The evening times., 1895-11-29

The Commissioners gave orders this
morning that they were not tn be disturbed
today except upon the most important busi-
ness. They very nearly completed the re-
visal of the police regulations on Wcdnes-
day night, when they remained at the
building, with Assistant Attorney Pugh,
till after 9 o'clock, and the work imrne-
diately before them now Is their report
to the President.
They hope to complete and present 1t
within the next 1orty-eight hours. Col
Ross spent a part of the day yesterday
at the District building, and the other
Commissioners also gave some attention
to public affairs.
The bulk of what they have to put be-
fore Congress, OF course, is already in
print in the shape OF reports from the
departments under them. But they
stii, nave some important points To decide
with reference 10 the relative Importance
of the wants of the District.
Probably nothing more urgent than the
highway act ana the settlement of legal
questions and problems relating TO acqui-
sition of property for street extensions
will ibeconsiueredi in their report. This has al
ready received much attention.
An old property holder who called at the
building this morning for a copy Of the
act expressed common sentiment by
hoping something would be done to settle
the matter.
If the laud was TO be taken for streets
now, he said, the Commissioners must eX-
pect to pay for IL. Street extensions at
this time would benefit very slightly large
tracts at a dista nee from the city. The ad-
vantage to these by grading and laying
streets would not be realized for thirty
years.
AT A GOOD FIGURE.
Therefore II the ground is to be set
aside for street uses 1t ought tn be bought
at good figure without any talk Of assess
ing benefits. 1t was plainly for the best tn
buy now, however, before speculative
values bad been put on property every
where In the District.
Another matter sure to receive atten.
ton is the bill for collection of taxes in
arrears. This matter was vigorously pre-
sented by Assessor Trimble last year. The
Commissioners alsn took it up in their re-
port and made su plain casethat measure
was dra wn to c,ver the case. With many
others, 1t was left asleep on March 4.
The defect In the present laws causes a
loss to the District of many Thousand dol
lars every year. When piece OF property
is sold for taxes the buyers bid need only
cover the dues for the current year. When
he has settled that tax bill all others are
wiped out and unless the land is redeemed,
he gets a clear title without paying another
cent
This fact has become notorious, and there
are several men who are ta king advantage
of IL regularly. In some cases taxes that
have run for twenty years to the amount of
a thousand dollars have been lost to the
people. u
II Is believed that number of property
holders are now ncglecting to pay their
taxes, with the purpose to have their real
estate sold and the taxes thus reInitted
They can buy the property in through
broker, and by laying the tax for any cur
rent year get ril of all previous bills, taxes,
advertising, penalties and all.
To prevent this sort of unfair shifting the
load upon sQuare-dealing business men, who
have 10 time for such schemes, the Commits
sIoners and Assessor Trimble will try
again to have passed the measure prepared
last year.
KEPT IT A SECRET.
President Evan Tucker, of the Northeast
Citizens Association. with Mr.. W. j. FriZ-
zell. called on the Commissioners at noon
today with an important communication.
They declined to state the contents OF
letter which they left for the Commission
ers' consideration
Mr. Tucker said they were watching the
cases against the railroads TO compel them
to keep watchmen ut crossings according
TO the terms of their charters.
He was informed that Lieut.. Kelly OF
the Sixth precinct. had made a report n the
matter 10 Mai. Moore. in which he gave the
facts necessary to make a case in court for
the street crossing of the Baltimore and
Ohio.
This report was ready to be placed In
the hands of the Commissioners Monday
and everything prepared for the attorneys
to begin proceedings then. But it was sig-
gested that the prosecution in the r street
crossing case ought To be settled before
anything else Is done. 1t had been under
stood. said Mr.. Tucker, that II the r street
case was failure the E street would be
aba andonei.
He Objects strenuuusly to this on the
ground that the f street case is wholly diff
ferent from the street. The railroad has
right OF way through lexington acquired
by purchase, and is not subject To street
regulations.
In the city 1t has only the right tu lay
two tracks, ana by its charter Is strictly
enjoined, under penalty, to keep flagnen
at crossings till the last train gues out at
night and to maintain gates with lanterns
at all times.
Tomorrow is the last day for pa wing
taxes at present rates. After that a
penalty of l per cent. will be added.
For ten days there has been a steadily
increasing tide of taxpayers flowing into
Iza ALL sfT.EN