Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-22

E very year there are great many more ap-
plicsnts for street improvements than the esti-
mated available revenues of tho District and
the appropriations can satisfy. The unsuccess-
full In the scramble for such improvements
loudly express their dissatisfaction with the
selection OF streets to be improved. and the
great burden Of criticism falls upon the Dis
trict Commissioners II has long been recog-
Bized that any change in the Lag which would
increase the amount of annual improvements
and thus reduce the number Of the disappointed
or any change in system which would shift the
responsibility for failure to obtain improve
ments upon the unsuccessful themselves. would
be highly desirable. With these objects in
view the plan was proposed several years ago
Of n partial return to the board Of public
works special assessment method The pro-
ject was much the same as that which has been
recently considered by the Commissioners.
bill introduced in 1887. which proposed
that lump appropriation for street improve
rents should be made. that streets should
be improved first upon the application of
property owners, and thereafter in the exercise
Of the bost discretion OF the Commits
sioners, ami that one-third of the
coat Of tho improvements should
be assessed upon abuttins property. More
streets could. Of course, be improved il the
total amount devoted to the purpose were three
times the sum that tho District could con-
tribute instead Of twice this sum as at present,
and to certain extent the responsibility for
obtaining or failing 70 obtain such improve
ments would be thrown upon tho property
owners themselves. But it was discovered that
the bill did not satisfactorily meet the case, and
IL was finally disapproved by the Commits
sioners themselves, to whom the avowed OBJ
jects Of the legislation would naturally COM
mend it. change which would make the
people Of the District. individually and eollec-
lively, as taxpayers and assessed property own
ers. pay twO-thirds the cost of street improve
ments. instead of One-half as mt present, could
hardly be popular. The dissatisfaction OF the
hitherto unsuccessful applicant for improve
ments would in many cases be intensified by
coupling with his Improvement a special as
sessment which his neighbor had not been
compelled to pay. Room for discomfort CON-
corning the streets improved would not be ke-
moved If the improvement OF more streets
was asked than the lump appropriation would
pay for the same discrimination among the
streets that is now complained OF would need
to be exercised by somebody. If the streets
petitiOning for improvements were insufficient
to exhaust the appropriation the Commits
soners would have to perform the DIS
agreeable task OF selecting arbitrarily adj
ditiOnal streets TO be improved and assessed.
steady development. of the permit system
might give to property owners who are willing
to pay a special assessment for immediate at
tentiOn to the paving of their streets the de-
sired opportunity. The smaller the proportion
contributed by the District toward the i'm
provements in these cases the greater the re-
sRIts, for the Districts fund is the limited one
II it were possible in such improvements to
substitute the individual property owners en-
tirely for the District. and throw one-haif the
rost Of improving the streets as at present
upon the nation which owns them, and the
other half upon the petitioning property
owners. the ideal system of special assessments
might be attained. Then the Districts rev.
efiues available for street improvements could
be devoted in conjunction with the equal
national contribution to a general schedule,
including the development Of great natural
avenues OF communication. The general
schedule Of improvements, based upon a broad
systematic plan Of develop li; the city az tho
oationsl capital, should not ami cannot be
moulded by petitioning citizens, but must be
framed and carried out without regard to the
enterprise or lack Of enterprise of individual
property owners