Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-22

THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW UNDER WHICH
1HzT WILL AcT-BRiEF SKETCHES OF rRE
CAREERS OF MEssRs. GRIFFIN, ouRLkY AND
MoRsELL, TIE MEs CHOSEN
The Presndent THE afternoon appointed the
following board OF assessors provided for at
the last session Of Congress: Edward W. W.
Grimm OF the assessors Office, VIM. b. Gurley
and Saml. I. G. Morsen
THE PROVISIONS OF TIE Law
These appointments we're made in accordance
with provision of the sundry civil bill, APP
proved August s. 1892 This provision reads
| as follows: That the President shall appoint a
board OF three members. residents Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, who shall each receive a COM
pensation OF - per day, and who shall act a
board oil revision, equalization and appeals
with power to revise and equslze the
ments OF 1892, and snail remain in session for
period OF not less than ninety. days nor more
than SIX months, and their decision in all cases
Shall be final: and the Commissioners are hereby
required to detail such clerical force as may be
necessary to aid such board in their duties;
PROVIDED. that the triennial assessments made
In 1888, pursuant to the act OF March 5, 1883 is
hereby continued in force for the fiscal wear
ending June SO. 1898; and all taxes for said
fiscal year ending June so. 1898. shall be levied
and collected upon the basis of said assessment.
any other law TO the contrary notwithstanding.
For compensation Of the board hereby
created, "a 1868 or much thereof as NAV be
necessary. is hereby appropriated. to be paid
wholly from the revenues of the District Of
Columbia
This board Of review which has Just been ap-
pointed is intended to act not as board of
assessors In the field, but, as the name implies
as BOARD OF review and equalization upon the
result OF the work of the present board Of
assessors, whose term of Office expires in Deem
ber This latter board appointed for the
purpose OF making the tax assessments and the
board OF review will act as a sort Of court of
appeals In all cases where the assessments do
not appear satisfactory to the interested parties
There is some little disappointment expressed
that the members of the board have not been
named earlier. inasmuch they are expected to
finish their labors by the 30th of June 1893 aud
there is at least six months work to be done.
This will probably carry them beyond the APP
pointed time.
Z. W. W. GRIFFIN.
The appointment of Mr.. L. W W. Griffin as
a member of the new board of review is one
that will probably give the greatest satisfaction
to Washingtonians generally, it would be diff
icult to find man who is more familiar
with the matter of District valuations For the
past twenty-one years he has been prominently
and. is at present serving in the
capacity of assistant assessor. Mr.. Griffin was
born IN Georgetown in 1888, and has been a
resident of the District ever since He WAS
printer by trade and was in that profession for
fifteen wears, and was for short time
Office, but it isthrough his connec-
ton with the District government that
he is best known. He was one of the frs as
SCISSORS Of the District under the territorial
government appointed in 1871. and
appointed in each of the three following
years. He has been a member of several
boards OF assessors returning to his duties in
the District government. upon the expiration of
the terms OF Office OF the different boards 1t
Is his familiarity with property values.
derived in this way, that makes his appoint
ment on the present board such
desirable one. In politics Mr.. Griffin is a re-
publican. He is member of Washington
Commandery, K. T., and charter member of
Pentslpha Lodge.
wM. b. GURLEY.
There are few men of his age who are more
widely and favorably known in this community
than Mr.. William B. Gurley He was
born here, his father was one of the
leading clergymen of the city and he
has spent his entire life here. He is identified
with several leading financial Institutions, is at
the head OF the firm Of Gurley Il Stevens and il
connected with much of the religious and char
liable work that is carried on in this city. He
Is still young man and claims a
place IN the young set. Mr.. Gurley is director
Of the Washington Loan and Trust company,
the Columbia Bank the Belt Line railroad,
president of the Washington Stock Exchange
and is connected with other bodies He is the
president Of the Y. NJ c. Association and is
prominent in the New York Avenue Church
He is man of excellent judgment and has the
confidence and respect of all who know him.
T. q. MoRsELL.
Mr.. S. T. G. Morsell has long been known as
one of the leading builders in Washington.
having worked his way up from the bottom to
the top Of the ladder, where he is now able to
remain in ease ana comfort.
He was born near Bladensburg and afSerward
came to this city, where he has devoted himself
all his life to tue business in which he started as
an apprentice, later becoming journeyman
and finally master builder and contractor He
Is also known rs an architect, having designed
many of the buildings he has erected He
is looked upon one of the best possible judges
Of improved property as Il result of his ex-
perience of over forty-four years as a builder
and contractor in this city. In proof of this
he has often been called upon TO act as referee
in the matter of values of buildings in cases
of differences between builders and owners
A well-known building man said this after
noon: ''Mr. Morsell is the best judge there is in
the city Of the value of house. and he hae a
pretty shrewd idea of the worth of the land that
is under it, too
OF late years Mr.. Morseli has to certain ex-
tent withdrawn from the active labors Of his
profession, his chief connection with building
matters being in the capacity of an arbitrator
and judge Of the value Of structures COM
pleted or in process of erection.
Very Elusive Criminal.
Lafayette Jennings is in a fair way of having
to stand trial for making a pistol target Of
resident of Claiborne county, Tenn, a few
days ago. Sheriff Campbell and Deputy Sheriff
Hodges came on to Knoxville Saturday in
search of W. S. Wyatt, who is to have second
| trial on n charge of unur3er