Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-12
The Auditor Argues Against Pay
ment of Drawback Certificates.
old i. IMPROVEMENT ASSESSMENTS
Mr.. Hemph|I Appeals for Settle
ment of the Claims.
OTHER LOCAL NOTES

The auditor of the District, Mr. Petty,
today forwarded to the Commissioners the
following report upon House bill 457S, to
provide for the adjustment and payment of
certain claims against the District by draw
back certificates
In referring to the first section of the
bill, which the auditor describes as this
treasury depletion scheme" he says that
the provision for reducing the penalty for
the non-payment of taxes stays the pay
ment of SI00, 600 worth of overdue taxes for
three years if desired. He says that this
clause is more mischievous than several
laws for the reduction or remission of pen
alties which have received congressional
sanction in recent years, and that these
laws have had much to do with the crea-
ton of the enormous delinquent list which
now burdens the books of the tax office.
The auditor objects to the second proVosi-
ton of the bill in question, which provides
for the issuance of drawback certificates
VITA tax-paying power. and he said that
with the aid Of these certificates 1t would
be possible to cancel the whole delinquent
list without putting a single dollar into the
District treasury.
selection of the auditor Of the court as the
executive head of the proposed commission
is bad for the reason that the present
duties of the auditor are presumably OF
such a character as to engrosS his atten-
ton and prevent an efficient discharge of
the responsibilities imposed upon him by
the proposed bill. He says that the first
beneficiaries are those who claim to have
been damaged by reason of improvements
madssby the board of public works: and in
his opinion it would be difficult TO select q
class of claims more entirely devoid of
merit. The auditor adds that there is not
nscfy- >f Coli, =, Lot IL
of ground which. instead of being injured,
has not been greatly benefited and en-
HANGED in value by reason of these i'm
proVements.
claims being for so-called damages result
ing from the cutting down of streets have
no standing in law. AS to the claim of the
owners Of corner lots the auditor states
that what they asked is gift outright
from the public treasury. In regard to the
claim for damages growing out of the de-
struction and removal of the Northern
Liberty Market, the auditor says it is diff
f1cult ito see any great hardship in the
heroic measures to which resort was finally
had or any substantial ground upon which
to base claim for damages"
In conclusion, the auditor expresses the
hope that Congress will reject this bill and
interpose for the future between these
claimants and the treasury of the District
Of Columbia a barrier which neither in
huence nor impropriety can surmount.'
For the Claimants.
Mr.. John ]. HemphiH argued before the
Commissioners this morning in behalf OF
the claimants under Senate bill 1850, ito
provide for the adjustment and payment
of certain claims against the District by
drawback certificates" The claims under
this bill are of three KINDS: Claims for
damages to real estate by reason of public
work executed by the late board of public
works. claims for excessive assessments
against corner fdts for sewers and other
improvements and claims for losses sus-
tanned by stall and standholdcrs in the
Northern Liberty Market in consequence of
the destruction Of that market by said
board.
Mr.. Hemphill said the claims of the first
class would amount to $250,00O or $500, 600.
The damages on which they are based
arose from the excessive changes in the
grades Of the streets, by which the lots
were rendered inaccessible without great
expenditure by the owner in raising or low
ering them.
In answer to the argument that all the
property was ultimately benefited by the
improvements which necessitated these
damages. he-said that the owners of many
of the lots SO damaged were compelled to
sell them for much less than their value
by the fact that the excessive grade pre-
vented them fl ON being used as source of
revenue, and that they consequently had
no means to pay the enormous assess
ments levied on them for abutting improve
ments; that those who bought them at the
sacrifice rates were the ones who We're
benefited
AS to the second class, he claimed that
many corner lots were assessed at from
five to eight times as much as adjoining
lots Of the same dimensions because of
the unusual length Of one of their sides.
Mr.. Hemphill said that the claims Of the
third class would amount to about $4,000.
He said the board of public works ordered
the destruction of this market building in
violation of law, and of the rights of the
stall holders therein who had been regu-
lerly licensed by the municipal government
to sell their goods in that market, and who
were dependent upon their licenses for pro-
lection by the city, but who instead were
deprived of their business and property by
the act of tle authorities.
The hearing lasted nearly an hour, and
at it's conclusion the Commissioners stated
they would take the matter under consid-
Grafton.
On a Reservation.
The Commissioners have notified R. H.
Martin of the Northeast Washington Cit-
zens' Association that the derrick COM
planned of on the parking of Delaware av-
enue near E street is on a United States
reservation, and under the charge of super
intendent of public buildings and grounds.
Favorable Action.
fdVOrdDie dcllOu mas Deen FeCOm[QenQoQ
on Senate bill No. 1416. providing for the
preferment of wages of employees in cases
Of assignments, executions, ETC. The only
modification recommended. however, is one
to remove all legal complications in the bill
Street Railway Franchises.
Favorable action was also recommended
by the Commissioners upon the Senate reso-
luton as to the compiling and publishing the
laws relating to street railway franchises in
the District of Columbia.
Have Declined.
The Commissioners have declined to ex-
empt the property of the Wimodaughsis AS
ISOLATION from taxation.
Adverse Action.
Adverse action has been recommended by
the Commissioners upon House bill No. 3179
for the erection Of reformatory and house
of detention for women and girls convicted
of crimes and misdemeanors in the District