Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-03
OF LOCAL INTEREST.
The East Washington Citizens Association
Discuss Matters Pending In Congress-

| DAsSuss Ten0fDE OOuSresS.
The regular monthly meeting of the East
Washington Citizens Association. No. 2. was
held in the Office of Messrs Weller & Reppetti,
326 Pennsylvania avenue east last night, with
President G. F. Dawson in the chair. After
the secretary CA F. Sperry) had read the min
utes of the last meeting. which were approved,
the president called for reports from commit
tees. The committee on streets reported the
| condition of affairs in their department and
said that there was inevitable delay owing
| to the lack of District revenues. The commit
| tee on street railroad then made its report
through Mr.. Weller. He said that the COM
mittee had received very favorable reception
at the hands of the District committee which
manifested considerable interest in the bill for
the East and West Washington Traction rail-
road as recommended by the association. They
received a hearing, he said, of over three hours
duration. at the conclusion of which the Dis
trlct committee unanimously reported in favor
of the projected measure, which was intro
duced into the House the following day by Mr..
Heard. 1t WAS returned to the District COM
mittee and on Saturday was reported back to
the House with very able report and placed
on the calendar, assurances having been given
that at the first opportunity, when District
affairs Will be considered, the bill will be
brought up for consideration, it having host
of friends on both floors of Congress. With ref
ington and Georgetown railroad the District
committee. he said, was of the opinion that the
East and West Washington railroad would
grant them immediate relief and that it would
be unnecessary TO grant the Washington and
Georgetown railroad an extension OF their line
to the new bridge.
THE ASSESSMENT BILL.
In accordance with the request of the asso-
citation Mr.. Grout and Mr.. Hemphill gave an
extended hearing to the committee on assess
ments in the presence of Commissioners Doug
lass and Ross and Assessor Trimble. The main
recommendation Of the association, said Mr..
Weller. for permanent board of assessors was
at once agreed to- but in the details several
changes were made. some of them not in ac-
cordance with the association Recommended
tious, but they were based on mutual conces-
siors, as the association was OF the opinion that
factious opposition to some of the details
would be injurious to the passage of the bill.
1t has now been reported to the House, he
said and, having been placed on the calendar,
awaits the first District day for its passage.
AGAINST THE BUTTERwonTH BILL.
Mr.. Weller then stated that he had received
letter from Mr.. C. b. Hemingway inclosing
House bill 1905, to regulate the mode of as
sessing real estate in the District of Columbia,
commonly known as the Butterworth assess
ment bill, of which Mr.. Hemingway claims to
be the author. He requested Mr.. Weller, after
n careful and earnest consideration, to submit
the bill to the association at its next meeting,
trusting it would meet with its approval. Mr..
Weller then stated that he had spent several
hours in examining the measure proposed and
was compelled to say that he was astonished
that such bill should have received the in
dOrsemcnt OF the various societies representing
the labor element. lnasmuch as the adoption of
this bill would be far more injurious to their
interests than even the present mode of assess
ment. As proof Of this statement Mr.. Weller
submitted numerous illustrations, ridiculing
its Chinese method of arbitrarily determining
values irrespective OF the selling qualities OF
properties. The burden of the inequalities
under this BILL he said. would fall more heavily
on occupants of frame dwellings, a large pro-
portion of which are i'll the eastern section of
the city and mainly occupied by the very class
of men 1t Is endeavoring to benefit. While he
could recognize some good features in single
tax method of assessment, the Butterworth bill
had absolutely no redeeming features. Its
enactment would be a par with
JACK Cade's famous decree that here
after a pint cup should contain one
quart of beer. The only true VALUE OF any
thing, whether it be real estate or personal
property, is what it could fetch i'll the market;
you cannot, said Mr.. Weller, legislate values
which do not exist. He gave numerous illus
trations of this statement in accordance with
the Butterworth bill. For instance, a house
which ordinarily rented at S12 per month
would probably pay 81 on this amount every
month as a tax to the government, allowing the
owner about per cent on his capital, or about
y per cent per month. Under this bill the
taxes would be advanced to 80 Per cent per
month, which would not only absorb the own
err income, but impose an additional loss of p
per mouth, SO it would be to his advantage to
give the property away. Of course, he con-
tinued. the effect of the passage of this bill
would be an increase i'll rents; such increase
would naturally have to be paid by the tenants.
He stated further that this bill being favored
by the laboriDg classes 1t was entitled to the
careful consideration of the association, and
moved that it be referred to the committee on
assessments for an early report. The bill was
then read by sections. which elected remarks
from number of the members present, and
was then, upon motion, referred to its proper
committee
OPPOSED TO THE EXERCISE OF LEGISLATIVE POWER.
Under the head of new business Mr.. s. c.
Clarke referred to House bill 1899, introduced
by Mr.. Grout, and rendered q resolution in
opposition to said bill. The bill. it will be
remembered, clothes the Commissioners with
power TO make regulations governing steam
railroads in the District which shall have the
same force and effect as if enacted by Congress.
The resolution is substantially as follows:
From mature and settled conviction of its
incompatibili-y with republican governments
this association is infiexibly opposed to, the
exercise OF legislative powers by executive
officers, especially when such officers are nom
eleo tive and legsiate in conclave without public
consideration or warming" The resolution
winds up with vigorous protest against the
passage of the bill. DIR. John A. Carpenter
seconded the motion made for its adoption,
when the president Mr. Dawson, expressed the
opinion that the nature of the resolution
required mature deliberation, which would
necessitate it's reference to some suitable COM
mittee. Quite lively discussion followed,
shared in by Messrs. Clarke. Weller, Carpenter,
Sperry, French, Danenhower and others. The
whole matter was finally referred to the COM
mittee on railroads, and the meeting adjourned
to meet again the first Monday in March.
Among those present at the meeting were
Messrs. Weller, French. Sperry, Dawson, Car
penter, Danenhower, Cheseldine, Edwards,
Anderson, Lehman. Copeland, Buckingham,
Hallan. Gaddis, Jones, Rothwell. Green, Barnes,
Guy, Plant and Bride.
Why Mr.. Depew Was Here.
The statements that Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew
of New York was in the city Saturday on a po-
litical GRAND connected with the succession to
Secretary Window is said by those who know