Evening star., 1895-11-09
AFFAIRS
Important Discussion Concerning the
New Assessment.
BOARD OF TRADE COMMITTEE
When Taxes in the County VIII
Be Due.
T H E T A Tx TOD A 7

T H E T AK TOD A 7
An important conference was held this
morning at the District building between
the Commissioners and committee from
the board Of trade. The subject was that
of taxes and assessments, and the hearing
lasted for over an hour.
1t was shortly before noon that the COM
mittee was announced. 1t consisted OF
Messrs. John Joy Edison, Jesse B. Wilson
and Henry A. Willard, the committee on
taxes and assessments of the board of
trade There will be g meeting Of the
board of trade next Monday, and this COM
mittee will submit a report upon the sub
ject.
The herring was conducted in private,
the newspaper reporters being barred out.
There were present, besides the Commits
sioners and the committee, the assessor for
the District, Mr.. Matthew Trimble, and
Messrs. J. Harrison Johnson and S. T. G.
Morsell Of the board of permanent assess
ors.
Mr.. Edison explained the object of the con-
ference. and said it was not the desire of the
committee to have any difference of opinion
regarding the subject with the Commission
then rehearsed, and the prime object Of the
hearing disclosed. The committee wanted
to know when the new assessment would
be completed. and when the taxes upon the
same would be due and payable.
Two propositions were discussed One was
to make the taxes due and payable next
November. to be based upon the old assess
ment, while those due and payable in May
next were to be. paid on the basis of the new
assessment.
But this scheme had so many disadvan-
tages and would complicate the books of the
assessor and collector that, after a state
ment by Assessor Trimble it was abandoned
as impracticable.
The other proposition advanced was to
have the assessment completed and the
taxes due and payable upon the same next
November, as customary. Both Assessor
Johnson and Assessor Morsell argued
against this. The board had worked faith
fully on the new assessment, but had found
1t out OF the question to complete the assess
ment in the time set by law. 1t was impos-
sibie under the circumstances to complete
the assessment by January.
After a general discussion on the best
method of proeedure.it was mutually agreed
between the Commissioners and the commit
tee that instead of making the taxes for 1897
all due and payable in one instalment. that
the assessment for the city proper and
Georgetown would be completed in time
and ready for the payment of the semi
annual payment of taxes thereon in Novern-
ber next, and that Congress would he asked
to extend the time for the assessment in the
county, and that the taxes for that portion
of the District be payable and due in one
installment in May. 1897.
Considerable opposition was developed at
the hearing on the part of the Commission
ets to the postponement of the new assess
ment and the payment in one installment of
the taxes due thereon. Such scheme
would draw so much money from circulation
that business depression would likely re-
suit. Then 1t was economical for the smaller
taxpayers to pay their taxes in two INSTALL
ments.
The committee was assured that the
board of assessors was doing It's utmost to
complete the assessment, and that the mat
ters agreed upon would be enforced.
This means that the new assessment, as
far as 1t relates to the city proper. will
be completed by January l, and that the
returns therefor will be made to the as
SCISSOR. The board of revision will then as
semble and for three months hear COM
plants and investigate errors. This will
be doEe on time, and the books of the as
SCISSORS office will be ready by November,
1897, for the issuance of tax bills for the
payment of the first half of the taxes un-
der the new assessment.
AS far as the county Is concerned, the as
sessment will not be completed until some
months afterward, although when May,
1897, comes about the taxes will be due and
payable in one installment upon the same.
Stopping the Cars.
1t now develops that there is a disagree
ment In the board regarding that feature
of tho police regulations concerning the
stoppage of street cars. Commissioner
Truesdell, it is stated, is III favor Of COM
pelling all cars to stop on the near side of
the street. while Maj. Powell believes that
the best place for them to stop is on the far
side. Nothing will be done in the matter
Until Commissioner Ross returns, as his
vote Is needed to decide the question.
Fast Driving.
The following letter was sent to the presi-
dent of the Capital Traction Company today
by the Commissioners:
THE attention of the Commissioners has
been calle1 to the danger resulting from
the rapid driving of horses at street rail-
road intersections in violation of the regu-
lation requiring that horses shall not be
driven faster than a walk at such points.
While the police department is eXerting Its
best endeavors to enforce this regulation,
the limited force at its hand does not permit
of a constant supervision at all street cor
ners where railways intersect and the Com
missioners would be pleased to have your
company assist them in the matter by re-
Quiring your watchmen. gripmen and con-
Guctors to promptly repors ali violations of
this provision that may come under their
notice.
No Necessity.
The Commissioners have notified Mrs.
Logan that it will not be possible at pres
ent to comply with her request for a water
main In Roanoke and Irving streets be-
tween Sherman avenue and 18TH street, for
the reason that these streets are far from
being to grade. Neither is there any ap
parent necessity, they say, for the imme-
diate layiI z of water main in these
streets, but when they are graded and wa
ter is required an application therefor will
be favorably considered.
EXCITEMENT IN VENEZUELA.
The British Ultimatum Not Received,
but the Government Prepared.