The morning times., 1896-01-15
HiHY DISTRICT Bills
Connecticut Avenue Extension
Matter Still Before Congress.
ABOUT MEDICAL COLLEGES
Large Budget of business Submitted
by the Commissioners Yesterday.
1t Is Also Proposed 10 Reguiute the
Practice of Veterinary Medicine in
the District-other Measures.

When Connecticut avenue was extended
several years ago the work Was done under
an appropriation act, the provisions of
which were that all of the expense incurred
over and above a certain SUN should be
assessed against the abutting property
benefited.
Upon the completion of the construction
of the extended avenue an assessment
was made against the property owners
which aggregated SGT ,2os.64.
The owners protested and finally carried
the case into the courts, when the GER
tificates were declarcd-to have been Il.
legally issued, and on March 2. 1895, an
appropriation was made under which the
Secretary of the Treasury was empowered
to pay the outstanding certificates.
In the same act the Commissioners were
directed to report TO Congress Il method
whereby the assessment can be again made
Accordingly the attorney prepared bill
TO cover the case, which the Commissioners
transmitted yesterday, but at the same
time the board expressed the opinion that
the property owners shoJld no: he obliged
to pay the proportion allotted TO them.
AN EXCEPTIONAL ACT.
THE provision OF law providing, for
the original assessment they say, was
an exception to the established principIes
governing the payment of the expense of
improving roadways elsewhere in the
District. and the Commissioners are un.
aware or any special circumstances in this
case which required q departure from the
rule.
"On the contrary. the liberal donation of
land by the owners Of the property for the
avenue on which this Improvement was
made, and the large expenditures for
grading and the construction of bridges
made by them. materially Conduce TO the
convenience of the public.
These circumstances are taken to Justify
the Commissioners in recommending a cor
responding degree of liber;lity by the
District
A brief was filed pending the consider
alton of the matter signed by Congressman
Hemphill and Messrs. Brittou and Gray
which, in behalf OF the property owners,
declared that Congress had not the power
to vitalize the old assessment.
The Commissioners forwarded to Con-
gress yesterday number OF bills which
had been referred to them, making recon-
meDdation in each case, as noted:
House bill 5S3, for the relief CT the
estate of William b. TODD, deceased, with
recommendation submitted for an express
sion of the views of the board.
The Commissioners explain the particu-
lars of the case, which involved, as the eX-
pressed purpose of the bill. the require
ment upon the Commissioners TO issue a
duplicate drawback certificate for an ex-
cessive assessment because of the origi-
nal paper having fallen into the hands of
some one for whom it was not intended.
who collected the money on 1t. The Com
missioners make no recommendations.
House veterinary practice bill 1853, to
regulate the practice of veterinary med:-
cine and surgery in the District. The bill
was prepared by the United States College
of Veterinary Surgeons and has the i.dorse-
ment of the health office. The Commits
sioners commend it.
House bill 1858, to provide for the ap-
pointment Of a public administrator in
the District. The bill was prepared by the