The morning times., 1896-06-24

\ Il
assessment for dewalks against propert.
bounded on one side by triangular parl
the owner must pay from his building
line remote from the parking up to the
extremity OF the parking at the inter
section or the street aud avenue which
form the triangle, and the assessor anC
collector have been SO advised.
| Ihe question arose over an assessment
against property SO situated at the juno
ton OF New Hampshire avenue and TWEEN.
tieth and NJ streets northwest.
The owners contention was that, as he
does not own the parking, he should not
be asked to pay any part of tue expense
OF laying sidewalks from the base to the
point or the triangle, since ii was a part
or the property over which he has abso-
| lutely no control. He submitted that be
Is chargeable only for SO much Of the
Improvement as is embraced within lines
drawn at right angles with the frontage
OF his lot on the avenue.
MIR. Thomas decision turns upon the in
depreciation of the law In respect to
'.abutting property as mentioned in the
statute concerning assessment and permit
| work.
| In its widest aud largest meaning -
| he says, "the term may be said to COM
prehend every piece of real property, since
all tracts abut upon each other. In
| ordinary legal usage, however, 'abutting
| property has much more limited sig
| MITIGATION. What seems to be a growing
acceptation Is that it refers to property
| which borders on public highway.
A PLAIN CASE.
ut is plain" he concludes, that the
lot i'll question is abutting property, with
reference TO the proposed improvement,
and Is liable for oDe-hair the cost Of the
sidewalk on It's New Hampshire avenue
front, there being no other lot in the
square.
1T is immaterial that the parking inter
venes between tho building line and the
sidewalk and projects the latter farther
into the street than IT otherwise would
be, thus making ii nearly twice the length
OF the New Hampshire avenue front OF the
lot.'
The attorney says the case is not with
out parallel, and that as lie is informed,
II has been the custom Of the special as
sessment division to charge one half the
cost Of improvement against the lot not
withstandiDg its linear frontage is less than
the length OF the sidewalk or other in
provement.
This is an important question. since a
great many property owners are affected
by the decision. 1t would seem to follow
that, although the owner Of property con-
uguous to a park is obliged to keep off
the grass, like other people, he will have
to maintain II sidewalk OH two streets
double the length of his lot. and to keep
the same clear OF snow ID the winter
seasons.
REPAIRING SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The building Inspector is making prepa-
Tations for the annual repair work on the
several school buildings OF the District.
He has In his hands the estimates pre-
pared by the committee Of the board OF
trustees, and has transmitted tie same
TO the Commissioners, the statement foot
ing up SAC, ,s26.17.
The aggregate will have to undergo
the scaling process, since the total appro-
priatiOn made Tor this purpose. which will
be available July /, is but S32 900
There are 1l0 sChColhouses in the Dis
trict, and ca ch one requires attention, in
some instances very slight repairs being
needed. In view of the fact that there is
not sufficient money to meet the demand, |
IL / S probable that the matter will be re- |
ferred back to Col. Brady. with instructions |
from the Commissioners to exercise his dis |
orctIon in respect to the scaling of the esti- |
mates. |
In that case he will make personal in |
spe ctlon and omit such items as are not |
strictly essential.
HIS EMERGENCY FUND.
II is necessary that prudence shall be |
Observed, since the appropriation is made
for the entire year, and the inspector must
make provision for emergencies. Tine IN
expected may happen to school building |
rs well as in natl nal politics, and the in
spectnr is accustomed to hold back suf-
ficient sum to meet delayed demands.
The work will be done this year, as here
tofore, by days labor, and the principal
part of 1t will be accomplished in June and
Iuly. 1t consists largely of painting and
to heating facilities.
Building permits were issued yesterday
as follows: To F. Purman. dwelling, No
646 Whitney avenue. S1,O5O; C. c. VIII
iinson, dwelling. No. 219 Ninth street
southeast. $3.50; r. B. Blundon. dwelling,
IN Eighth street extended. BriGhtwood
Park. $500: Mary E. Carl, dwelling. Buena
Vista, S700.
There will be a hearing given at the
District building on Thursday next at IL
iolock a. M, in respect to the necessity
or requiring flagman at the intersection
Il the railroads at Seventh and b streets
northwest.
The hearing was granted upon the ap-
,lication of President Phillips. of the
Company, and President Dun
op, of the Capitol Traction and Attorney
Thomas. District counsellor, will be pres
mt by invitation.
,HANGES IN COLLECTORS OFFICE.
The Commissioners yesterday approved
he recommendations made by the col
ector of taxes for the appointments and
lerical changes in his office as provided
or in the appropriation bill approved
Iune IL, the changes made being as fol-
ows:
For deputy collector. Charles W. Col
ms This is new position. and Mr.. Col
ins, previously rated as a bookkeeper. is
His salary will be 81 500 per
David Warner, clerk at 81 400, is pro-
noted to bookkeeper at 81 500, and Samuel
:. Dickinson. clerk at 81 200, is promoted
o succeed Warner.
The collector speaks In the highest terms
4 the promoted employees. Mr.. Collins has
erved the District for fourteen years. Mr..
Warner since 1872, and Mr. Dickinson since
$50.
The vacancy caused by the promotion
{ Mr.. Dickinson was filled by the Com
1issoners by the transfer of Mr. T. Fred
Ilvey, who has been one year in the Dis
rict service as Commissioner Truesdell's
rivate secretary.
The only recomm endation made by the
ollector in respect to that position was
hat some one be chosen who can write
good legible hand, is a quick accurate
ccountant, and who will meet other re-