The Washington times., 1894-11-28

The Commissioners have directed the at
| torney for the District to at once institute
proceedings Tor the collection of the accumu-
| lated license taxes due from such of the sew
eral street railways of the city and District as
employ horses as motive power. Notwith-
! standing the repeated demands upon them
! for a liquidation of these taxes, and despite
! the fact that in a test case decided about two
/ years ago the supreme court OF the District
dismissed the appeal taken on judgment in
1 the lower court, the companies have under
various pretexts evaded payment, and the
! Commissioners have reluctantly come to the
conclusion thar summary proceedings will be
necessary to enforce collection.
From the records in the assessors office it
IS shown that the Washington and George
town Company has paid no part Of the tax
since 1876; the Metropolitan Company paid
its last assessment in 1877; tie Columbia line
paid in 1877; the Capitol, North o and South
Washington now known as the Belt Line
paid ia 1878, and The Anacostia Road paid for
two years ending with 1877. The total OF the
collections was "a, ,S34. 80.
Under the license law, section 26, street
cars drawn by horses are taxed as street ye-
hicles at the uniform rate OF SO each ear per
RnnUm
As before stated the patience of the Com
missiOners Is exhausted. and Attorney Thomas,
who was at the District building yesterday,
received instructions TO proceed 70 collect the
taxes without further delay. which in the ag-
gregate is in the neighborhood OF $4,000.
The tax from companies using other than
horsepower Is based upon their gross earn
ings or upon the capital invested. and col
leeted as personal tax. Such companies are
not affected by the license law.
Building Inspector Brady furnished the
Commissioners yesterday with q detached re-
port OF the operations of his Office for the iis
cal year ended June so. 1894, together with
the estimates and recommendations for the
year ending June so. 1896.
From it the information was CLEANED that
permits were issued during the year for 81
brick dwellings. valued at Sl.664 1872; IS
stores, Sl4 800; Z churches, S305 24s; !
brewery, $500, 600; l art gallery, 900; 2
apartment houses. $3.50. goo; 5S7 brick re-
pairs and alterations, S526, 7S4; 2l2 frame
dwellings, S2I2. SIS; 500 frame repairs. SS4.-
740. besides for numerous minor structures
and Improvements, at total valuation OF
q. .3O4, 94l.
This is a heavy decrease from the building
operations Of the preceding year, aggregating
81. 500. S9i.
The inspector asks for an increase in his
force OF assistants. 1t was not intended, he
SAYS that the offlce of building inspector
should be a source of revenue. 1t was estab-
lished for the safety and protection OF the
lives OF our citizens by the avoidance OF de-
fectiye and unsafe construction Of buildings.
which can only be achieved by a frequent and
proper supervision that is impossible with the
present limited force.
Inspector Yermillion calls attention to the
defects in the laws governing fire escapes,
which Mr. Brady indorses, and the suggestion
f1 ada ha Ia ba arnpnnad e. q = hp-
come operative, and that clearinghouse
and Office buildings be included in its proyis-
ions.
The appropriation for repairs to the school
buildings should be increased, in Mr.. Bradys
opinion, by 81, 900, or TO an aggregate OF S53,-
900. There are 10l school houses now occu-
pied. The expenses each year on the heating
apparatus are lerges, and $4,000 prove to be
an inadequate amount to cover the entire cost
OF repairs and keep the buildings in habit
able condition.
The suggestion of Paul T. Bowen, OF the
board OF school trustees as to the urgent
need OF repairs to the Central High School
building and the Henry and Polk buildings is
quoted and heartily approved.
The appropriation for repairs to stations is
too small. and the inspector asks for $1,000.
and an increase from $500 TO $4,000 is asked
in the appropriation for repairs 10 market
houses for next year.
AAg NStlLldltS maui 4DA ACAb SCtAA AACSuJ oS-
gregate as follows:
For new improved fish stands and other
improvements at Western Market, $3, 200: for
office force, including one additional clerk.
S15.5S0; care Of District Office building, total,
S900s. so; repairs TO buildings, S44, 800
An increase in the compensation of the Of
fee employees is asked for.
Orders issued yesterday:
That cement sidewalk be laid in front ONO.
1913 Sixteenth street northwest.
That brick sidewalk be laid in front of No.
llO2 Eighth street southeast.
That contract for furnishing coo Morgan
Buffalo extension water boxes be awarded to
Thomas Someryile & Sons.
That public gaslamps be erected and
lighted as follows: One on northeast corner
of Thirteenth and d streets northeast, two on
the north side Of D street. between Twelfth
and Thirteenth streets northeast
That an electric light be established at the
northwest corner Of New Hampshire avenue
and Washington Circle
That uublic Gas iemD he arected at She