The evening times., 1896-02-12
ADVOCATE OF OLD CLAIMS
Representative HemphiII Argues
to the Commissioners.
BASED UPON IMPROVEMENTS
Reviewed the History of the Work
and Methods OF Gov. Shepherd.
Seven Classes of Applicants Have
Long Been Seeking Justice-MinOr
District Matters and Daily Orders.

Hon. J. ]. Hemphill made an extended
argument before the Commissioners today
in support of Senate bill 1860, which is
intended 10 provide for the adjustment
and payment of certain ella inns against the
District growing out OF the system OF i'm
provenents inaugurated twenty-five years
ago by Gov. Shepherd.
There are lhree classes of these Claims,
AIR Heinphili said, held largely by persons
whose means al the time the Shepherd meth
ods were enforced were limited, and who
in many Instances suffered in actual cou-
fiscation uf their property.
He reviewed each class, and cited fur
ther that. when the matters left as
legacy from the Shepherd regime were
being adJuaicated seven different classes
of applicants for relief appeared, but that,
owing 10 the rapid changes made about
that time in the form of government. many
were unable TO have their claims verified.
HE DEMANDS JUSTICE.
The real question, he said. is whether or
80 iEc>c people shall be forever pro-
hibited from obtaining Justice. They Gid
all that was required of them, and were
unable. through no fault of theirs, 10 get
their papers before the board of audit or
have the cases heard by the Court OF Claims.
Real estate. he said, was damaged to the
extent of S2,G0O,C00 and more by the
changes made in the grades. Some lots
were left as much as twenty feet above the
street level, and the owners were unable
either to sell or improve the property, or
to borrow money upon them.
Claims to the number of 2. 200, and to the
amount of So 600. 800 were passed upon,
he said, and 80 per cent OF the gTossamount
allowed: but the claimants to be bcnetXed
10y the bill were cut out of any relief what
ever.
t.l T.;
self had presented claims for damages,
and that the aggregate amount was scaled
by only little more than 5000 out OF about
Si2 900 demanded.
Mir. HCmplill touched upon the Old Gres-
tion OF Corner-!ot liability 10 assessment for
improvements. and said in some instarc ces
the owners had paid eight times much
as their ncighbors who owned lots in the
interior of the blocks.
lie also referred TO the iong-Standing con.
troycrsy over the destruction OF the North
crn Liberty Market in 1872. and said the
parties who suffered by that transaction
We're eqCitably entitled TO consideration.
1t is claimed by the attorney for the Dis
trIct, Air. Hemphiil said. that these claims
are OF twenty-five years standing, ard that
in consequence the statute of LIMITATIONS
should intervene. To offset this lie asserted
that the matter Involved question that
Congress had the power to settle, ard then
referred, by way of. Illustration. to the
suit now before the courts involving the
collection OF a considerable amount by the
District from the Metropolitan Railway
Company FOR work and material in paving
about the cOmpaDy's tracks.
This suit. he said. had been Knocked out
uIion the statutory plea. but that Congress
had removed the bar, and the District Is
proceeding in the case just as though there
had been no statute OF limitations.
SAME TREATMENT OF ALL.
He thought that If the District can have
the benefit OF Congressional interpositiOn
The people vino are interested in these
should be given Ike consideration.
What is sauce. for the goose should be
sauce for the gander,' said Mr.. Hemphill,
and upon this line he conducted his plea,
which. altogether, occupied over>an hour IN
delivery.
The Commissioners promised to give the
question their careful consideration.
Two amendments were ordered today by
the Commissioners TO the general orders
regulating the plating and subdividiDS OF
lands in the District.
The first consists of an addition which pro-
vides that no lot or part Of a lot in any
eXistn. subdivision shall he further sub
divided into lots less than twenty-five feet
in width, without suitable arrangement for
alleyway, and that each lot shall. as far
as practicable, be made to abut thereon
II is further provided that the alleys
may be only one-half the usual width if.
in the judgment of the Commissioners,
the other half should be acquired from
contiguous lots.
The other amendment is to para graph g.
which changes the general requreme nts
so as 10 provide that no subdivision shall
include any part of the rear or side of a
lot which had heretofore been set aside
for light and ventilation under the build
tlnt tinttc In >fnpn inn, wit In
granting OF permit for a dwelling there
on"