Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-06

AT TIE INAUGURATION, ETC
A good batch Of District bills were disposed
of in the House at last evenings session. The
bills passed (most Of them without discussion)
were: The bill amending the act to levy an
assessment on real estate in the District for the
purpose Of taxation. The bill making an ap-
preparation of $4,000 for the survey of a r DAD
from the Aqueduct bridge to Mt. Vernon was
next considered. The bill exempting bull ding
and mutual loan associations of the District
from taxation upon mortgages, DC, held by
them for moneys loaned to their own members
but not however, exempting their real estate
from taxation. The bill making it lawful for
the United States treasurer to receive from in
surance companies Incorporated under the laws
of the District such securities necessary to en-
able them to transact business. The bill grant
ing Christ church right and title to square south
of square No. 1892. The bill to secure the
maintenance of public order during the inaug-
uration ceremonies. The bill amending the
general jury laws of the District. so to re-
duce the term from three months to one month,
and providing. among other requirements. that
the juryman shall be a taxpayer. The bill to
regulate and license pawnbrokers in the Dis
trict. The bill providing for a commissi on of
pharmacy and regulating the practice of phar-
macy IN the District The bill providing for
trial by jury in the police court.
ASSESSMENTS OF REAL ESTATE.
The first bill passed related to the assess
nents of real estate in the District. The pres
ent law is amended so as to provide for board
of appeal and to correct other evils that have
been complained of in the operation of the ex-
isting law. The principal amendment is as
follows:
sec. =. That the collector, the assessor. and
the clerk in charge of special assessments of
the District of Columbia shall constitute
board of license and tax appeal. and shall have
power to value and make return in every year,
except the year designated for general assess
ment, of all property taxable by law not before
assessed and valued; to reduce the assessment
and valuation fanny property assessed as herein
provided, which may have been lessened in
value; to increase the assessment and valuation
OF any property which may have been enhanced
in value; and generally to make such eorrec-
tions and additions in previous assessments and
valuations as may be just and proper, having
in view the actual cash value of the property at
the time of such corrections; and any person
aggrieved by the assessment of any property.
however made, may apply to the said board for
an abatement, and If he makes 1t appear that
he Is taxed upon an assessment of his property
above its cash value. said board shall make a
reasonable abatement, and shall certify the
same to the auditor, upon whose statement the
sum estimated to be due for such abatement
shall be paid to said applicant; and the said
board shall have power to hear all applications
for licenses under existing laws. and shall make
report of its hearing and of the facts ascer-
tanned by such hearing to the Commissioners
for their determination; the said board shall
hold Its sessions at such times as shall be des-
ignated, and shall consider the applications
presented to them, under regulations to be
adopted by the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia, and in all matters coming before
IL for consideration shall have power to admin
lister oaths or affirmatiOns, and any person who
shall knowingly make false oath or affirma-
ton in relation to any matter before said board
snail be guilty of perjury, and upon conviction
thereof punished according to law"
THE PROPOSED ROAD To MOUNT VERNON.
The bill appropriating $4,000 for survey
TO Mt Vernon was then passed. after some op-
providing that the survey should not commit
the government to the purchase OF the land
along the route.
THE BILL AMENDING THE JURY LAWS
in the District was fully explained in the report
by Mr.. tAtkinson. ,,and provoked no debate
The bill is long and technical. According to
existing law, as shown by the report, jurors in
the District of Columbia serve for a term of
three months. This local provision is unusual
and oppressive and results in the excusing of
the better class of men from jury service. The
bill in question is designed to remedy this evil.
IL was referred by the committee to the Com
Inissioners of the District. who. in turn re-
ferred il to the Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia. The chief justice of this court
says: Enclosed find copy of the bill relating
TO the jury system of the District. We invited
the attention of the Bar association to the
matter, and its committee, after examination.
has prepared a substitute, of which / inclose
copy. The judges of this court. or all who are
able TO do So have examined the substitute.
Il instructed
recommend its adoption and enactment into
law" This substitute reduces the term of
service to one month, and is recommended. as
has been seen. by the bench. the bar, and Dis
trict Commissioners.
The various amendments to the statutes pro-
vide that 1.-The Supreme Court in general term
shall have power by rule of court to regulate
the period of holding its terms, as also the
periods of all the special terms, and to fix the
number Of such terms, and to alter the same
from time to time public convenience may
require" mo person shall be COM
petent to act as juror unless he be citizen
Of the United States, resident of the District
OF Columbia, taxpayer, over twenty-one and
under slxty-fve years of age, and good and
lawful man who has never been convicted of a
felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpi-
tude. And the Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia shall furnish 10 the officers or per-
sons who are authorized to make the list of
Jurors for service IN the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia. within twenty days after
this act shall take effect and thereafter at least
once year, a list containing the names of the
male taxpayers of said District"
The term of service of jurors drawn for
service in the Supreme Court of the District
OF Columbia holding a special term as a Circuit
Court or TO serve as petit jurors in the special
term as Criminal Court, shall begin on
the first Tuesday in each and every
month in which jury trials shall be
had and Subject TO the provisions of section
500 shall terminate On the Monday preceding
the first Tuesday of the following month except
when the jury shall be discharged by the court
at an earlier day. The term of service of grand
jurors in the special terra as q criminal court
shall begin with each term of that court as
liked from time 10 time by the Supreme Court
OF the District of Columbia in general term,
and shall end with such term, unless the jury
shall sooner be discharged by the court At
least ten days before the first Tuesday in each
month when jury trials are to be had the clerk
shall publicly break the seal of the Jury box
and proceed to draw therefrom the names of
tventy-six persons TO serve as Jurors in such
circuit court. and of twenty-six other persons
10 serve as petit jurors in such criminal court
and at least ten days before the commencement
of each special term held as a criminal court
the names of twenty-three persons REQUIRED TO
serve as grand jurors in such criminal court
shall be drawn IN like manner.
IL shall be the duty of the marshal of the Dis
trict, at least five days before the beginning OF
the term of service for which a Jury has been
selected. as provided by law, to notify each
person drawn by serving on him a notice in
r-ae. - IL