Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-11

The House Gets Down to Local Measures
IAte-A Good Deal OF frlibustering.
II was late in the afternoon when the Dis
trict obtained the floor in the House this after
noon Mr.. Hemphill FIRST asked the House 20
non-concur in the Senate amendments TO the
bill providing for opening alleys. The
affair was q very simple one. but
the Pennsylvania railroad feared the Norfolk
and Western bill, and Mr.. Atkinson asked tina,
the bill be read, which consumed some time.
The order WINS finally made. however, and q
conference ordered. The same order was made
on the bill regulating the building Of houses
in alleys.
MR. JoHSsoN's ASSESSMENT BILL
MY. Hemphill then. TO the surprise Of few.
called up Mr.. Johnson's bill in regard 10 the A.
sessment Of real estate in the District This bin
was printed in full in The STAR a few DAYS ago.
This bill. it will be remembered. provides for .
continuous assessment with president and a
prosecutor. Mr.. Holman made the point that
the bill must be considered in committee of
the whole. The Speaker sustained the point,
and Mr.. johnson moved that the House
go into committee Of the whole Mr.. Atkinson,
however, demanded a division on the motion.
The vote was sixty-seven AYES to one poor little
nay, Mr.. Bowers casting the vote.
POINT OF NO QUORUM.
Mr.. Atkinson remarked that there was no
quorum and tellers were ordered. The House
was very thin at the time, and Mr.. Atkinson,
with a large-sized palm-leaf fan. and Mr..
Bingham, with a sardonic smile. watched cheer
fully the efforts TO get l67 members to pass
through the tellers. II Is probably
needless to say that both Mr.. Atkinson and Mr..
Bingham are from the state OF the pennsylvaris
railroad. After some delay q quorum was OBJ
tanned and the House went into committee O!
the whole.
Mr.. Atkinson wanted the report on the bill
read. he probably thought it was u long one.
II was not. 1t only took up ten lines
but it referred to the report from
the committee for assessment. and Mr.
Atkinson made the point that this report should
be read. The report occupied $50 pages and
much TO the relief Of the House the point wa,
overruled.
MR.. JOHNSON SUPPORTS HIS BILL
Mr.. johnson took the floor in support Of tn,
bill. The present assessment, he said. Fixed IN.
value Of the property in the District at ezra
100000. whereas the investigation mad,
by his committee showed the value q
be s5oo. 900, 900. He referred to tb,
work Of the assessors and denounced the fac
that they worked behind closed doors. Be
cause the new assessment under the present
rate would raise more money than was needed
Tor the use OF the District. the Senate nov
asks that the rate of taxation be reduced
without attaching to it any proviso in regard e
assessing the s200, 900, 600 worth of propert,
which now escapes taxation. The inequality
In the new assessment. he said, was very
great Mr.. johnson objected strong. to the
Senate plan for board OF eauali
cation composed of five residents who should
serve without pay. Only men who natural,
would be in favor Of low assessment could bs
found to serve on such board. His bill. hs
said, presented q different and surer plan
The main features were similar TO the
machinery in the Court Of Claims. The bill
made reasonably sure Of an equitable ASSESS
ment and left the rate Of taxation TO be settled
as circumstances might demand. Referring e
the Senate proposition to bring over thu
assessment Of 1889, Mr.. johnson saic
that this old assessment only summed ur
S145, 900 900 worth of property. The new assess
ment was $50 900 900 better than this. 70,
fear of getting too much money in the treasury
the Senate proposed to 60 back to the absurd
assessment of 1889.
In answer to some questions Mr.. johnson
said that while apparently the rate Of taxation
In Washington was high, in reality il was lower
than in any city in the country.
Mr.. Washington Of Tennessee also spoke In
favor Of the bill. The investigating committee
he said, had discovered treme ndous inequality
In the assessment Of property.
Small holdings were generally assessed up 3,
their full value, while in the rich quarters Of tn,
city the assessment only averages about Is o.
30 per cent OF the value. The debate was con
tinued by q number Of members.