Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-06
THE BOMB NOT YET EXPLODED.
An Apparent Truce In the Auditor-A As
eesso.B' War.


The warfare which the assessors have been
threatening upon Auditor Petty seems 70 be at
. stsndstill to-day. 1t may be that the assessors
have not completed the loading of the bomb
which they had arranged to explode, or il
may be that they have decided to allow
things to move along in their regular course
Whichever theory is incorrect there is no dis
putting the fact that everything is peaceful
around the District building this after
noon. At the Arthur Place school
building, where there has been 30 much
dissention recently, there was a large-size piece
Of placidity, Clerk Donohoo and an assistant
being the only remnants left by the madding
ing from room to room and calling
upon high heaven to witness that never before
in this worlds history had there been such
lofty assessments as those made by the present
board.
CLOSING PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSESSORS.
When the hour of 4 arrived yesterday Chair
man Williams pounded the walnut, congratu-
lated the board on the general excellence Of its
work, and declared the body adjourned
sine die. Before that occurred, however,
the board had passed resolutions of thanks
to Chairman Roger Williams for the courtesy,
ability, and fairness with which he had pre-
sided, and to Clerk w. j. Donohoo for
the courtesy, intelligence, zeal, and f.
deity" with which he had discharged
expressed the hope that Mr.. Donohoo, whom
they eulogized as a model public official, might
secure the recognition he SO richly deserves"
WHAT AUDITOR PETTY SAYS.
Auditor Petty is as calm and unconcerned as
any man could be who has to pay, as he did to-
day, q large crowd Of waiting laborers OF as
sorted sizes, nationalities and hues of complex
ion. To STAR reporter he said this morning:
"Well, the board of assessors has adjourned
sine die, after passing resolutions of thanks to
District Assessor Williams and Mr.. Donohoo
the clerk. The compliment was richly merited
in both instances and / am glad it was be-
slowed.
"Of course il is a matter of regret to me that
my action should have married their leave-tak-
ing, but from my standpoint it was unavoida-
Bile. The situation is simply this: have claims
to the credit Of the appropriation Is S924.59.
at is evident that some one must wait for the
relief Of deficiency appropriation. As audi
tor it becomes necessary for me to choose
between the claimants as to the amount to be
paid now and that which should be deferred.
I discharged this duty..upon what seemed to me
an equitable basis and my action was approved.
'fIf, however, upon review Of the case, the
Commissioners decide to pay the suspended
claims in full shall audit them with pleasure
and without a single regret save for the mis-
understanding that has occurred.
II congratulate the assessors upon the COM
pletion Of a responsible and not always agree
able duty, and heartily wish them well, indi-
vidually and collectively. It is but justice to
Mr.. Walker to say that the contract went to him
entirely unsought. He is quiet.
unobtrusive business man, and,
am told, good accountant. He was selected
for his integrity and responsibility and agreed
to do the work more as a favor to the assessor
than for the amount he expected to realize.
The contract was made in the broad light of
day, with the fullIknowledge of the District
authorities and the accounting officers of the
Treasury and will bear the scrutiny of the most
rigid investigation"
GEN. Buffers PROPERTY.
Assessor Z. Nash is much annoyed because
his fellow-assessors insisted on making clio, 600
the taxable value Of Gen. B. F. Buffers
property at the corner Of B street and
New Jersey avenue. He SAYS that S5O,O
would be an excessive valuation and he charges
that the board was influenced in its action by
q prospective income which the general may
get if Congress rents his building for commit
tee rooms. The board stuck to its decision,
however, and $4,000 goes.
THE B. AND o. PROTEST.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad also pro-
tested against paying taxes for its right of way.
The matter was referred to Attorney
Riddle, who said he could see no
reason why the company should not pay
taxes upon its road bed when the right of way
is through squares that belong to the COM
pany. The matter, he says, must be settled in
the courts.
The checks for the secular days Of August
were paid to the subassessors to-day. There
is yet due seven of the assessors pay for five
Sundays.