Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-24
DISTRICT DAY IN THE HOUSE.
The Results of Last Nights Session
Defeat of the Free Bridge Bill-PrOvis-
ions OF the Bill Which Passed.


almost unanimously voted to take the bill up
against the objection of Mr.. Hepburn, Of Iowa,
made the point Of mo quorum" and, without
giving any reason for his antagonism to the
measure, told the committee that he knew they
cOuio not possibly get quorum, and he would
maintain his point, letting no bills go through,
# they did not withdraw that bill. Fully three
his action, but he stood nfront of the speakers
desk ana stamped his feet to emphasize his de-
termination ITO stick" In order oget through
Win other business they had to yield to him.
SOME MINOR MEASURES
to which there was no objection were taken up
and passed. Mr.. Barbour moved to concur in
the senate amendments to the bill for the re-
lief OF Melissa G. Polar which was done without
opposition. The Senate amendment changing
the title of Mr.. Townshend's resolution author
report of the health officer of the District was
concurred in.
THE BILL TO GIVE TITLE TO PROPERTY SOLD
FOR TAXES.
The bill to enable the District Commissioners
to give title to property sold for taxes was then
taken up and passed after some discussion.
The bill, as amended, reads: .'That hereafter
sales OF real estate, after advertisement as re-
y. e., for taxes or assessment levied by the
commissioners of said District, or by other law
tul authority, shall entitle the purchaser, his
heirs or assigns, If the property be not redeemed
within two years from date of such sale, as pro-
vided by law, to deed from the Commissioners
grantee good and valid title and shall be pre-
sumptive evidence in all controversies in re-
gard thereto that the property so conveyed was
SUBJECT TO the taxes Or which the property was
sold; that such taxes were not paid; that the
property was not redeemed before the execution
81 an m ana ather hs tine levy notice
piled with necessary and proper to make such
deed and title valid
Mr.. McComass explained that the bill filled a
need very much felt In the District, as there is
no proper provision Of the kind in the revised
statutes Of the District of Columbia.
yhD <,rry Ilxy f,,t, A.
In the House, said In the course of his remarks:
"By the last report of the District Commission
ers appears that there We're arrears of taxes in
this District due and unpaid on the 1st day of
November last to the amount of SS2, ,532 81.
ME taxes on real estate ought to be, and gen.
orally are, collected in a larger per cent than
on the contrary, as shown by last years at
tempt at collection, 95.3 per cent of the taxes
upon personal property are collected and paid,
and only 80 per cent of the taxes upon real eS-
tate. The only means provided by Law for the
collection of taxes on real estate is by the sale
of the real estate for the taxes. AT the last at
tempt at such sale there was not a bidder for
any property in the District, the reason being
that to bid in the property was simply an idle
form, as nobody was authorized to execute a
deed upon q sale for delinquent taxes What
Is sought to be accomplished by this bill is to
where (and 1t is thought that the best place to
deposit that authority Is with the District Com
for taxes"
BILL AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF DISTRICT
PROPERTY.
The bnl being passed, Mr.. Barbour called up
the following bill, which was also passed:
Be it enacted, ETC., 'That the Commissioners
OF the District of Columbia be, and they are
hereby, authorized and empowered to sell and
convey to the highest bidder at public auction
the foll"wing-named property, with the i'm
proyements thereon, belonging to and being
within the District of Columbia: Lots J, 4 and
II, and parts of lots 5, 9 and TO- in square S.2:
subot 30, in square 2O9; part OF lot 8, square
$40; lots 16 and II, square 1O9S; one acre near
the junction OF the Chain bridge, Tunlawn and
LonShborough roads, on north line OF Pickreli S
land; 0ne-half acre on Grant road, between
OF John Noonan, south side; one acre on Queen $
Chapel road, adjoining lands of George W. Utter
Georgetown powder-house property, one hun
dred perches west of the Saint Alba,i's church:
the old fish-Inarket lot in Georgetown, north
proceeds of the sale of the foregoing property
shall be exclusively invested in sites for public
schools or in the erection or purchase of school
buildings, and shall be used for ne other pur-
pose whatever: PrOrided, That If, in the opinion
OF said Commissioners, the highest bid made at
public sale for any or all of said pieces of prop
erty, or parts thereof is not full and fair price
for the same, the said Commissioners shall have
the right to reject such bid or bids and to annul
said sale or sales, and TO sell and convey any or
all of said pieces OF property or parts thereof at
private sale. at price exceeding the bid or bids
made at public auction.
