Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-31
Two Women Shot.


A RuFFIAN WHO Is ALTOGETHER TOO FREK WITH
HIS PISTOL
Charles Nelson, colored, who served q term in
the penitenttary for killing John Simms In saloon
in South Washington about seven years ago. and
who now resides In Willow Tree alley, attempted
last night to enter neighbor's house, but was re-
fused admission. He then drew pistol and fired.
The ball passed through BetSey Rollins thigh,
then struck girl named Gertrude Caldwell, going
through the calf OF her right leg, and finally grazed
the forehead OF Clarence Caldwell, her father. Dr.
Holden rendered medical aid and prOnounces the
wounds not dangerous Nelson was charged In the
Police Court this morning with assault and pat
terry, and the cases We're continued bonds, 81 900.
Asking Relief from Taxes.
THE REASONS THE WASHINGTON GAS COMPANY URGE
REDUCTION OF ASSESSMENTS.
The Washington Gaslight company has written
to the District Commissioners asking reconsIdera-
ton OF the assessment the capital stock Of the
Gas company, with view to reducing it to the par
value, viz: 100000. The present assessment ex-
ceeds the par value by 100000 AS a reason for
the reduction asked the letter OF the company
pany is In no way benefited by this fact and ought
not, they think, to be assessed on this Premium
which happens to be to-day but may not be to-
morrow. Again, the company is supplying gas at
an exceptionally low rate especially to the public
lamps, upon which little or no profit is made, and
neved OF the tax on all over the par value OF their
stock The same reasons that Influenced the Com
missioners to relieve fire insurance companies OF
the assessment OF their stock at market rates ap-
plies with equal force, they think, to their COM
pany. II Is We'll known, the letter says, that gas
companies are liable to sudden and severe losses
from causes that cannot be foreseen and guarded
against, and that these accidents often entail vast
expense. They suggest that the stock Of gas COM
panleS Is not represented By available assets but
their assets are largely buried in the ground and
for any other purpose than for making and dis
trbutlng gas would be comparatively Worthless.
During the ,, improvements to the city, under the
board OF public works, this company was obliged
to raise and lower its pipes on very many OF The
streets under improvement. and in a number Of
cases as often as three and four times, with all
the lateral pipes at an expense OF many thousand
dollars, and, although other property injured at
the time was compensated for, this company IS
claim was ruled out by the board OF audit on the
ground that the mains, &C., were not real estate,
while at the same time the city was assessing and
collecting tax on these very mains as s'lmprove-
ments to real estate" For those and other reasons
that might be named they respectfully request an
abatement OF the assessment on all over Sc 600
or, II In the Judgment OF the Commissioners
this cannot be done, they ask that the assessment
be reduced to g 2l5 900, which would yield to the
District an amount nearly equal to the sum pro-
posed 10 be raised from the company under the new
license law, viz: $3s3,375.