The evening times., 1896-04-10

The House Judiciary Committee today
laid on the table the bill to raise the age
of consent in the District of Columbia,
thus killing the measure for this session.
The House Committee on Public Build
ipgs and Grounus, at its regular meeting TO-
day took no actlon in regard TO the pro-
posed site for a new Government Printing
Orfice. Messrs. kilitIken and Henry, Tie
subcommittee appointed to examine the
area ana Title oI the Carrou sue, uiu hot
make Il report.
MIR. Morse has introduced in the House
bill to provide for commission on the sub
ject of the alcoholic liquor traffic.
THE LIQUOR COMMISSION.
1t provifies that the President shall ap
point a commission of five persons. VINO
shall be selected solely with reference 10
personal fitness and capacity for an honest
impartial and thorough investigation ana
who shall hold office until their duties snail
oe accomplished, but not to exceed Two
years.
IL will be their duty to investigate tie
alcoholic liquor traffic, its relations 10
revenue and taxation, and It's general
economic, criminal, moral, and sceh'iiic
| aspccts in connection with pauperlsin,
crime. social vice. the public health, and
general welfare of the people; anu also 10
| nmirc and take testimony as TO the prac-
tical results OF license and prohibitory
LEGISLATION for the preve ntion OF Intemper-
| ance in the several States of the Union.
The commissioners. not all of whoin
! shall be advocates of probibitory icsisia-
| tion or of total abstinence in relation to
| alcoholic liquors, will receive compensa-
| ton not exceeding $40 per day ana neces-
| sary expenses; and tue necessary expenses
| incidental To said investigation. not cX-
ceedinr $40, 900, will he paid upon vouch-
| ers approved by ;hc Secretary or the
/ Treasury; aud for this purpose the sum
| of $40, 900 is appropriated
| 1t is the duty OF the Commissioners to
report the result of their investigation and
| theexpenscS attending thesame tothe fresi-
| dent, TO tie transmitted by him TO congress.
I Mr.. Hulick, from the House District Com
| ulttee. has submitted Il favorable report
on the bill referring to taxes and tax sales
| in the District, i'll which he says
The laws i'll the District OF Columbia
| relating to the listing OF property, ana lhe
| assessment and collection OF taxes are very
| unsatisfactory in many instances great IN
| Justice is done 10 the taxpayer ,and in other
cases the District fails to collect the taxes
| Millions OF property in the District now
| escapes taxation that should be placed upon
| the tax duplicate. After assessments have
| been made upon real estate and the owEers
| fail to pay the taxes, it is difficult for the
| District to collect the delinquent taxes.
| zone essential fault is the peremptory re-
quiremeut that ut the expiration OF two
| years from the date of the sale of "A piece or
real estate for overdue taxes, the Commis
sioners must. an demand of the owners OF
the taX-sa!e certificate, issue deed for the
property, without providing as condition
precedent To such deed that all overdue
taxes and assessments other than hose IN
yolvel in such tax-sa!c certificate shat
also have been pail.
The bill contains other notifications suS-
gcsted by the experience of the tax OfIi-
GERS OF the District. designed to enable
! The authorities TO better enforce the col
lection of overdue taxes. and at tue same
lime ma king increased provision for no
tice TO delinguents, and providing for the
| protection OF the interests OF those labor
ing under legal tiisa billy. 1t was pre-
] | pared after conference with the assessor
the collector, and the attorney for th'
District.
The foregoing expresses the view of th'
, Commissioners of the District on the i'm
portance of the measure, and they ap
prove the bill.'
Favorable report, with amendment. va