Sec. =. That the Commissioners may in like
manner sell and convey all that portion of lot
II, in square 4S1, purchased by them from j.
Ford Thompson, lying north of the center line
OF the north wall OF the new police station-houSe
extended, being twenty eight feet nine inches
front, more or less, and shall apply the pro
ceedS, or SO much thereof as may be necessary
10 complete said staton-houSe.
EXEMPTION FROM TAXES, ETC.
Bills We're then passed exempting St Marks
and, the Ascension churches from back taxes,
and the Senate amendment to the bin for the
relief of the Luther Statue association, provid-
N 0 CTt a ha in1
the Will OF Congress, was concurred III.
WATER WORKS EXTENSION CLAIMS.
A bill to amend the act to increase the water
supply OF the District of Columbia, extending
the time one year when persons whose prop
erty has been condemned for the extension OF
water works may accept the appraised value of
the property or 20 to the Court Of Claims, was
passed.
THE BILL TO REGULATE THE MANUFACTURE
AND SALE OF LIQUORS.
The bill to regulate the manufacture and sale
of spirituous and malt liquors in the District of
Columbia was then taken up. Several amend
ments were offered. One by Mr.. Slemner, re-
Ing by sample in the District, was ruled out on
point of order, and Mr.. Prices amendment
increasing the wholesale license tax from $IUo,
down. There was considerable discussion,
points of "no quorum" being made several
times and Withdrawn again, and finally the bill
in an incomplete form was laid on the table
and the bridge bill taken up, but that being
disposed Of (as above stately by Mr.. Wellers OBJ
jectionS, the liquor bill was again taken up and
passed. the only Amendment being one offered
by Mr.. Smalls to enforce the civil rights act in
the District The bill as passed reads as follows:
Be it enacted, &C., That wholesale dealers in
distilled, malt, or fermented liquors, wines or
cordials, shall pay 500 annually: P'Ouided,
That this license shall not authorize any person
to sell such liquors. wines, or cOrdials in less
quantities than one pint, nor to be drunk upon
the premises where sold.
Sec. 2. That every person engaged in the bus
ineSS Of manufacturing breWed or malt liquors
for sale shall pay $3.50 annually; and under
their license as brewers shall be allowed to sell
malt liquors in any quantity, at their brewery
premises, without other license.
Sec. 3. That every person engaged in the busi-
ness of distilling manufacturing for sale spir-
ituous or intoxicating liquors shall pay $500
Sec. A. That rectifiers shall pay $50 annually,
Sec. 5. That the proprietOrs Of bar-rooms shall
pay $3.50 annually. Every place where dis
titled, malt or fermented liquors, wines, or cor
dials are sold to be drunk on the premises, or in
quantities less than one pint, shall be regarded
as a bar-rOOm. And the possession of malt, dis
with the means and appliances for carrying on
the business of dispOsing of the same to be
drunk where sold, or q single sale of such
liquors in quantities less than pint, or to be
drunk on the premises, shall constitute the pre-
mses bar-room within the meaning of this
every such place to deposit with the collector of
taxes the amount Of his license-fee with his ap-
plicatiOn for HcefrSe, and also present to the
Commissioners tho written permission of
| majority Of the persons owning real
sired to locate such business, and on the side of
the square fronting opposite the same; and such