National Republican., 1883-08-08
THE COMMISSIONERS.
Current Transactions at the Various Dis.
trict Offices.

current Transactions Mt the Various Dis
trict Offices.
Building permits were issued yesterday to
Thos. Il. Waggaman to build thirteen brick
dwellings on the south side of Boundary, be-
tween Ninth and Tenth streets northwest, to
cost $4,000; Geo. W. Utermehle, to build one
brick dwelling on Eleventh street, between
X and L streets northwest, to cost $4,000; w.
o. Dennison, to build one brick dining room
on Vermont avenue, between l. and M streets
northwest to cost $1,000; Silas Downing, to
make repairs ut No. i2 |. street southwest, to
cost 500; Mrs. Hush, to mako repairs at No.
512 Tenth street southeast, to cost 500 ID.
B. Croft, to build eight brick dwellings on V
street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets northwest, to cost $4,000,
Tho total amount of collections from all
sources during the month of July was Sl2l,-
Si2.20.
There were fourteen persons admitted to
the insane asylum during July, ten persons
discharged, and one transferred.
The annual sale of recovered stolen prop
erty unclaimed will take place to-day, at 11:30,
at police headquarters
Il. n Vanamau has been appointed O spe-
cial policeman to do duty on Pennsylvania
avenue, between Eleventh and Thirteenth
streets northwest
Messrs. Whitaker and Ma1key appeared
before the commissioners yesterday and ar
gued in favor of canceing special assessments
in cases where property was not especially
benefited. The gentlemen asked for n deci-
sion as to the way in which the commissioners
interpreted the law on the subject under the
act authorizing them to correct erroneous
assessments. 1t was also claimed that the
amount involved in n decision of this subject
by the commissioners was about 100000,
which If placed in drawbacks would not ne
cessitate any expenditure of the fund, us the
drawbacks would redeem themselves. The
commissioners, after hearing the argument,
decided that the assessments were not ca O.. Jne-
Gus, as claimed, and decided against the gem
tlemen.
Assessor Dodge has written letter to the
commissioners asking for instructions ro-
garding the method to be followed in essess-
ing corporation stock.
Public Printer Rounds has requested the
commissioners to connect the government
printing Office with the new water main.
Five additional wagons were put into SER
vice of garbage collecting yesterday.
Deaths reported Aug. z, 1SS3.-HeBekiah
Burrows, congestion of brain Mary l.. Brown,
diarrhea Ellen O'Brien, cholera infantum;
Annie Weathers, phthisis; Jane Gillian and
VIM. NJ. Boebe, narcotic poison (suicide);
Alexis Reeder, bronchitis.
The Commissioners Action Revelsed-A
Card From Gen. Whitaker.
To MY CLIENTS AND TAXPAYERS GEN
ERALLY: With to-days news you will be in
formed that at yesterdays hearing on the
proper construction of the laws governing
| special assessments for special improvement
taxes the board of commissioners decided the
| construction heretofore given those laws cor
rect and the recent revision under tho laws
of 1878 and 1879 necessarily correct. 1t may
be we'll to state that tho board had in its
possession type writing brief OF all
| the points on which we were heard orally
during the last four weeks, and it is quite
probable had arrived at the conclu'ion now
announced even before the receipt of the
| brief, July g last. | am forced to believe
this truo after Maj. Lydecker's remark that
the question we raised was matter of fact
rather than law.
To explain, we understand our engineer
commissioner to claim that all property along
the limo of street improved was benefited in
fact. We allege that some lots were
specially damaged (referring to the records
of the board of audit for proof, and
of course were not specially benefited and
were therefore enormously assessed We
| claim that the laws of congress, of date
approved June IS, 1873, and June 81, 1879
passed for our relief were intended expressly
to apply to these errors which the board Of
commissioners were directed to correct, pro
vided complaints were duly filed. -..g
The trouble appears to consist solely in our
inability to convince Maj. Lydecker of thu
fact that all lots are not benefited, however
great the damage by a change in grade.
Judge Edmunds could see that his prop
erty was not benefited by the great
change in grade in front of it, and fron
his powerful place as chairman of th'
Judiciary committee of the senate he forcet
from the board of public works a recognition
of the fact that the tax against his property
| was erroneous.
With law of congress passed expressly fo1
our relief we fail to get the even and cxac
Justice demanded for all because, as it appears
young engineer officer does not agree with
the highest legal light in the United State
senate on the construction of the law anC
combats the two highest accounting officers o
the treasury on question of fact.
Il. w. WHITAKER.