Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-12
Yesterday was the first Of the days in the

Yesterday was the first Of the days In the
life Of the Fifty-seccnd Congress that are
by the rules of the House set apart for the
consideration Of bills reported by the COM
mittee on the District OF Columbia. and.
strangely enough. the first act was one
which contemplates gross injustice to the
tar payers Of the national capital. The
measure in question provides for the ex-
tension of North Capitol street so as to
open UP direct Communication between the
city and the Soldiers Home. The original
bill assessed one-half Of the cost of this
improvement on the general government
and the balance on the District. Mr.. De
Almond moved to amend by laying the
entire burden upon the District, and be-
cause no one present was able or willing
to make lucid explanation Of existing law
en- street extension the unjust amendment
prevailed The statute to which reference
was made and which, by reason Of being
misunderstood was potent In the wrong
doing of yesterday. was the act approved
March 2, 1898, which is entitled IAN act to
provide q permanent sy stem Of highways in
that part Of the District of Columbia lying
outside Of cities" That act, after author
fztns condemnatory proceedings where
street extensions are necessary provides in
Section Is. that one-half of the amount
awarded by said court as damage for each
highway or reservation or pert thereof, con-
demned and established under this act,
shall be charged upon the lands benefited
by the laying out and opening of such high
way or reservation or part thereof, and the
remainder OF said amount shall be charged
to the revenues OF the District Of Column
bfa-" The act further provides that the
same jury that assesses the damages caus-
ed by the opening Is ito ascertain and de-
terrnine what property Is thereby benefited
and shall assess again st each parcel which
IL shall fnd to be so benefited its proper
proportional part Of the whole of said one
half OF the damages"
The injustice contemplated by this law Is
confined In terms to the case of highways
&c, condemned and established under this
act" The Commissioners have been for
some time wrestling with their duties under
this act. and the definite, final plan of street
extension contemplated by the act has
not yet been submitted Il is impossible at
present for any highway to be condemned
and established under this act" The neces-
sary preliminary steps have not been taken
The North Capitol street extension is not
made under this act and the rule Of appor-
tioning expenses provided In the act does
not apply to II. II by any possibility the
extension could be dragged under that act
then the House blundered in not imposing
the cost in equal parts upon the District
and AUDITING property owners. as provided
in that act. The House has placed itself
In the ridiculous position of laying the
whole cost of an improvement upon the
District tax fund in professed obedience to
an inarplicable law which exacts only one
half the cost of such improvements from
the District tax fund
The apportionment provision of the orig
inll street extension law was bad enough in
its lack of equity, but this strained unrea-
sonable, lop-sided application of it is mon
strous.