The times., 1897-12-21
IMPROVEMENTS THE THEME
Bill fu Carry Out Recommendations
OF the Special Committee-A Address
by Chairman Perry Many Men,
hers Heard From Question OF
Indemnity Considered.

ELECT tnal tne present speciai cuIn'Hlttte
on the highway act be directed to CO
operate ii, the framing Of q bill TO carry
out the recommendations OF the committee:
that the officers of the Poard of rcade,
the special committee and the standing
committee on streets and avenues beautbor-
lied to cooperate to secure the passage
Of such bill that proportionate Congress
SIGNAL aid is vital feature OF such leeis-
iation, a nj that If the elimination OF
section 10 cRnnot be. hads in any { ther
way. the whole highway act should be
repealed.
The meeting was largely attended.
The essential recommendations OF the
special committee of which Mr. r. Ross
Perry is chairman, were that the map
of section / as filed, be changed by leaving
out certain new streets parts thereof
and by restoring certain streets. The
changes thus made should reduce the cost
of coHdemnations TO So, 100000.
1T should further I've expressly .tated
that the map as amended is to take the
is To be intelfeIed with in the free use of
his lands for building or other purposes
until condemnation proceedings shall &c
tualiy have been begun.
''Two-Collection OF all Ia xes and special
assessments levied ON land involved in
eondeun, alton proceedings after those p'o-
ceedings have been begun by filing peti
tion for condemnation to be suspended
until the termin alton of the proceedings.
''Three-Sectien 10 10 lie repealed alto
geticr, this being the section " whirh imposes
upon the District the entire cost of the
condemna tons no 5y
..Four-A new section to Ice added re-
lating to the assessment for actual benefits
only. and oil parties in interest should be
heard before il is confirmed.
.'Fifth-The court shall be authorized tn
it's discretion TO have one Jury sworn at
the same time In respect of two or more
subdivisions: the awards in each case
To be filed separately.
sixth A new section should Ee added.
providing for an assessuient in proceedings
condenmat ton OF land outside of existing
| subdivisions. n3 q
when the dedication of streets, as laid
Go wn on tie plan by any landowner VIII
take as undue proportion OF his holding
he should have the right upon Offering to
donate such reasonable proposties 70 have
the remainder of the land required, and
to be paid therefor in full value, ascer-
tanned by the jury,
That part of the original act which
provides that awards shall be submitted 20
Congress for It's approval to be rep.aied-
and instead therefor provision to be ina lie
| for the immediate payment of awards
| when confirmed by he courts and approved
Inv 4 f,o ,,f f,r,I ITrifn M taf.
| '.0ne-Ilalf Of ihe amount awarded Us
| DAMAGES for any tract of land cundelu led
under the actor any amendment therefor
| to be paid toy the United States and tie
| other half by the District.
| For the purpose of raising the money
an issue of District of Columbia bonds
4 bearing 2 pei cent interest is tu be s.u-
thorized to an amount not exceeding Sd
| 0oo,o6 at rate of interest similar TO
4 the existing 3.6o bonds.' ef 70
| Mfr. Mattinely signed the report with the
! following reservation:
''ln signing this report reserve the .jght
| to object II that portion of it which recon-
| mends that one-half the DANA ges in case of
| Observation-Disclosures sshould be asee ssed gainsi
| adjacent lands benefited. When the owners
| of such adjacent ie nds have dona ted similar
| should be required to pay for condern ling
| the lands of their neighbers.
1t was suggested that the report nf
| the special committee be read. A motion
was made that its salieut points be given
| by Mr. Ross Perry, chairman OF the speciai
committee. Mr. PER- ymade an introducto y
address, in which he outlined the report
in lieu of reading the game. The frs
1 ,lq
brief hisorical sketch of the growth ID
the various hamletS, such as Ca.r.ator
and Hamburg. which are now incl i JED
in the limits of the city. 1t was a short
sighted policy, he said, to object. at tli
| date to the development of the suburbs
on the ground that it would iniurc cit
| property. Had the Villagers of the oil,
| WashngtoIl held such n view, the plac,
| would not have increa sed from a popu:a
ton in sec of 40,0oo TO a population
! of 215,o0o in 1880. The highway. cct
| he said, was the result of a Congressiuna
Committee which did not care to act Oh
| individual representations. but desir.d t.
have plan which would cover the who'll
case.
| Mr.. Perry reviewed the history of the ac
| of Se3. L iftier this act the cost of the frs
Givision would Ire about $4,000, 600. Tn,
comuIittee had, however, suggested plaI
| tly which the cost might he reduced to boT
S4,G0o,0G0. This hill provides that tn,
| condemnation shall take place before the
assessments are laid, and these assess
nents are tt lie appealeds if there be al
| appeal directly TO the President
| In concluding his remarks he said tina
| the feeling against street extensions an,
developments should be deprecated
The question was next discussed as t
whether the whole act should be repealed
| This wes lost OF division, two only favoi
ing the appeal
| Mr. Parker moved that the recommend
| lions OF the committee te adopted, an
| expressed his confidence in the integrit
| OF purpose Of the Board OF Trade in tn
| matter. '
| DR.. A p Pardon said that the board ha
met 10 get rid Of the objections present,
| in the old bill, and these. it was argued
the special Committee in consultation Will
| Members Of Congress had met. The tare
| ent bill, he said. would obviate all IN
| sifficulties h;ch had been urged heret,
fore by the opponents Of the highway al
| He believed that if the bill We're tl,,,ss,
/! all of the land needed could be copdenpa
and paid for within a year.
| Hon. j. Il. Hefnffitii. ex-t.fairmap q r III
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