The Evening critic., 1885-02-24
prsrRror LEnIsLArion.


Last evenings session Of the House was
devoted to District business. The Senate
amendments TO the bill for tho relief of
Melissa q. Polar were conourred IN. The
Joint House resolution authorizing tho
printing of2,500 extra copies Of the annual
report Of the Health officer of the District
Of Columbia was passed. Mr.. Barbour
called up tho bill giving title to property
sold for taxes In the District OF Columbia,
and 10 was passed. sitter slight Amendments.
In the debate on this bill Mr.. Folett said
''Tbe object Of this bill is TO supply want
that has been felt for long tlmo In tho collec.
ilon Of taxes IN the District 0f Uolumbia.S BY
The last report OF the District Commissioners
it appoare that there were arrears of taxes in
this District duo and unpaid on the LIST day OF
November last TO the amount OF $62 632.O7.
While taxes on real estate ought TO be, aud
generally are, collected In n larger per cant.
than taxes upon personal property In this DIS
trlct, on tho contrary, ae shown by last years
attempt at collection, o5.3 per cent. OF the
taxes unon personal property are collected
and paid, and only 90 per cont. OF the taxes
upon real estate. The only means provided
by law for the collection OF taxes on roal ea-
tate Is by the sale of the real estate for tho
taxes. At the last attempt Mt such sale there
trict, the reason being that TO bid In tho prop.
erty VAS simply an idle form, ne nobody was
authorized 10 execute deed upon sale for
delinquent taxes.'
MIR. Barbour called up the bill providing
District of Columbia and tho application of
tho proceeds to school purposes, which was
passed after being amended SO as TO au-
thorize the Commissioners to sell all that
portion of lot IL, in square 45l, purchased
by them from J. Ford Thompson, lying
north Of tho centre limo of the north wall
| of tho new police station-house extended,
and apply the proceeds, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, TO complete said
| station. house.
The bills for the relief Of st. Marks p.
T.. Church and tho Ascension Church from
taxation were passed. The Senate amend
mont to the bill, to incorporate the Luth-
Gran Statue Association, TO erect and main
tain a statue in memory of Martin Luther,
was agreed to. The amendment is of little
importance. Tho Senate bill to increase
the water supply in the District of Colum-
| ba was passed.
IL provides that the time fixed by the
| act entitled "An act to increase the water
supply Of the city Of Washington, and for
other purposes approved July 10, 1882,
within which owners Of or parties inter-
es cd In lands condemned or taken under
the provisions Of said act may accept the
appraised value made or to be hereafter
made under said act or owners or persons
interested in such lands who have declined
or may hereafter decline to accept the sp
elected or may elect to file n petition III
the Court of Claims under the provisions
of said act, be, and the same Is hereby
extended for one year from the passage o
this act, notwithstanding the Limitation
provided by said act.
MIR. Barbour called up the Free Bridge
bill. Mr.. Hepburn raised the question Of
consideration The House refused to in
struct that the bill be considered, and Mr.
Barbour withdrew it. Thus ends the free
bridge question for this session.
The House bill to regulate the sale and
manufacture of liquors in the District o
Columbia was passed. Tho bill provides
that wholesale dealers in distilled, malt Of
fermented liquors, wines or cordials shall
pay 800 annually; provided, that thi
license shall not authorize any person t
sell such liquors, wines or cordials In les
| uuantities than ono pint nor to be druul
upon the premises whore sold.
That every person engaged in the bust
ness of manu- featuring brewed or NAL
liquors for sale shall pay $3.50 annually
and under their license as brewers shall b
allowed to sell malt liquors in any quau
| tity, at their brewery premises, withou
other license.
, That every person engaged in the bus
, | ness of distilling or manufacturing for sal
sriIituous or intoxicating liquors shall pa
$500 annually.
, That rectiflers shall pay $50 annually, I
addition to the license as wholesale deale
That the propretors of barrooms shal
pay $3.50 annually.
An amendment offered by the colore
member from South Carolina, Mr.. Smal
was put in tho bill, 1t provides that au
restaurant keeper or proprietor, proprietor
or keepers of eating houses, ice-creau
saloons or places where soda-water is KEEP
for sale, or the keeper or proprietor Of an
public place whatsoever refusing to sell O
serve to any well-behaved person, o
account of race or color, shall be deeme
guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviC
tion, shall be fined not less than fifty nc
more than one hundred dollars for each an
| every such refusal,