The morning times., 1895-11-28
S0at district HlHIs
Comm ssolers VIII Advocate
Many Reforms in Laws.
WILL BE PRESENTED SOON
BE the Subject OF Vigorous Action
E1tensiun OF Streets-Street Light
Ing lmprovements-Pub Library
Needed.

II have known the COMMISSIONER re-
port" said Mir. Ross. today. ito be fin
ished as late as Monday morning before
Congress met. We haven't had even one
meeting yet TO consider the report FOR this
year.
''Or course all the department reports
combined with IL are In aud printed. and
each Oi u is thinking over what We want 10
put in But the report is one of the things
tiat can be left tin tue last. and there Is al
ways much else that is pressing for imme-
dIate settlemeut'
Tne report VIII probably contain recon-
mehdations as to che extension OF streets,
changes Iii tue sewer sy stem. street lig hting.
municipal building. pubiIc library. harbor
boat and harbor improvements
Tue decision of the District supreme
court that Tue purchase or property al tax
safe relieves sa.u property ol Tue lien OF all
unpaid prior taxe1 upon 1t, Is still bar
to Toe collection OF large amount OF ar
rearases OF taxes, and an encoura cement 70
Taxpayers to DE uIiatory IN tue pa ynient Of
tBeIr taxes. in Tue hope that they may ulti-
niaieiy eVade tier payment under tue
aforesaid ruling.
The Commissioners have sought to cover
the defects OF existing law on the subject
ny preparation ana subIILssiOn 10 the Iirst
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.
Que subject to receive consideration II
the grade crossings OF the steam railroads.
The recent attack made by the roads upon
the Commissioners In joint equity suits
ouiy serves To arouse them to more vigorous
action against what they have long con-
sidered Que 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 far as known, no actian was taken
by any OF the steam railroads in the bis
trict toward changing the elevation of its
tracks from that of the street or road
crossing.
Notwithstanding precautions of fences,
gates, watchDen or signals. accidents con-
tinue TO occur. by which persons travelling
on public ghways are mangled TO death
10y passing trains.
the stoppage by trains OF street traffic
is matter of serious Inconvenience and
loss to the public.
The Commissioners recommend the en-
actnent OF a 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
But the last Congress failed to do any
thing at all about the matter. Since the
last Commissioners report the situation has
grown worse, rather than better. Two
rapid transit street car lines crossing steal.
road tracks have gone into operation. IT,
city has grown in population and traft
and the evidence of the increased DANCE
has appeared IN numerous accidents, some
of them fatal
The seriousness of the situation has bee
kept before the public by the citizens as
Citations, by The Times and by other age
cies- The Commissioners have recognizg
the added dangers by making police O.
der requiring the roads to stop their train
at crossings and to observe other rules (,
rules the managers OF the roads claim -
almost prohibilive of traffic. The CO
nissioners have answered this already u
their report OF last year. quoted above.
AN EXPENSIVE RELIEF.
In spite of all precautions. they say acc--
dents continue to occur that would be i'm
possible if crossings were made above 'c
below grade. 1t is coming to be recogni-
that like the placing underground OF cleo
wires. this is for the time an exper -
but the only sure and reasonable relief
the dangerous conditions. The Comm
siOners believe it is the only one the peo.
viii ever accept as satisfactory. tt
Will almost certainly press the matter u
the attention of Congress with greatly il
creased energy
The prospect for the passage of the ieC.--
lation required is considered much bett b
than in the last session OF Congress. Thei
are hundreds OF Dew members. and ths
have not been in reach OF the inrluerct
which railroads use SO effectively to prr-
vent action unfavorable to them. Many a.
these new men are dcsirous to make records
for themselves. aud not few see the grow
ing interest of the people in matters that
touch their own safety and convenience
in their relations with owners OF yaluails
franchises given by the peopls.