The morning times., 1896-02-20
Tx sALE /. CERTIFICATES.
Old Claims Sahjecl of Congress
SionaIsEnaCsment.
DISTRICT BOARD APPROVES
House Bill 1910 Introduced to
Rcethy Mistake Made Years Ago.
Difficulty in the Way of Enforcing
Milk Law-BlIls Approved by the
commissioners.

The District Commissioners, after the
suggestion of sundry amendments thereto
have approved House bill 3610, which was
introduced "for the relief OF holders OF
certain District tax sale certificates" a
measure intended TO do Justice to holders
of securities rendered invalid by I'm onlis-
sion of the collector of taxes, TO make GER
tain reports To the recorder of deeds nearly
a. quarter OF century ago.
The tax sale certificates mentioned
In the bill We're issued TO purchasers Of
property that was duly advertised as being
in arrears for general taxes and sold at in
tervals during the years 1872 to 1876.
The amount in each certificate represents
the sum paid by the purchaser upon each
piece thus sold. and the certificates were
convertible into tax deeds upon the expIra-
tion of two years from the date of sale.
BY section 175 OF the Revised Statutes
relating to the District the colleeor of
taxes was required to report such sales,
| when made, To the recorder of deeds for
record among the lan,i records. 1t appears
that such report was not made as to the
sales represented by the present certificates
and that this omission inyal.dated the GER
| tificutes in hehands of the present holders,
l
cases that the report was esscntialtoa a valid
tax title from the District.
| MATTER OF JUSTICE.
| While the heConnilssionersa are of the opinion
that the holders OF these certificates could
not collect the amount involved in court
Of law, they express the belief that the
owners are equttably entitled To refund
Of the purchase money, with reasonable
| interest.
They recommend the enactment Of the
bill, with certain amendments, chiefly
| to stipulate per cent per annum as the rate
of interest and To restrict the collection
| OF interest to Il periodic two years fromthe
| dates on which the certificates were sev-
orally issued.
The reasons assigned for the interest bear
| ing period are that the holders should have
demanded the deeds when due, and falling
to obtain them at that time should have
| resorted TO their legal remedy.
1t has been demonstrated to the entire
satisfaction of the health office that the
| provisions of the milk bill, lately enacted
| by Congress. and made applica bic to the
| District, cannot be properly enforced so
| long as means are not provided for in
| spection of all dairy Rerds by officers of
| the District administration.
To meet this difficulty the Commission
ers indorsed Dr.. Woodward,s suggestion
| for an appropriation 10 pay two veterln-
| arians for the service in neIghboring States
and thus make the law effective,
| WHAT THE RECORDS SHOW.
! From the official records at the health
office 1t is learned that sixty-two dairy
| herds have been inspected by the local
| veterinarians. and that in nearly every
casc1a cow sometimes several of the herd
| had 10 be condemned On account of age or
| disease
On. the other hand the office has issued
$40 permits 10 dairy farms in Virginia and
| Maryland, and i'll not a single instance was
| there report made of q COW not up 10
| requirements. and in no other respect have
| there been any defects noted in the reports
| OF the veterinarians.
DR.. Woodward said today that 1t is simply
! impossible to enforce the law against out
| side dealers, unless Congress supplies the
men and means.
| Favorable action by Congress was yester-
day recommended by the Commissioners
on Senate bill, introduced for the ''in-
| corporation of associations for the improve
| ment of the breed of horses, and to regll-
| ate the same, and to establish a racing
| commission
! Two measures of locaEimportance were
returned to the President yesterday with
| The Commissioners request for favorable
executive action. These were the act
% amend an act to punish false swearing
| before trial boards in the police and fire
| fire departments OF the District, and the
act to extend the tine within which the
Maryland and Washington Railroad Com
| naHy shall be required to complete the
| building of the road, under the provisions
| Of previous acts OF Congress.
OFFICIAL CHANGES MADE.
Promotions and transfers have been
made in the sewer division of the District
| engineer department, to take effect on
the 14th instant, as follows:
Henry Donovan, rodnan ON the temporary
| roll at $3.50 per day, promoted to be
draughtsman on the temporary roll at
| $3.50 per day. vice Cobb, resigned
a. d. Black. chairman on the permanent
roll at $3.50 per aHnum, promoted TO lie
rodman on temporary roll at $3.50 per
| day, vice Donovan.
w. d. Fairchild, chairman on the tenn
porary roll at $2.25 per day, transferred
| to be chairman on the permanent roll at
| $3.50 per year.
William Donaldson, inspector in the
| engineer department, has been detailed
| for duty at New Cumberland, w. Va, for
| the purpose of inspecting vitrified paving
| block to be shipped from that point under
contract
Orders were issued by the Commissioners
yesterday that eighty-five feet of ten
| inch sewer and one manhole be built in
| Thirty-sfxth street, north of NJ street, and
12ofeetof Observation-Disclosures be constructed
in the sidewalk Ia the south side of @
street, between New Hampshire avenue
| and Nineteenth street, both under the pro-
visions of the permit system.
Also that335feeto ofthree-inch water main
be laid in alleyTof square $50, and 4e4
feet of six-inch water main in the west
side of Fifth street northeast, between
G and II streets.
THERE ARE 1000 CHANGES