Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-02
THE BOARD OF REVISION
Criticised at the Meeting of the East W ash
ington Citizens Association.


NR vrLLKR THINKS TIE PROVISIONS OF THE
ACr OF lss3 FAVE BEEN VIOLATED AND THAT
TBE BOARD WOULD NOT STAND A JUDICIAL
TTsr-sr.SDISo COMMITTEES APPOINTED.
The JAnitor Of Baum's Hall. where the East
wsshington Citizens Association are wont to
meet. tried % freeze the members out last
night. But such Ettle thing cold room
could not deter citizen. from Capitol Hill from
meeting 1t w.s necessary, however, 70 have
FIRE. and President Bsb-on appointed q COM
nit;ee consisting Of THE STAR reporter and
two members Of the association 70 20 foragiug.
Al odd door -as pu!Ied from out a mass Of
ae5ri. aud Jumped on BY a fat man Unit! II was
reduced 10 kfne,inz wood. In short time
roaring tr- going. and then President
Babson called the meeting 90 order. Il after
ward developed hat fire vas really unneces-
sarv, for the remarks Of Mr. N. l. Weller. the
chairman 81 the COMMITTEE on asses ments,
we're warm enough for ali purposes.
When the call fO- report from committees
had reached that % Vhich Mr. Weller is chair
men that gentleman arose to m feet and sald:
"for the past five months this country has
been struggling with the great question OF
tariff reform There subject, however,
paramount to this. 8 subject that had enlisted
the attention OF the thinking men Of the coun-
uy-it was ths subject Of tax reform
MR. WELLER on THE INV ASSESSORS.
The speaker after telling Of the interest other
great cities were manifesting the subject
spoke OF the local conditions. He read the law
under which the President recently appointed
n board OF revision and equalization OF assess
ments and spoke of the surprise the appoint
ments created. The law when il was first
talked o. he continued, met with the earnest
objection Of number OF taTpayers. These
men had reason to believe that the President
would lend his efforts TO it, repeal. and the ai-
pointments at this tine before the DIRECTORS
had been allowed the privilege of appearing
before Congress and urging Its repeal Wa nat
urally . surprise.
Some time ago he learned that the President
requested the Commissioners 20 sugsest GER
tain gentlemen for the positions on the board.
These men we're Messrs {. ". ". Griffin. John
r. Herrell md D. G. Green. Why thev were
not appointed he could not saw. As chairman
OF the committee on assessments. however. he
felt u his duty TO condemn the hurried action Of
the President he believed il Nr. Harrison
had read the law Of March 3. 1883, the appoint
Tnents would have been different This law. he
sAii, provides that The assessment Of The city
and District shall be made by assessors Choseu
frum the different sections. This law had
never been repealed, and the appointments
made by the President were IL violation 't the
spirit and letter.of the law. IL the President
had given this important matter the considera-
the geographical distribution and appointed a
man frou each section of the city. 50 that the
interest. OF all would be represented. He be-
heved the President had been misled by his
friends. II he had acted upon the recommended
ION Of the Commissioners every one would
have been satisfied.
The RECENT APPOINTMENTS CETTISTZED.
He had nothing to say regarding the ability
of the gentlemen appointed. but it was not to
he al oh fhav ha 10 heir
surroundings One Of the gentlemen was a di-
rector in u building which was assessed at fig
ure which did not even represent the cost Of its
vault As far A. he concerned he believed
The board Of revision would be a failure. He
compared the influences that directed the selec-
ton Of the board with the appointment of a
police force by the criminal classes. The only |
thing to do. however. was to wait for the re- !
port of the board. II il was just and equitable |
the citizens had nothing to say. but, the con-
trary. IL it Was VIGOROUSLY wrong the taxpay. |
ers coal1 find relief in the courts. and he for |
one would fight II to the bitter end. He had |
consulted prominent lawyer and his opinion /
was thar the appointment Of the board under |
the act of August 8, 1892. would not stand if |
tested before a judicial tribunal.
In closing his remarks Mr.. Weller referred to |
the ending Of the official term OF Commissioner
Douglass. He hoped that the President would |
reappoint him. for IL was his belief that never |
since the organization of the present local gov
missiouers.
President Babson. as chairman of the execu-
tive committee. announced the following
revision Of the standing committees and then
the meeting adjourned
TEE STANDING COMMITTEES.
= Executive Committee. W. Babson, chair
man; A T. sperry, VI. l. Weller. NJ. W. Wines.
Committee on railroads-M. W. Wines, chair
man: Henry Sherwood, II. P. Goodwin, NJ. L
Weller, j. W. Parrish
Committee on streets avenues and alleys-F !
A. Lehman. chair; VI. I. Weller. Thomas W. |
Smith. W. W. Dsnenhower Adam Gaddis, s. /
H. Walker. W. H. Collins, VI. ". Wines, A. +.
Sperry.
Committee on water, light and 50 wers-Chas
A. Shields. chairman; W. MOsely Williams,
Richard Rothwel, Albert Carry. b. L. GUY, /
John ". Shomo, A. d. Cheseldine.
Committee on assessments and apportion-
ment Of sppropria,ions-M. I. Wheeler chair
man. Thos. W. Smith, Gen. Duncan ;. Walker
H. L. West. DIR. W. Il. French, A. T.. Sperry,
Henry l.. Bryan
COMMITTEES on public parks and spares-Ceo.
h French. chairman; VIM. W. Cheshire. Geo.
b. Bar5i1. Gen VIM. Birney, James ;. Jordan,
A. v Mee.,7, John |. Brown.
Committee on schOOls-Isaac T. Moves, chair
man; Duncan Thompson. A. r. Stuart. v b.
Edwards, DR.. W. ". Hubbell, Geo. W. Barnes,
Court r. Wood
Committee 20 draft proposed legislation-O.
b Hsliam. chairman; c. +. Benjamin. ". c.
Dodge. Appleton p. Clark. John q. Slater.
Committee to urge site for government print
Ing Ofhce-M- /. Weller. J. J. = Has-ler, l. A.
Lehman. o. y. Hallarl J. ". Parrish.
Committee on health. police and charities
William Hsndley, chairman: Dr. ". L. G.
Hssen. NELL Dumont. Fred q. Dieterich An
drew j. Curtis, DR.. }. T. Littlewood. Mrs Emily
Z Briggs.
Committee on property rights and titles
John II. Oberly. chairman: Il. \. Colonia. VIM.
Msyse James VI. StOcke.t Thomas b. Narche
Eugene Peters, J. J. ). Hsssler.