The evening times., 1895-11-27

II have known the Commissioners 70
port" said Mr.. Ross. today. ito be I'm
tshed a. late as Monday morning before
Congress met. We haven't had even one
meeting yet to consider the report for this
year.
''Of course all the department reports
combined with 1t are In and printed, and
each Of US is thinking over what we want to
put In. But the report 10 one OF the things
that can be left till the last, and there is al
ways much else that is pressing for imms-
diate settlement"
The report will probably contain recon.
mendatiOns al TO the extension of streets,
changesin In the sewer system, street lig htirg.
municipal building. public library, harbor
boat. and harbor improvements.
The decision of the District supreme
court that the purchase of property at tax
sale relieves said property OF the lien of all
unpaid prior taxes upon 1t, is still bar
to the collection OF large amount OF ar
rearaSes OF taxes, and an encouragement to
taxpayers TO be dilatory In the payment Of
their taxes. in the hope that they may ulti-
mateiy eyade their payment under the
aforesaid ruling.
The Commissioners have sought to cover
the defects of existing law on the subject
by preparation and submission to the first
session of the Fifty third Congress of a bill
in relation to taxes and tax sales, and now
earnestly reiterate their recommendation Of
its early enactment
GRADE CROSSINGS.
Ous subject to receive confederation ts
the grade crossings OF the steam railroads.
Tho recent attack made by the roads upon
the Commissioners in Joint equity suits
only serves to arouse Them to more vigorous
action against what they have long con.
sidered one of the most serious wrongs
suffered by the people Their views were
expressed strongly In the report Of last
year. Their words then were as follows:
$50 Tar as known, no action was taken
by any OF the steam railroads in the Dis
trict toward changing the elevation of its
tracks from that OF the street or road
crossing.
"Notwith standing precautions OF feDces,
gates, watchmen or signals, accidents con-
tinue TO occur. by which persons travelling
on public highways are mangled to death
by passing trains
'The stoppage by trains of street traffic
fs matter of serious Inconvenience and
loss to the public.
THE Commissioners recommend the en-
actment OF law compelling steam railway
companies to change their track crossings
from grade Levels in Washington, within
two and a half years and in the county
within five years, upon plans subject to the
dpptONdl Ol tue COMMISSIONER
But the last Congress failed to do any
thing at all about the matter Since the
last Commissioner report the situation las
grown worse, rather than better. Two
rapid transit street car lines crossing steam
road tracks have gone into operation, the
city has grown In population and traffic
and the evidence of the increased dangers
has appeared In numerous accidents some
Of them fatal
The seriousness of the situation has been
kept before the public by the citizens asso-
Citations, by The Times and by other agen-
cies- The Commissioners have recognized
the added dangers by making police or
der requiring tue roads to stop their trains
at crossings and to observe other r,,irs FOR
the safety of passers on the streets. These
rules the managers of the roaGs claim are
almost prohibitive of traffic. Tie Com
nIissioners have answered this already In
their report of lest year. quoted above.
AN EXPENSIVE RELIEF.
In spite of all precautions. they sa = acc4-
dents continue to occur that would be i'm
possible if crossings were made above or
below grade. 1t is coming to T.. recognized
that like the placing underground Of electric
wires. this u for the time an expensive
but the only sure and reasonable relief to
the dangerous conditions The COmmis-
sioners believe is is the only one the people
will ever accept as satisfactory. They
will almost certainly press the matter upon
the attention of Congress with greatly in
creased energy.
Theprospect for the passage of the legis.
lation required is considered much betteg
than in the last session of Congress. There
are hundreds of new members, and they
have not been In reach Of the influences
which railroads use SO effectively TO pre-
vent action unfayorable to them. Many OF
these new men are desirous to make records
for themselves. and not few sec the grow
ing interest of the people in matters that
touch their own safety and convenience
in their relations with owners OF valuabls
franchises given by the people.