Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-06
DISTRICT GOVERN MENT
Revenue Lost by Eon-Payment Of Water
Rents.
May BE Made Liens-The New Assess
ment and It's Present Condition
Other Local Affairs.

Considerable revenue is lost to the Dis
trict each year by reason of the failure OF
householders to pay their water rents
Year after year the amount uncollscted
grew, until now it has assumed consider
able proportions, and something must be
done to check the leakage. 1t has not been
long since Judge Bradley delivered an opin-
ion in the case of Fisher against the Dis
trict. that water rents, not being taxes, are
not chargeable against the property sup
piled with water. The recent decision in
the Burgdorf case, which has resulted in
the refunding of thousands Of dollars,
brought this matter squarely before the au-
thorities, and they determined to close all
avenues through which revenues escaped.
So serious, in fact, has the drain upon the
revenues become, that. unless Congress steps
In and interferes with remedial legislation,
the service Of the department will be seri-
OuSly impaired
Now 1t is proposed in the case under dis
cussion to ask Congress to pass bill which
Will make water rents lien upon the prop
erty supplied. Such legislatio has been
round absolutely necessary There is large
number of people who move every month
or so, and never make any pretense of pay
ing water rent. The supply goes on lust
the same. but when it comes time to collect
rent tne mouse very likely has no occupant.
and the owner, when appealed to, promptly
repudlateS the same. All that is left for the
water department to do Is to turn off the
water, and this is the bugaboo the authorf-
tles nold over the heads of the takers
10 make them pay UP promptly. Before the
decision of Judge Bradley the authorities
refused to turn on the water again unless
the back water rent was first paid in addi-
tion 10 Zee OF ~ for the work of turning on
the water This was objected to- and now
the authorities, In case any money Is owing
the District. before the water Is again
turned on. compel the tenant to pay the bal
ance OF the rent due for the year, in addition
to fee OF 81 for turning on the water. The
Commissioners will urge, as stated above,
that water rents be made lien against the
property, the same as other taxes
The Highway Act.
The Commissioners have returned to
Chairman Babcock of the District commit
tee Senate bill 30, to amend the act to pro-
vide for permanent system of highways
in that part of the District lying outside of
the cities of Washington and GEORGETOWN.
They heartily approve the bill, and recon-
mend it's enactment. This bill has been
heretofore printed In full in The Star and
everyone Is familiar with the amendme nts
Sought to be enacted.
Engincers' Licenses.
A second-class steam engineers license
has been granted to VIM. Donohoe and
tbird-class licenses have been granted to
refer Bookings, George NJ. Day, C. Eckert
and H. Ernoid.
Additional Privates.
The following additional privates have
been appoin ted for duty at the new library:
Edward Sutherland. Henry Spear, g. w.
Reitzell. A. H. Farris, G. A. Williams. Al.
e Mcnamara, VIM. Cochran, WoIfRane
Hummer, ]. D. Little and A. E. Ryon.
Sewers for BrightwoOd.
Dr.. c. G. Stone and Mr.. NJ. v. Cox of the
Brightwood Citizens Association had a
hearing before the Commissioners this
morning relative to sewers for Brightwood.
While generally approving the sewerage
bill, they expressed the hope that immediat e
relief would be given to Brightwod by OBJ
"a oa'ning SPECIAL act for the construction
OF sewer~there. or If that We're not practi-
Gaoie. TO connect the existing sewer on
Finey Branch road with Brightwood.
The New Assessments.
The board Of permanent assessors for the
District of Columbia met this morning at
tho District building, and turned over to
the assessor the amount, description and
value OF the real property subject to be
listed for taxation in the District OF Co.
1umbia.
This is the new assessment which the
board has been working upon for some
months, and upon which taxes will he col
lected after a final revision. It is a we'll
known fact that the board has not been
able to complete the assessment, and that
at least forty squares remain unassessed.
But 1t was imperativ in view of the law
that the return be made today, Assessor
Trimble presided at the meeting, and re-
ceived the books in due form, In accord
ance with section Z of the act Of August
IA. 1894, which reads:
That said board Of assistant osSesSors
shall. on or before the first Monday of jan
uary. 1895, and every third year thereaf-
ter. make out and deliver to the assessor
Of the District of Columbia a return In tab
ular form, contained in a book to be fur
nished by the Commissioners, of the
amount, description and value Of the real
property subject to be listed for taxation
In the District of Columbia
As soon as the return was made the
beard resolved itself into a board of equali-
cation and review, and gave notice that
1t was ready to receive appeals. The law
bearing upon this board is as follows:
1T shall be the duty of said board of
equalization and review to fairly and i'm
partially equalize the value Of real prop
erty made by the board of assistant as
SCISSORS as the basis for assessment Any
three of said board Of equalization and re-
view shall constitute quorum for BUSH
ness. and in the absence of the assessor a
temporary chairman may be selected.
They shall Immediately proceed to equalize
the valuations made by the board Of as
sistant assessors, so that each lot and
tract and the improvements thereon shall
be entered upon the taxi lists at their
value In money. and for this purpose they
shall hear such complaints as may be
made in respect Of said assessments, and
In determining them they may raise the
valuations of such tracts or lots as in their
opinion may have been returned below
their value, and reduce the valuations
of such as they may believe to have been
returned above their value to such sums
as In their opinion may be the value there
Of"
According to another feature Of the law
the equalization Is to be made prior to the
first Monday in June, 1896.
After the meeting Chairman Bates of the
board and Assessor Trimble visited the
Capitol and had a conference with Chair
man Babcock Of the District committee
with view of having the bill postponing
the assessment passed as soon as pos
sible.
Found the Buildings Were Safe.
The special committee appointed to de-
eide whether or not the order of the in
spector Of buildings to the owner of the
frame house on 9th street, near the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, directing the removal
Of the latter because 1t was dangerous to
life, was proper, has made it's report, and
does not sustain the inspector. The COM