The Washington times., 1894-10-13
Commissioner POwell's Plan to Lessen
Cost of Street Cleaning.
INCREASE OF FIREMEN'S PAY
Estimates for Next Fiscal Year to Be Scaled
Down 10 Come Within the Revenues
Attorney General olney's Figures for
Maintenance Of Employees at Courthouse.

NACooSc year ~ gCdIs anu lslC NSNA.A4HAtS AeAS
now reached the point when, in the estima-
ton of the board, steps should be taken TO
diminish the expenditure If possible, and at
the same time maintain an efficient service.
To this end Commissioner Powell has been
for some time devising for an advantageous
change The plan he has in view is TO estab-
lish pumping station at the mouth of James
Greek Canal, which extends through the
heart of the city. and utilize the water OBJ
tanned from the river front for three separate
purposes, whereby the regular reservoirs Will
be relieved OF a heavy drain upon their ca
pacity. II the plan can be rendered effective
the pumping station will be connected with
mains for the special object Of flushing sewers.
watering the parkings, and for cleaning
smooth payements, which can thus be washed
thoroughly and afterwards swept with rubber
brooms. Fire hydrants can also be connected
with the pumping station and an additional
saving of water be effected.
This new departure has the commendable
feature of affording relief in two ways. The
water system will be relieved of a heavy drain
upon it, thereby increasing the supply TO resi-
dents, which may be further increased and
extended, and at the same time an additional
facility Will be furnished for street cleaning
at a reduced expense.
1t is this matter which, among other i'm
portant matters. will be investigated by Capt.
Burr, the new assistant to the Engineer Com
missioner. He will make a thorough exami-
nation Of the proposed system, under the
direction Of Commissioner Powell and submit
the results as early as practicable, and upon
this report an estimate will be prepared for
future use of the department.
Special assessments are not debts. says the
attorney for the District special taxes. as
fhaxv a "a anllad - IL Thomas
cites, 'being local burdens imposed by mu-
nlcipal corporations upon property bordering
upon an improved street situated as near il
as TO be benefited 10y the Improvement, and
laid with reference to the benefit that such
property is supposed to receive by ali eNpendi-
ture OF money to improve the street, are
charges upon property to raise money for
specific public purposes. enforced proper
tIonal contribution of abutting owners, levied
by authority of the municipality or State FOR
the reimbursement OF moneys expended in
the Improvement. A tax differs from an
ordinary debt in that its obligation does not
depend upon contract, and is not enforclble
by an action Of debt. nor is the subject OF set
of an indebtedness OF the taxing district; TO
the taxpayer. therefore, the drawback in
question, representing debt due the person
10 whom il is issued is for the above reasons
not the subject OF 5et-off or counter-claim
against the unpaid assessment against the lot
in 1917"
The question passed upon by the attorney
was whether a drawback certificate for
S107.3O. issued in respect of a revision of a
special assessment May 20, 1871. can be can
celed and the same credited on another as
sessment for special improvements against
the same property in 1877.
NOT APPLICABLE TO LAYING WATER MAINS.
The question as to what property is assessa-
J. Ia hos 90 Tka net f lo,-i
a water main TO supply Brookland and por-
tons of the suburbs lying between Boundary
street and the Soldiers Home grounds, was
referred TO Attorney Thomas for an opinion.
He SAYS that section S Of the tax law of March
3, 1877, does not apply to assessments for lay
ing wafer mains. Ii relates TO general taxa
ton and not TO assessments for improve
ments, the latter being charge imposed by
way of reimbursement for benefit conferred,
and exemptions from taxation do not embrace
such assessments. Government property is
exempt from both taxation and assessments.
The queries propounded IN a letter addressed
10 the Commissioners by Capt DERBY, assistant
to the Engineer Commissioner, were as 10
whether the Soldiers Home grounds are as
sessable as other property for water main to
be laid IL Michigan avenue, and whether as
sessmeut for same can be made against the
Catholic University grounds abutting, and
also upon the grounds of Glenwood Cemetery.
Also. for main in Lincoln avenue, can Pros
pect Hill Cemetery be assessed?
In the matter of the application Of Benia-
min NJ. Needs. secretary and treasurer of
GrRceland Cemetery, for cancellation Of
water main tax, amounting to SS66.25. levied
against the lands Of said association. upon the
grounds that cemetery property is exempt
from taxation. Attorney s. 1. Thomas dis
sents from the views of the association and
Il.
and taxes. Mr.. Thomas saws there is no eX-
emption in the statutes of cemeteries as TO
special assessments for laying water mains,
aud there is no doubt. he says, in view of the
act of Congress forbidding further inter-
ments at Graceland. and authorizing the as
ISOLATION to renter in some other locality and
place lts property upon the market, that all
its land Isto be considered as reserved. and
liable 10 the special assessments complained
of.
The report of the House of the Good Shep-
herd made to the superintendent of charities
for the year ending June so, 1894. says it is
conducted by the Sisters of the Good Shep-
herd. under Sister Mary Martin, superior, and
its object is to reclaim women and girls who
desire to reform, and preserving from danger
those who have not parental care. Its prin-
cipal support is derived from the labor of the
inmates.
Owing to the financial depression work in
one department had to be stopped, and the
institution had great trouble i'll securing
means Of maintenance.
The house has ninety-one inmates. The
number received during the year was sixty
one. Expenses exceeded income by 81, 62S.4S
but owing TO charitable contributions the
accounts were balanced. An annual appro-
priation Of $4,000 is asked for.
GERMAN ORPHAN ASYLUM.
The average daily attendance of children
at the German Orphan Asylum during the
last fiscal year was fifty, as shown by the re-
port OF President Charles Graf aud Secretary
Springsguth to Supt. Tracy. Of the Associated
Charities The number in attendance on the
last day OF the year was forty-five. Eighteen
children were present July l, 1893, who were
admitted by order of the court and the agent
OF the Humane Society; twelve were admitted
during the year, and twenty-one were dis
charged. OF those dismissed, seventeen were
returned to relatives; one boy was sent o
learn a trade; one girl TO learn dressmaking,
and two girls to enter service. The health
of the children was excellent. Difficulty was
experienced in procuring permanent and
sufficient supply OF water, and an expendi-
ture of S74S was rendered necessary there
for. The asylum barn and stables were de-
stroyed last year, entailing loss that was
not covered by insurance. The fire resulted
from spontaneous combustion. The manage
ment asks for an appropriation of $4,000 to
assist in the maintenance Of the institution
next year.
Building permits issued yesterday: P. Fer
singer, two dwellings, Nos. go and 232 Nor
gan street northwest, $4,000. L. B. Gibson,
Office. No. 1875 Twelfth street northeast 500.
Permits for improvements: R. P. Clark, gen.
eral improvements to store, No. S27 Four
teenth street northwest, $3.50. Charles Scott,
addition and repairs 10 dwelling at No. 1916
Z street southwest, $3.50.
Sealed proposals for improvements to