The morning times., 1896-03-19
Senators and Commissioners
Discuss Raising of Rents.
MAY NEED APPROPRIATION
senator Mcmillan Suggested That in
Some Cities Free Water Was Be
ing Observation-Disclosures Rents Very
Cheap in Wa.hlngton-E Efficient In
spection Urged.

| til'>OH Gui IdkHT, t!le lilStflCL IOIflilllS-
sioners ana Mcssrs. T. W. Birney and Solo
mon Fague.
TIE discussion arose out OF the hearing
before the subcommittee to which had
| been referred the Commissioners bills pro
viding for rea ssessncnts whore the original
assessment has been invalidated upon II
| tcchnicality.
The suggestion was made in the course
| of the interchange that the price OF water
! may he raised.
Major Powell was opposed TO This, though
he said as things are now esing, The water
department may bc obliged to call for
an appropriation TO help meet its expenses.
lie also stated that the charge for water
10 citizens here is less than in any other
city in the country.
Senator Mcmillan, who came in while
the bearing WAS in progress, with smile
asked Major Powell if he lad ever heard
of the idea of supplying water free. That
was the thing being talked OF in Detroit
Major Powell answered he would hardly
favor that, though ne wanted 10 see rates
as low Il S possible.
| Mr. TrucsdeIl remarked that there al.
persons who want not only free water
| but free sidewalks, free sewers, and even
free potato lands
SOMEWHAT INTRECATE."
At the close of Major PoweH's eX
PLANTATION of the cntangled methods OF
paying for aqueduct, reservoirs, and mains.
part by the Federal government ond part
| by the individual, Senator Mcmillan said,
with a puzzled look:
| u think the water system is somewhat
| intricate in the District OF Columbia"
| Senator Rakcr said lie thought efficient
! inspection might save Il coed deal for the
water department. IL the apartments oc-
! cupiel by him he was sure there was a
waste of 1 eco to 1850 gallons per day.
! The water was running in a big stream
| all tie time. He saw no reason why the
same thing might not he going on in Il
thorsand other houses in the Gty.
Major Powell replied that inspection is
row as careful and complete as the money
allowed Will make it. From five to six
thousand leaks have been reported, and
many cases made against persons failing
10 stop the waste. Bat the police court
has in nearly every case dismissed the
offender without penalty.
In spea king against the reassessment
bills, Mr.. Birney said:
There has been in force system OF
compulsory permit taxes for the building
of sewers, etc. The courts have up the
present time held these assessments to be
invalid for one reason or another. The
bin is intended TO allow reassessment in
case OF such inyalidation for technical
rea sons.
The reasseSsmcnt in case Of assessments
made after The date of the passage of the
bill would not De combattcd; but rcassess-
ment in cases where Judgment had been
rendered subsequent to the passage of the
bnl on assessments made prior 10 such
passage would DC unjust ana was urgently
opposed.
The bill is an unfair discrimination
against those who have a yet failed to get
judgment in cases of bad assessments. The
failure TO get Judgment has been due to
lack of money and so the Injustice would
fail worst upon persons already in strait
encd circumstances"
But if owners of certain lots asked
Senator Proctor, nave escaped by reason
of mere technicalities, is that reason
why Others who really owe the taxes should
be allowed also to escape upon techni-
calites?r
NOT on TECHNICAL GROUND.
Il would avoid the impression, - replied
MI lildl ilie from tiEG tax
alton in these cases is merely on technical
grounds. The technical defense has been
availed OF in these cases simply because
il was easy and sure. But the true defense
is meritorious not technical. Itisthe merits
OF the refusal TO pay that are to be pre-
sented before this committee.
Mr.. Fague is here prepared with figures
to show that the charges for sewers, curbs,
should be. 1t would be unfair 10 make one
man pay this heavy and unreasonable bur
den of tax while others escape by reason
of the accident that the bill may be passed
after they secured judgment.
I'm some cases the law would work hard
ship To innocent purchasers. again. when
persons have suits pending aud have paid
the expenses it would certainly be Sc
rious wrong to deprive them of the relief
that belongs TO them and for which they
have already paid
He then turned his attention to the
question of water mains and pointed out
that the assessments here are between
three and four times as much as the actual
cost Of the work. Some have already been
relieved of this tax by the courts. 1t is
only right. lie said, that others should be.
Senator Proctor asked if he were not argu-
ing here in favor of letting persons escape
payment While others were compelled 10
pay, an injustice and exactly the opposite
of his previous position.
Mr.. Birney replied that the discrimination
here was in the direction Of justice, while
in the the other it was in the direction OF
injustice. 1t was too much to be hoped
but simple Justice demanded that where
these excessive and burdensome taxes
have been paid they ought to be refunded.
Mr.. Proctor said they had ample evi-
dencc as to the excess of charge against
property over cost OF the work.
Senator Mcmillan asked in surprise if the
government did not pay for the mains
and the water used at reservations, and
when answered in the negative said he
did not see why not.
Major Powell then went into detailed
account of the reasons why water is fur
nished the reservations free. He said
it would be very heavy task to try to
apportion the cost of ma ins in public prop
erty SO as to be fair to the taxpayers.
1t was simpler to proceed as now.
The Commissioners submitted a printed
statement of their reasons for wanting
the reassessment laws. The committee
took all papers for consideration.
The case OF Mr.. Thomas f. Waggaman
whose tax at Cleveland Park for water
mains, it is claimed, amounts to $4,000,
was brought up. 1t was stated that Mr..
Waggaman thought he ought to have some
relief from this burden, inasmuch as his
property is not on the market.