The Washington times., 1894-08-11
Commissioner Truesdell's Reasons
Favoring House Bill 6S95.
PROVIDES UNIFORM METHODS
Assessment for Fire Plugs Has No Effect on
Revenues of the Water Department-Lease
for the District Building Extended for
Another Year-Hearing on Bicycle Speed.

able to agree with his colleagues on House
bill No. $685. "to regulate Waterman assess
ments in the District OF Columbia"
He says that there is but one important
question raised by this bill and that is the
change in the method or plan of assessing the
cost of water mains on abutting property from
l I cents per square foot of area to S1.25 per
linear or front foot. As to which OF these two
systems is the more equitable and desirable
there is room for difference of opinion.
The other question raised by the Commits
sioners as to whether they would have power
under the bill to assess for cost OF fire plugs,
and whether the power to erect those appli-
ances would not by necessary implication be
revoked arises in his judgment from a mis-
conception of both the proposed and existing
law. The power to assess the expense of the
erection of fire plugs is included in the power
to assess the cost of watermains, and no sepa-
rate tax or assessment is or can be levied for
fire plugs. The assessment under existing
law must be at the rate OF 4 cents per square
foot, whether fire plugs are erected or not
The power to lay water mains and erect ire
plugs, he holds is derived from the annual
appropriation for the District of Columbia
He says that the fear of his associates that
the bill would deprive the Commissioners of
the power to erect fire plugs is groundless
and that the power to assess for fire plugs is
wholly nominal and has no effect upon the
revenues of the water department whatever
Ii taken out of the existing law it would not
reduce those revenues penny. nor II added
to the pending bill, would it increase them.
TM only thing Of importance 10 be consid-
cred in connection with the bill is: Does it af-
ford a more equitable system of assessing the
cost of laying water mains than that now pro-
videi by law?
INEQUALITIES OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
Under the present system the cost of laying
a water main in front of two lots, one 50xlO0
and the other 5Ox200, is the same in each
case, while the tax levied is twice as much on
one lotas on the other. And yet the water main
gives no greater benefit to one lot more than
TO the other. In many cases this method of
assessment works even greater injustice.
Some lots in the suburbs where greater depth
is desirable than in the city, have been laid
off 800 feet or more in depth, while on the
same streets other lots are less than 100 feet
deep. In some cases the owners of deep lots
have sub-divided shallow strip along the
front or have sold a few feet off the front
previous TO the levying of water main assess
ment for the purpose of evading the tax.
This has encouraged the laying of of shallow
lots both in and out of the city, q practice
that should be discouraged as much as possi-
bic.
The average depth of lots is about 100 feet.
and on this basis the revenue derived by the
District would be about the same under either
system. and the amount collected would be
ample 10 defray the cost. Under the system
of assessing by the linear foot should deep
lot be given another front by the opening OF
all in
should be laid. a new tax would be levied on
that front. by the operation of the present
law this tax is anticipated. sometimes many
years, so that the property holder is taxed fer
a water main perhaps ten years before it is
laid. This is contrary to the law requiring
the tax to be equal and uniform.
The contention that, because more water
may be used on deep lot than on shallow
one, a greater tax for water main should be
levied on the deeper one, will not stand in
yestigation The cost of the water main is
the ssme in either case. while the consump-
ton of water is paid for by water rent
which under the law the Commissioners have
power to make commensurate with the
amount consumed.
1.-The bill under consideration provides, in
my opinion, more uniform, equitable, and
effective method of assessing for water mains
than the present law. and recommend favor
able action thereon.
USING THE GRAPHoPHoSE.
The graphophone is to be introduced into
the District Buildings. Commissioner Ross
had one brought to his office yesterday for ex-
pertinent, and the test given it not only by the
Commissioner but by the others was very
1t is likely that the machines
will be used by the Commissioners
The Commissioners issued the following
orders yesterday: That the proposal of H. l..
Crawford to lay cement sidewalks is accepted
That $4,000 be expended during the current
quarter for permit work on the streets, and
that $500 be expended during the same
period for current repairs TO streets, avenues,
and alleys.
That II sewer be constructed at the intersec-
tion of Pennsylvania and Kentucky avenues
southeast.
Thomas W. Smith, owner of the District
building on First street, near Indiana avenue,
has been notified by the Commissioners that
they have extended the lease of his building
for another year, at s., 600 per annum.
Mrs. Mary A. Thomas, owner of the build |
ing used by the District as a repair shop. was |
also informed that a lease for another year
had been extended on that property. The |
place is on d street, near New Jersey avenue |
northwest.
William J. Morrison. of Pittsburg Pa, has |
been requested by the Commissioners to send |
them drawing and description of his patent |
On the 9th instant the inventor |
notified the officials that he would like for |
them to examine his design, but he failed to |
describe it other than in a general way to say
that movable object, if struck by a car.
would be caught in the basket, and thus be |
protected from injury.
Chief Consul George B. French, Of the Dis
trict Wheelmen's Association. has notified the |
Commissioners that he will be present on |
Wednesday. the 18th instant, at II O'Clock
a. m, to discuss with them the matter rela-
tive 10 the speed of bicycles in the streets of
this city.
August Brockenheimer has sent to the Com
missioners largely signed petition of mer-
chants and others of East Washington asking
that he be allowed to have push cart stand
at Fourth street and Pennsylvania avenue
southeast
Building permits were issued yesterday as
follows: Il. G.. Hanback,, 10 erect Nos. 1905 to