Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-25
DIS RICT DAY
Some Time Given by the House to
Local Measures.
THE REASSESSAENT BILL PASSED
Also the Bill to Regulate Storage
in the District.
A GAS INTERROG AfORY

A g AS INTER ROC ATORY
Chairman Babcock secured the floor in
the House this afternoon to call up bills
reported from the committee on the Dis
tr1ct of Columbia, and presented first the
bill to authorize the sale of certain land to
Caroline Lochboehler, Margaret shugrue
and Jno. r. Scott, this land now being q
portion Of the holdings of the United
States on the Washington aqueduct.
The bill was passed without amendment.
The Reassessment Bill.
Chairman Babcock then called up the bill
to authorize reassessments of certain taxes
in the District. The bill provides as tol-
lows:
That the Commissioners of the District
Of Columbia be authorized and directed, in
all casca where general taxes or assess
mcnts for local improvements in the Dis
tilct of Columbia may hereafter be quash-
ed. set aside. or declared void by the Su-
preme Court of said District. by reason OF
an imperfect or erroneous description of
the lot or parcel of ground against which
the same shall have been levied by reason
OF such tax or assessment not having been
authenticated by the proper officer, of q
defective return of service of notice. or for
any technical reason other than the right
Of the public authorities to levy the tax or
make the improvement In respect Of which
the assessment was levied, to reassess the
lot or parcel Of ground in respect of such
general taxes or the Improvement mention
ed in such defective assessment, with power
to collect the same according to existing
laws relating to the collection of assess
ments and taxes: Provided. That IN cases
where such taxes or assessments shall be
quashed or declared void by said court, for
the reasons hereinbefore stated, the reas-
~
within ninety days after the judgment or
decree Of said court quashing or setting
aside such taxes or assessments.
The Commissioners Report.
In reporting upon this bill the Commits
sioners said:
THE amount Of revenue lost to the Dis
trict for technical grounds through the rul-
ings of the courts and the inability of the
District authorities to reassess the charges
SO invalidated is SO great as to threaten
serious embarrassment to the municipal
interests involved. Unless Congress shall
interpose the legislation proposed in this
bill or some other enactment to- the same
effect, the evil will rot only continue, hut
will indefinitely expand. The Commission
erS prepured and submitted to q former
Congress draft of a bill to provide for
the reasSessment of taxes and assessments
tudicially declared void for such technical
errors, but that bill, which was retroactive
as we'll as anticipatory. failed to receive
the favorable action Of Congress. WHAT
ever hardship or embarrassment the pro-
posed legislation might entail on property
owners with regard to taxes and assess
mentS heretofore judicially declared void,
because of the bearing reaSSaSSment might
have upon interests innocently acquired by
owners succeeding to the property subse-
quent to such judgments, the Commission
ers can imagine no reasonable objection in
justice or equity to the enactment Of the
hill herewith franSmfffp6- which ia design
ed to provide against future losses, On
similar grounds, of asses0nents and taxes
to which the municipality may be justly
entitled"
Mr.. Abbotts Amendment.
Mr.. Abbott Of Texas moved to strike out
the word hereafter" in the first portion Of
the bill, claiming that otherwise it would
work discrimination to some property own
ers who heretofore have had their assess
ments annulled. Mr.. Richardson said the
committee had held that the objection Of
Mr.. Abbott was not valid one, having
examined the pleas of the class of property
holders in whose behalf Mr.. Abbott sI ke.
MIR. Terry tArk.) advocated the amend
ment Of Mr.. Abbott.
Mr.. Dockery's Question.
At this point diversion occurred in the
proceedings, when Mr.. Dockery (Mo) avail
ed himself Of the opportunity presented by
the debate to ask MIR. Babcock If it was the
purpose of the District committee to re-
port, at an early day, a bill to regulate and
cheaper gas and electric lighting in the
District.
Mr.. Babcock replied that two hearings
had been given on the subject and another
was set for next Thursday. The committee
hoped, he said, to report at an early date.
The Bill Passed Without Amendment.
Mr.. Babcock opposed the amendment of
Mr.. Abbott. The amendment was defeat
ed and the reassessment bill passed in
the form presented above.
To Regulate Storage.
The next measure presented was the bill
to regulate storage In the District. It pro-
vides as follows: That every person, firm,
association, or corporation lawfully en-
gagged in the business of storing (for tire)
goods, wares, merchandise, or personal
property CT any description shall have a
preference lien thereon for the agreed
charges for storing the same, and for all
moneys advanced for freight, carriage, la
bor. insurance, and other necessary ex-
penses. such lien to include all legal de-
mands for like storage and expenses
against the owner of said property. Said
hen for such unpaid charges, upon at least
one years storage and for the aforesaid
advances in connection Herewith, may be
enforced by sale at public auction, altar
thirty days notice in writing mailed 20
the last known address Of the person or
persons III whose name or names the said
property so in default was stored, and
said notice shall also be published for six
days in a daily newspaper in the District
Of Columbia. And after deducting all stor-
age charges, advances, and expenses of
sale, any balance arising therefrom shall
be paid by the bailee to the bailor of such
goods, wares, merchandise, or personal
property, his assigns or legal representa-
tives.
Said property may be so sold either in
bulk or In separate pieces, articles, pack
ages or parcels, as will in the Judgment of
the lien holder secure the largest obtain
able price; provided, that IL the person or
persons storing said property shall have
assigned or transferred the title thereto
and have duly recorded said assignment or
transfer upon the books Of the storage
warehouse, the written notice of sale shall
also be mailed to said transferee or as
signee.
Section 2. That whenever the title or
right Of possession to any goods, wares.
merchandise or personal property on stor-
age shall be put in issue by any judicial
proceeding, the same shall be delivered
Upon the order of court after prepayment
Of the storage charges and cash advances
then due. and unless the person, firm as
ISOLATION or corporation so conducting a
storage business shall claim some right.
title or interest in said stored property
otherwise than the lien hereinabove au-
thOriZed, he. It or thew shall nor he made a