Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-11
THE HIGHWAY ACT
Discussion Of Measure by Board Of
Trade! Directors. ~
SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES PROPOSED
Bill to Be Submitted to Congress
Embodydng Them.
THE MEMBERS PRESENT

A meeting of the board Of directors of
the board Of trade was held yesterday
afternoon at the rooms of the board, 141O
street northwest The special object of
the meeting was to consider proposed
changes in the highway act.
The special committee appointed by the
board of trade to consider the highway act
was not prepared to lay it's report before
the directors, but there was a general dis
cussion by them and the members of the
committee, during which various changes
in the present law were considered. 1t is
the desire of the highway committee to be
able to lay before the board of trade at the
meeting which will probably be called for
the 10th instant to specially consider this
subject report which will be the unani-
nous expression of opinion, not only of the
committee, but of the board Of directors
and the District Commissioners and othesS
specially interested, SO that the bill which
VIII be introduced in Congress will be as
far as practicable an expression of the
unanimous sentiment of the people of the
District.
Some Changes Suggested.
Some of the changes in the existing law
which were suggested in the course of the
discussion at the meeting yesterday of the
directors were as follows:
In the map of section 1 certain new high
ways are to be left out and certain streets
to be restored, the changes, it is esti-
mated. causing a reduction in the cost of
condemnation in existing subdivisions in
section from eight or ten millions of dol
lars to about three and one-half million:
the collection of all taxes and special as
sessments on land involved in condemna
ton proceedings to be suspended until the
termination of the proceedings which are
begun oy the filing of petition for con-
domination, and in the event the land is
not taken, then the taxes are to be paid,
but without interest penalty accruing
during the Interval: the repeal of section
10, which imposes upon the District the en-
tire cost of the concentrations. and which
also provides for an assessment upon prop
erty benefited of one-half of the total
damages: the proposed assessment to be
FOR actual benefits only, and all parties in
interest are entitled to be heard before 1t
Is confirmed, such assessment not to be
made for each subdivision separately, but
after all the subdivisions have been acted
upon and provision made for the payment
of the awards
1t was also agreed that the benefits are
to be confined to those which arise from
the establishment of the highway and will
exclude benefits that may be anticipated
from the actual opening of the street or
from the condemnation of the other parts
of the same highway lying between sub
divisions. The assessment for the con-
demnation of land outside of existing sub
divisions Is to be made by the same jury
that determines the damages, and is to in
clude one-half of the total award. Pro-
ceedings for this purpose are to be insti
tuted only when provision is to be made
for the immediate actual opening of the
street; provision to be made for the i'm
mediate payment of the awards when con-
firmed by the courts and approved by the
President of the United States, instead OF
submitting the awards to Congress for It's
approval, according to the present law.
One-half Of the amount awarded as dam
ages for any tract of land condemned is
to he paid by tina limited States and one
half by the District.
hOnds to- He Issued. .s.-'t',.l
For the purpose Of raising the money to
pay the awards, an issue of District of CO.
lCmbia bonds. rot exceeding four million
collars. bearing 3 per cent interest, to be
authorized, such bonds except as to the
rate of interest. to be similar to the exist
ing 3.65 bonGs
The various details of the proposed
changes We're considered, and remarks
We're made by Mr. A. S. Worthington Mr.
George Truesdell and others Without
reaching any action. the directors adjourn
ed, to meet again this afternoon for a
further conference. The District Commits
siorers. the special committee on the high
way act and the committee on streets and
avenues of the board of trade Mr. Ma
thaniei Wilson: Mr. William p. Kellogg ana
-Ai ShdIltS ~ NfoNeT nave been invited
to meet with the directors.
The Members Present
There were present at yesterday after
Moons meeting, beside the president. Theo-
dorc w. Noyes, and the secretary. Geo. Fl.
Harries, the following members of the
board Henry F. Blount r. Ross Perry.
Thomas Somerville, b. II. Warner, John b.
Wight II. l.. Biscoe, John Joy Edison. A.
P. Pardon, Archibald Greenlees, r. A.
Lambert, Ellis Spear, Frank Hume, Thos.
w. Smith, George Truesdell, Beriah Will
kins, S. w. Woodward and W. j. Newton.
The members of the special highway act
committee present, aside from the chair
man, Mr.. Perry, were: Messrs. W. F. Mat
tingly, A. S. Worthington, j. b. Winner,
Joseph Paul and Chaplin Brown
The following were elected to member
ship: Hartman & Cadick William ]. Zeh,
w. V. Cox. William Muehlelsen, c. l..
Wood.
The following chairmen Of committees. in
addition to the list already announced,
were named:
Streets and avenues, Myron M. Parker:
river and harbor improvements, Thos w
Smith; public schools, DR.. A. p Pardon;
public health, Gen Geo NJ Sternberg, sur
geon general, United States army.
TRAVELLERS IN SESSION