE TAXES.
me District Commissioners to-day sent COM
municatiOn to Mr.. ID. orc. Callaghan, attorney for
the photographers of this District. who have pre-
sented claim against the District 1or license
taxes alleged to have been enormously paid by
them, and enclose copies OF opinion OF the at tor
fOloWS: 1--WE suppose that the tax on photo
grapheTs was repealed by mistake. That, how
ever, makes no difference; the law is repealed as
we hold. The tax was paid and received in igno-
rance OF the law. by mistake as to what the law
was. This Office has always held that money so
refund the tax.r Also the following, dated Feb
ruary 6. 1882: ''Since writing the foregoing Mr.
Callaghan has presented an able and elaborate
arg ument 10 favor of his claim | feel, however.
obliged to adhere to my opinion. The payments
were voluntary within the legal definition. True,
with coercive powers, but they were not resorted
to. How could parties be coerced by law when as
at5er OF TACT there Was no law The payments
ways held that this error not that contem-
plated by the act OF January 10, 1872. The excess
on the true amount OF special assessment when
paid is In mistake OF fact, and not law, and In my
opinion may be recovered. think these parties
must be left to their legal remedy"
CONDITION OF THE STREETS IN THE VICINITY OF THE
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
In acknowledging the receipt OF q communica-
ton OF Hon. j. j. Ingalls,, chairman or the Senate
committee ON the District, in relation to the con-
d1on OF the streets in the vicinity OF the Govern
eminent Printing Office, the District Commission
eIS state That the papers were referred to the En-
g1neer commissioner, who has returned them with
the Following report: "Snce the present Commits
mfsSonerS came into Office In 1873 nearly all the
money appropriated for pavements has been ex-
pended-n0t In laying pavementS where none ex-
listed, but In replacing wooden pavemcnts which
have proved worthless The necessity for this work
or replacement has proved an almost complete
oar 10 new works or Improvement. Certain eX-
ceptionS TO this rule have, however, been made
and one OF them Is North Capitol street. which was
continuation OF this improvement from 10 ID
street, at cost of 5000, included in the est--
mates FOR work on streets requiring immediate at
tentlon submitted to Congress at its present Ses-
ulOn. south or ID street no improvement can be
MADE until the Baltimore and Ohio tracks are re-
moved or placed on grade. Crosswalks are laid on
all streets crossing North Capitol, but il is impos-
SlDie TO keep them clear or mud and dust so iOng
as the rOadWayS are OF gravel The paViDpS
OF gravel streets with the present revenue
and without any special assessments on abutting
property can not he undertaken until the rotten
miles OF these pavementS still remaining. The
reservations referred 10 in the incIoSed resolution
are not under the control OF the Commissioners
BUILDING PERMITS
issued by Inspector EntwiSle:-M j. Keane, erect
three three-stOry dwellings, 18th, between l. and
M streets northwest; s., OC0 Archibald Lewis, re-
pair frame, 4s6 NJ street northwest; 5000.
INSURANCE ON THE BURNED SCHOOL BUILDING
PAID-To-day the Franklin Insurance Company
and the Firemen's Insurance Company, both old
ana reliable local companies, paid the amounts OF
SlonerS, being the ru amount OF their risks on the
Jefferson school building.