National Republican., 1882-12-12
THE DISTRICTS DAY.
A New Assessment Ordered and q License Law
Enacted.
A Dill Tor the Relief of Occupying Claim
ants-The Tax Law.

The house was in good humor for District
of Columbia business yesterday, and passed
four bills in two hours, which was deserved
compliment to Chairman Neal and the com
mittee on the district, who have worked hard
enough and honestly enough to earn the con
! fidence of the house thus accorded to them.
The first bill reported was to provide for
THE COLLECTION OF TAXES
in the district It is tho same bill that was
introduced on the first day of the session, and
had been read twice.
Mr. Spcer, of Georgia, made the point that
section eight was an inconsiderate and se
we're provision for imprisoung u man for
contempt on account of non-payment of taxes,
in the discretion of the judge, without giving
the citizen any opportunity for hearing.
Mr. Neal explained that " IL provided that
the collector of taxes shall distrain personal
property If n man fails to pay in accordance
with the provisions of the law, and if the col
lector is satisfed-iust as it is in the state of
Ohio-that man has property which he con-
ceals and refuses to appropriate to the pay
ment of taxes, he may be cited before court,
and there compelled to answer under oath
touching his property. In the state of Ohio,
and | presume that Is the case in every other
state, man who conceals his property from
the tax collector or treasurer can be arrested
under the capias law and imprisoned in Jail
until his taxes are paid, or he is otherwise dis
charged according law Then IL the collector
fails TO find personal property, he returns tho
land delinquent, and the following year it is
sold for sufficient to pay the taxes, interest,
and penalty. The party has two years to
come forward and redeem it after that time.
deed is executed to the purchaser, and if
everything has been regular in the proceed
ings he will be entitled to the possession of
the property. But if the property will not
sell for enough to pay for those taxes, together
with arrears, then the District of Columbia
becomes the purchaser, and the year follow
ing they will put it up for sale and it will be
sold to the highest bidder, irrespective of the
fact whether it will bring enough to pay the
taxes or not"
After very slight discussion the bill passed
ASSESSMENTS OF REAL ESTATE.
The next was the bill for assessments of
real estate in the district in the year 1888 and
every third year thereafter. The essential
feature of this bill is that it equalizes the
valuation of real estate for purposes of taxa
tion, something that has never been done
since the Shepherd improvements. 1t was
amended us to some technical points and
passed without debate.
LICENSES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Mr.. Neal stated the objects set forth in this
bill to be that it simply eliminates from the
present license system all the trades and oc-
equations which are useful in their character,
| anu lpOoSS llCclScS upon SuCu tTuucS, DuSl-
ness, and occupation as require the surveil-
lance of the police. 1t imposes a license upon
saloons, theaters, hacks occupying public
stands, and one or two other classes. 1t re-
moves the license on lawyers commercial
| agents, apothecaries and all. other employ
ments which are honorable and useful
| The bill was amended in some immaterial
particulars and passed. The most notable
amendment was tho one which in section 6,
line s. strike out the words telephone COM
panies shall pay annually $780," the words
"more Or" and the words " or telephone" so
that this part of the section will read "and
hereafter no additional telegraph poles shall
be erected within the limits of the cities of
Washington or Georgetown" And add at the
end of the section: Telephone companies
shall pay annually $780," J91q ""l
OCCUPYING CLAIMANT. ~ teo.,
In taking mp this bill Mr.. Neal remarked
| that the lawyers in this house would take an
interest in this bill. There is no law on the
statute book, he said, by which person who
has been ousted from the possession of prop
erty for which he has acquired title can re-
cover damages for improvements he has made
upon it through the tedious course of the
court of equity. This furnished u statutory
remedy.
The committee through Mr.. Neal thanked
the house for its considerations and Mr.. Ran
dali moved an adjournment sin honor of the
committee"