National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-31

lnlS taOle speaks iOr itbelf. unless
the commissioners believed that there
ought to be direct relation between
street improvements and taxable values,
there was no reason for inserting the
table in this connection. Yet for the
northwest, paying 70 per cent. of taxes.
no new pavements whatever are recon-
mended, and for replacing old ones only
43 per cent. of the appropriation recon-
mended for street Improvement, while
for the eastern division, paying less than
10 per cent. of the taxes, "a per cent. of
the appropriation is recommended, of
which 100000 is for laying asphalt pave
ments on new streets
NO EXPLANATION
of this remarkable departure from what
they themselves seem to recognize as
correct principle is given or suggested.
Left to surmise in this respect, we are
compelled to consider whether any
of those exceptional conditions which
might Justify this discrimination do in
fact exist.
First If the streets selected were gen.
eral thoroughfares, and those rejected in
the mort Invest were not SO, or less so, this
might constitute u justification. But an
inspection of the streets will show that
such il not the case. None of the streets
selected with the exception, perhaps, of
a small portion of Third street southwest)
have any claims to be considered as chan
nels for gene raj communication. Those
seeking Improvement in the northwest
equally, and in most cases in greater de-
gree, partake of this character.
Second. 1t might BIO said that the
northwestern section has already had
more than its proportionate share Of these
improvements.
The answer to this is, that it Is not
true, in point of fact Unjust be remem-
bered that with one or two trifling ex-
ceptions, no first-class pavement asphalt,
wood,or grant e)has ever been laid in the
northwest section from the general fund
alone. One-thrd of the cost has in every
case been specially assessed against tho
adjoining property. The remaining two
thirds of the expense is represented by
the outstanding bonded Indebtedness of
the city, and Of this, as above shown, the
northwest is now taxed to pay, aud
is PAYING 20 PER CENT.
That is, the northwest having already
paid specially one-third of the cost Of its
improvements, is now required TO pay,
and does pay, 10 per cent OF the remain
ing two-thirds Of this cost.
But it is not true that at any time dur
ing the period OF street improvements
from 1872 to 1854 tho northwest has had
more than its proportional share of these
improvements. Under the special assess
ment system, the total amount Of revised
special assessments against property (see
Commissioners Reports Of 1873, page
pa; of 1879 page 40, and of 1881, page
| 296) was, in round numbers, S3,650,O00.
OF this amount there was assessed against
the northwest division, So, 10000. Against
2 - "A.
visions land for comparison we will take
those, as they seem TO have been the
chief favoritos in the recommendation of
tho commissioners there was assessed
$565,8O The proportions Of improve
ment under this system were therefore
something over four to the northwest for
one to the east, much
LESS THAN THE PROPORTION OF TAXABLE
VALUES.
Under the general fund system the
disproportion between improvements and
| values has been still greater. As shown
! in tho above table OF the commissioners
| for the year 1854. the northwest had Of
| the Improvement fund 454 per cent. and
the east % per cent In the year 1883
/ the proportions wero 50 per cent to
northwest and 10 TO east, and In 1882, 90
| to northwest and l6 TO east and all this
| be it borne in mind, while the ratio Of
| taxation is 10 per cent, TO northwest and
! 10 per cont. to east There 10, therefore,
nothing in the past ito justify this denial
| to the northwest of it's proportionate
share of present aud future improve
/ mentH.
Again, II might DO said that this section
| the northwest) is so we'll provided for
4 already that IL does NOT need those inn