Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-19
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
An Interesting Decision in the Mat
ter of Personal Taxes.
NO EXEMPTION RECOMMENDED.
Money Wanted for CoIored Chair
table Institutions.
SOME MINOR MATTERS,

- " IA ~ - ~ ~ ~ M ~ l. Il - ~ - .
The attorney for the District today rendered
an adverse opinion in the case of ex-Sen-
ator John A. Kasson, who requested
exemption from personal tax Of
&24.SO. Mr.. Kssson contended that he
should be exempt from a personal tax for the
reason that he has never given up his residence
in the state of Iowa where he is taxed on both
real and personal property. In his opinion
Attorney Thomas said:
have carefully considered this case. The
act Of Congress approved March S, 1887
19 Stat. 1867, imposing taxes in this Dis
trict exempts five classes Of property.
namely, the Corcoran art building, free
public library buildings, churches, Soldiers
Home and grounds actually occupied by such
buildings; second, houses for the reformation
Of offenders, &C.; third, such property as is
now exempt from taxation by the laws OF the
United States; fourth, personal property not in
said District and taxed elsewhere, but owned
by persons domiciled in said District; fifth.
personal property not held for sale and not
over the value of $500 The general rule Of
taxation is that personal property shall be
assessed to the owner where he has his
domicile, but our statute, it viii be OBJ
served, remains an exception to this rule. and
taxes personal property in this district ire
spective Of the owners domicile. II Mr..
Kasson returns the property in question for
assessment in Iowa, the place Of his legal
residence, he can, perhaps, have the matter
rectified there SO as to avoid double taxation.
The idea Of our tax taw il to tax all personal
property in this District over $500 in value. not
enumerated in the exceptions. irrespective OF
Al Ill T. etxAan orxxa
my opinion is Mr.. Kasson's request should be
refused.
Work Ordered.
The Commissioners today ordered:
That High street from N to Canal streets be
widened by setting back the curb, as shown on
plat in the engineer depar tment, and the space
thus added to the roadway paved with vitrifed
brick. The work to be done by the superin-
tendent Of streets, at an estimated cost OF
q, 900, to be paid out of appropriation for i'm
provements and repairs, 1894. Georgetown
schedule. ..-----
That the street lighting department is d.
rected to move lamp posts on SD street be-
tween NJ and Canal streets in rear Of new curb
line OF SD street, cost OF same to be paid out OF
appropriation for improvements and repairs.
That the water department is directed to
move the fire and public hvdrants on s2d street
between NJ and Canal streets in rear OF new
curb line Of SD street. cost Of same to be paid
out Of appropriation for improvements and re.
pairs. 1894. Georgetown schedule.
That $50 lineal feet OF eight-inch sewer pipe,
1000 lineal feet of ten-inch sewer pipe, twenty
five eight-inch by six-inch branches and seventy
five ten-inch by six-inch branches required for
immediate use be purchased in open market
That catch basins be constructed as follows:
One on the northeast corner OF 4th and X
streets southeast, one on the northwest corner
OF 4th and h streets southeast, and one on the
southwest corner of 9Th and L streets southeast,
cost Of same to be paid out OF appropriation
for main and pipe sewers, 1888 1884, at an esti-
mated cost of t3S5.
That sewer be laid in the west side Of LIST
street northwest between and K streets, under
the provisions Of the permit system, at an esti-
stated cost of $S4
That a sewer in street northwest between
SD and Saith streets be added to the schedule Of
sewers to be built under the appropriation for
main and pipe sewers. 1894.
That a sewer in west side Of Florida avenue
northwest between p and Q streets be added to
the provisional schedule Of sewers to be built
under the appropriation for main and pipe
sewers, 1895. at an estimated cost Of 1864
That sewer in alley in square lS6 be added
to the provisional schedule Of sewers to be
built under the appropriation for main and
pipe sewers, 1885, at an estimated cost of ESQ.
That sewer in north side Of street north
east to serve lot %, square 9l4, be added to the
provisional schedule Of sewers to be built un-
der the appropriation for main and pipe sew
ers, 1885, at an estimated cost Of $l00.
That a sewer in the south side of L street
southeast between 5th and 9Th streets be added
to the provisional schedule of sewers to be
built under the appropriation for main and
pipe sewers, 1895, at an estimated cost OF S224
That . sewer in 7th street between X and
streets northeast be added to the provisional
schedule Of sewers TO be built under the appro-
priation for main and pipe sewers, 1895, at an
estimated cost Of $500
That James r. King and James A. French
are hereby appointed assistant inspectors in
the sewer department at q compensation of
q so per diem. to be employed when their SER
vices are necessary.
Potomac Water Analyxed.
DR.. Samuel s. Adams, chairman of the COM
mittee on arrangements of the Pan American
medical congress, which meets in this city ne II
month, has requested the Commissioners to
furnish him with an official ANALYSIS Of Poto-
mac water, more especially from bacteriologi-
cal standpoint In his letter he saws:
Il ask this because there is a widespread
opinion that q number of medical men who
were in convention here in 1891 we're made i'll
by drinking this water. Attempts have been made
from time to time to correct this impression
but so far as l know nothing official has ever
been published on this point. Many delegates
may be kept away by this false impression
about our drinking water. 1t is earnestly
hoped. therefore, that by the means suggested
We may alay all such fears"
Prof. Richardson has compiled his analysis OF
the Potomac water for the past year and says
he believes there is no water in the country
better. His analysis of the mean composition
OF the water for the year is as follows:
Total solids. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. lbs.
Nitrogen. as:
Free ammonia. Observation-Disclosures. .020(
Aibuminoid ammonia. .--.----..---. .066l