The evening times., 1896-03-07
SUGGEST 4 SUBSTITUTE
Commissioners Don't Favor
Senate Reassessment Bill.
LANDS OWNED BY ALIENS
Tie Officials Recommend That the
Act of March 3, SS7. BE Repealed.
Slight TanGlc Between Attorneys
at an Excise Board HenrinG-An I'M
putatIon Quickly Resented.


Senator Mcmillan the bill lately submitted
! to them, providing for he reassessmeBt for
local Improvements and general taxes in
the District, with the suggestion that the
House bill upon the same subject, now be-
fore the Senate. be adopted in lieu OF tie
Senate measure.
The bill makes the provision that all fiI-
ture assessments that may he set aside by
the courts upon technical points may be
relieved upon the property against which
the original cha rse may have been made.
The board also returned House bill 6104,
FOR the relief of Anton Gloetzner.' with
recommendation for favorable action. An
opinion of Attorney $ T. Thomas, favor
ing the claim, accompanying the Cominis-
sioncrs' report.
The bill relates to ownership of lands
by aliens, and upon this point Mr.. Thomas
says:
1T would be weii. think, for Congress
to repeal The art OF March 3, 1887, re-
strictinG the ownership OF real estate TO
American citizens. 40 far as it applies 10
the District. and thus avoid repeated appli-
cations for exemption. do not believe
the thing sougM to he prevented by that
act ever existed, or is likely To exist, IN
this District"
THE MEAxING -oE THE ACT.
The act referred 10 specifies. in sub
stance that Ii shall he unlawful for any
person or persons not citizens of the
United States, or who have not lawfully
declared their intention TO become such citi-
Zens or for any corporation not created
by or under the laws of the United States
or OF some State or Territory of the United
States. to hereafter acquire, hold, or
own real estate OF any interest therein in
any of the Territories OF the United States
or in the District of Columbia, except such
as may be acquired by inheritance or in
good faith in The ordinary course OF JUS
tice In the collection OF debts.
1t also provides for the forfeiture of all
lands acquired in violation OF the act.
The time OF the excise board was occu-
pied today In hearing number OF appli-
cants for license, whose cases are yet
undetermined upon the papers filed last
November. There We're fourteen applCa-
tiOns passed in review, the charges vary
ing from disorderly premises 10 selling
on Sunday.
One applicant was accused OF having
sublct a rart OF his hotel and thereby va
eating his right under the law applying
to hotels. He admitted the charge, but
said he did SO in the belief that he had
the privilege OF dispOsing of his rooms
as he nigh see proper and to the best ad-
vantage.
He promised to sign stipulat ton TO
promise under adviscment.
The charge OF having sold on Sunday was
emphatically denied by another and At
torneys Nadigan and Shoemaker, repre-
septatives, respectively, OF the opposing
views became slightly entangled in per
soDalitics.
NO DIRECT PROOF.
The latter stated that upon information
filed with him he had gone TO Prosecutor
Pugh and suggested prosecution in
police court. The latter, according to Nj.
shoemaker recollection, stated tina while
he believed the barkceper had s9ld on Sun
day, there was no direct proof, and he
could not cause a warrant TO issue without
some one would come forward and definitely
testify TO the Violate
Mr.. Madigan resented the imputation upon
his client. He said it was unsupported by
competent testimony and he could not be-
leve that Mr.. Pugh would make such
a remark. 1t is his duty to prosecute.
il there is n sufficient state of facts shown
to Justify belief in a mans guilt.
The attorney for the Anti-Saloon League
requested that Mr.. Madigan should NIT
become personal.
~ am not personal" was the response.
..Well, l repeat, as my recollection of
what transpired, that Mr.. Pugh did say he
believed the chafges, and said further that
he would be glad il witnesses could be OBJ
tanned to substantiate it,"
The cases passed upon today will probably
not be determined until Monday.
The board is still awaiting determine
ton of the Dmnelly case by the court
upon the demurrer. This is the issue pre-
sented in respect TO the Fourteenth street
grocer, against whose license a protest
was filed and amin nction obtained.
Upon its latest reference to Attorney
Thomas, 1t is understood, that gentleman
rendered an opinion that the question Of
Mr. Donnclly's rightof renewal was mat
ter of fact to be determined by the ex-
else board. The decision Of the case
in court will doubtless end the controversy,
as the board will be apt to receive
definite order and act accordingly.