Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-15
IMPORTANT UOCAlINTERESTS
Considered and Acted Upon by the Board
Of Trade Last Evening.
The Proposed Bill in Regard to the
Assessment of Taxes ON Property
AdOpted-Other Matters.

II. warner presided and among others pres
ent were Secretary John b. Wight John
Joy Edison. n. G. Ordway, Thomas Somer-
Vile. G. c. Hazelton, w. s. Roose, c. G..
Smith, George E. Emmons Archibald
Greenlees. j. b. Winner, W. X. Ellis, j.
Martin Proctor. Augustus Burgdorf, E. G..
Davis. A. p. Pardon. F. p. May, H. l..
Littleield, Thomas J. King. W. F. Roberts,
h. Fl. Droop. o. G. Staples. l.. G. Hine,
W. b. Baldwin. W. A. Hungerford. w C.
Dodge. T. A. Lambert and j. II. Magruder.
After the minutes Of the previous meeting
had been read and approved additional
members of the board were announced as
follows: c. Ulrich Kennedy. A. r. Shep-
herd. John T. Campbell. II. B. Johnston,
George w. Merrill, William F. Downey, T.
NJ Draney. F. J. Dieudonne. A. Eberly's
| Sons. w. E. Spier. c. r. Monroe, B. Louis
Simpson. Rein w. Darby w. c. Clephane.
d. ]. b. Gregg Custis. William Holmead,
A. S. johnson, Daniel Fraser and F. j.
Hciberger
Secretary Wight gave notice of proposed
amendments to the constitution and by
laws to the effect that chairmen of COM
mittees need not necessarily be members
of the board of directors and that seven
members Of the board Of directors should
COZ stitute quorum. Under the rules the
amendments went over until the next
meeting.
Commissioner Parker's Message.
Inc SctTetdIy stated tnat commissioner
John w. Ross and Messrs. A. T. Britton
and E. Kurtz Johnson had sent regrets at
their inability to be present and also read
the following letter from Commissioner
Myron NJ. Parker:
Il cannot but express the very great
interest l do now and have always felt in
the board of trade. As it's first president
l was in a position to appreciate it's bene-
, fits to Washington. Subsequent relations
only strengthened this position. \ board
of trade in a great and growing city like
our own-the national capital-shouid be
composed of representative men of all sec
tons, professions and conditions 1t should
represent no particular section or faction,
but should always have in mind the needs
and best interests of Washington. 1t
should be the city's mouthpiece at the Dis
trict government and in the halls of Con-
gresS. That the Washington board OF trade
Is representative and worthy the conf
derce and support Of our people cannot be
the interests of the fairest city on this
continent and will increase in usefulness
as the years go on.
your very complimentary reference to
my interest in this organizati ton and to
the development, welfare and prosperity
OF the national capital are fully appre-
ciated. For over thirty years / have had
abiding faith in the future Of our city
There has never been a time when doubt
could dispel the brightest hopes. During
this period the country has gone through
severe financial panics, but Washington
has felt the shock much less than other
sections, and has quickly rallied. only to
begin a new era of added prosperity. His
tory will repeat itself as result of the
panic from which We are now emerging
and We may safely predict brighter
future for our city than has ever yet been
realized.
Il need hardly say that in my official
capacity as a Commissioner Of the District
of Columbia, or as private citizen, this
NJ q
have my best efforts and support"
Assessment of Property.
The meeting then proceeded to consider
the bill Ito provide an immediate revision
and equalization of real estate values in
the District of Columbia; also to provide an
assessment of real estate in said District
in the year 1896 and every third year there
after" which. as adopted by the board of
directors. appeared in The Star Of the 9Th
instant.
Secretary Wight read the bill by sections,
each section being considered and voted on
separately.
MIR. Z. G. Davis explained that. as one
Of the committee which framed the BILL
he wished to say that the committee had
hoped to draw a bill which would at the
same time be equitable to all the people Of
the District. and be such a bill which
would meet the approval of Congress. The
bill, as reported to the board of directors,
provided for three assistant assessors. The
board had amended II as to provide for
five assistant assessors, one each from the
county, Georgetown, East Washington.
South Washington and Northwest Wash =
ington. He did not believe in the increase,
nor did he believe in sectional appointments
of the assessors He therefore moved i1at
the section of the bill as reported 20 ne
board of directors by the "c.EI.i:-r..' lie
preserved.
Mr.. W S. Roose said he believed in the sys-
tenn of assessments pursued during the ex-
istence of the old municipal government,
when the assessors assessed only the prop
erty in which they respectively lived.
Or. A. z. Pardon remarked that he be-
lieved in greater Washington. The peo-
pie of the District should know no North
South. East or West Washington, county
or Georgetown, and he therefore favored
Mr. Davis amendment. The amendment
was adopted. when. on motion of Mr.. Arch
ibald Greenlees, the second section was
further amended by having it provided that
the assistant assessors shall hold office
for the term of three years, or until their
successors are appointed"
The succeeding sections Of the bill were
adopted until the sixth was reached when
DR.. A. P. Pardon moved that II should be
so amended as to require the value of the
property assessed to be determined in law
full money for assessment purposes
After brief expression of opinion DR.
Pardon. however. withdrew his notion
and the reading and adoption of the follow
ing sections were proceeded with until sec
ton was taken up, when Mr. Thomas w
Smith explained that he opposed the idea
OF having the men who made the assess
ment pass upon their work as board of
equalization and review. He did not be-
lieve the proposition was an equitable one
Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Greenlees thought that
as the three assessors would represent the
whole District there would be no difficulty
and the matter was passed until the re-
manning sections should be disposed of
No further amendment was offered to
the remainins sections Of the bill. and they
were adopted as read. Mr.. T. w Smiths
amendment, providing for the increase Of
the board of equalization and review, by
the appointment OF three citizens, who
should serve for sixty days from the first
day Of June. 10 receive 81 each for every
day OF service. was then briefly discussed
Mr. Smith earnestly urging his amend
ment.
Mr.. John Joy Edison and Mr.. T. A. Lam
bert both agreed that It would be better to
nave the work of the assessors reviewed
by others, hut thought that the plan of
the bill was. after ALL about as good as
could well be secured, and Mr.. Smiths
amendment was voted down.
Approved by the Bonra.
President Warner then laid before the
meeting the resolutions adopted at the meet
ing Of the board of directors on the 18th in
slant, and they were unanimously approved
by the meeting, which favored the pro-
posed declaring of Massachusetts, avenue
through the new naval observat tory grounds
public street, as provided in the joint res
olution adopted in the House October IA
last. and appropriating $4,000 for the pur-
pose of opening it. and Senate bill No sri
TO authorize the entrance into tho DiStri ~