Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-11
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
A Bill Proposed That VIII Mako Tax
Deeds Of Some Value.

A Bill Proposed That VIII Mako Tax
Deeds Of Some Value.
The House District committee proposes at An
| early date to formulate bill which will correct
the source of general complaint relating to tax
deed titles to property in the District The bill
will provide that q purchaser Of property in
the District who holds q tax deed to it may.
after two or three years have elapsed,
petition the court to command the
original owner to show cause why a
valid title should not vest In the purchaser
This action will give the original owner time
and opportunity to redeem his property, and
IL he does not do 90 the title will be perfected
in the purchaser. Such q bill will quiet the
title to many valuable pieces of property in the
District that are now, IN a measure, clouded.
TAX cERTIFIoATEs.
The bill relating to tax certificates which
Mr.. Hemphill introduced in the House (by
requesD late yesterday afternoon provides
that the Commissioners Of the District of Co
lumbia and their SUCCESSORS are hereby author
lied and directed to receive and audit all
claims that may be presented to them
by holders of certificates Of sale for
taxes by the collector Of taxes for
the District Of Columbia, issued BY the gov
eminent of the District of Columbia or former
@RsssRP in If sal: .. District 9or
rears OF taxes for paving or for other
special or local improvements or general
taxes, in cases where such certificates have be-
come invalid by the neglect of the government
of the District Of Columbia or former munich
pal corporations in said District, or the
proper officers thereof. TO cause . re-
port OF the sale in respect of which such GER
tifcates were issued to be recorded among the
land records Of the District Of Columbia. or
property in respect Of which such certificates
were issued has been impaired or destroyed by
action OF Congress, the courts, the government
OF the District Of Columbia or former municipal
corporations of said District
ana said Commissioners and their successors
are hereby authorized to hear and determine
all such claims, and to issue to the person or
persons found entitled to the relief thereon
drawback certificates for the amounts respect.
lively found to be Cue them on such certificates,
including interest thereon 70 the date of this
act
Sec. 2. That the drawback certificates herein
provided for shall DO receivable.for all arrears
Oh general taxes due and unpaid on and prior
to June 80 next preceding the issue thereof.
DISTRICT PUBLIC CHARITIES.
The subcommittee of the House appropri-
atoms committee having charge of the District
appropriation bill will hold q meeting Satur-
day morning at 1880 to hear all persons inter-
ested In public charities of the District. The
committee desires the attendance at that time
OF all persons Who expect to have business with
Congress in connection with charities. full
and patient hearing will be given those who
appear. The coDmittee desires this one hearing
to suffice for the subject Of appropriations for
charities. as 1t is expected to report the appro-
prIatlon bill within ten days.
REPAIR OF THE N STREET BRIDGE.
Senator Mcmillan, from the Senate District
L.. Al - 4 an
provide for the rebuilding Of the bridge across
Rock creek at NJ street: The only amendment
provides that the bridge is to be OF stone or
iron. Its cost is not to exceed 100000, and one
half of the total cost is to be paid by the
Washington and Georgetown Railroad Com
pany. The report says: 'The present bridge
is not safe, even for the travel thatis at present
using it. On or before August next the
Washington and Georgetown Railway Company
will begin running cable cars across the bridge,
in compliance with the law requiring the road
to dispense with horses within two years from
August 6, 1890. Before the change is made to
the cable system it is absolutely necessary that
this bridge be strengthened To patch up the
present bridge would be unsatisfactory, for 1t
would be but postponing for short time the
day Of rebuilding and continuing the present
unsightly and inadequate structure. The
bridges between Washington and George
town should be combinations of The
streets in go far as paving and sidewalks are
concerned. The bill provides for bridge ca
pable Of bearing pavement Of asphalt or Bel
gan block, for a total width of sixty feet, for
granolithic sidewalks oh ten feet in width
and for a construction so substantial as to
allow driving over the bridge without slacken-
ing speed. Without doubt the time will come
when the lower portion of Rock creek will be
turned into covered sewer, and when that
time shall come stone arches should carry
the bridges over the creek. The commit
tee had estimates prepared for a stone
bridge and found that the cost would
approximate S125,OO A wrought-ron or steel
bridge, which will answer every purpose for
the next twenty years, would cost about s4O,-
COO. 1t has therefore seemed to the committee
that an iron or steel bridge is to be preferred
on the score of economy"
Accompanying the report are letters and
estimates from the District Commissioners.
TO REDEEM OUTSTANDING CERTIFICATES
In the House today Mr.. Henderson Qowa)
introduced (by reques) bill directing the
United States treasurer, as ex-oficio commits
sioner Of the sinking fund Of the District, to
redeem the outstanding certificates of the board
of audit created in 1874, with the accrued in
terest and the outstanding sewerage certifi-
Gates issued by act Of the legislature Of 1873,
with the accrued interest. The certificates are
to be redeemed by issuing District bonds.
=