Evening star., 1897-01-19
THREE BILLS PASSED
Local Legislation Accomplished in the House
Yester ay.
Formulation for the Glen Echo Rail
way to Enter the District-Tax
Bill Explained.

The House yesterday afternoon passed
| the bill relating to taxes and tax sales af-
| ter amending 1t in a few minor particulars
| The report on this bill explained its provis-
| ions. as follows:
THE laws In the District of Columbia re-
latiDg to the listing Of property and the
assessment and collection of taxes are very
| Ill satisfactory; in many instances great In
| justice is done to 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
| owners fail to pay the taxes, 1t is difficult
for the District to collect the delinquent
taxes.
"One essential fault Is the peremptory re-
quirement that at the expiration of two
years from the date of the sale Of piece
of real estate for overdue taxes the Com
| missioners must, on demand of the owners
of the tax sale certificate, issue a deed for
the property, without providing as con-
dition precedent to such deed that all over
due taxes and assessments other than those
involved in such tax sale certificate shall
also have been paid.
Under a decision of the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia in the case of
John H. Brewer agt. the District Of Co
lunbia ct al, equity, No. S513, decided
November I, 1866 % Mackey's Reports,
page 214 ct seq), deed of property made
in pursuance of a sale for arrears Of taxes
for any certain year passes the property
involved TO the purchaser at such sale,
discharged of the liens of all taxes and as
sessments remaining due and unpaid at
the time CT the sale, SO far as the District
Is concerned. AS tax deed thus carries
with 1t clear title against any claim of
the District for taxes due prior to its is
sue. 1t is a convenient agency of frequent
resort for the evasion of the payment of
overdue assessments and taxes The bill
proposes to amend the statute by provid-
ing that no tax deed shall be issued until
all taxes and assessments appearing on the
tax books against the property embraced
in the deed, with the penalties. interest
and costs, including the taxes for any years
for which the District shall have purchased
the property at tax sale. shall have been
paid.
THE bill contains other notifications
suggested by the experience of the tax Of
ficers of the District designed to enable the
authorities to better enforce the collection
OF overdue taxes, and at the same time
making increased provision for notice to
delinquents. and providing for the protec-
ton of the interests Of those laborng un-
der legal disability. 1t was prepared after
conference with the assessor the collector
and the attorney for the District"
The bill to cure the title to lots and s.
IN square 996, was also passed.
The Glen Echo Railway.
The next bill considered was House 97O4
authorizing the Washington and Glen Echo
railroad to obtain right of way and con-
struct its road and lay double tracks there
on into the District of Columbia distance
of 600 feet. and no farther, from the point
in the boundary line of the District where
said railway extended crosses the boundary
line of the District and from said point on
line across the Columbia boulevard
thence on private property to a poi,.t in
Connecticut avenue extended. on a route
to be approved by the Commissioners Of
the District of Columbia, said corporation
to have full power and authority to operate
cars upon said road for the purpose of it's
traffic; said corporation 10 use electric mo-
tive power in propellng it's cars.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and
read a third time, and it was accordingly
read the third time and passed.
The resolution was passed authorizing
additional electric lighting facilities dur
ing the Inauguration.
Mr.. Morse attempted to pass the bill
authorizing the Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution to use a portion of a pub
lie reservation adjoining the bureau of en-
craving and printing for the construction
thereon of a memorial hall, but Mr.. Blue
of Kansas prevented its consideration by
objecting.