The morning times., 1897-02-25
A PARK ON POTOMAC FLATS
The Measure Defeating the Ground
for This Purpose Adopted After
Spirited Debate-But Slight Hope
FOR the East Washington Heights
Railroad

the three Elections Committees.
y few minutes after O'Clock Mr..
Babcock called up the bill to amend the
law relating to the removal OF snow and
Ice. This measure has already passed The
Senate. II came back To the House amend
ed. and was passed.
The bill TO relieve Francisco Ferna, an
1t3lian-American citizen, from the opera
tiOns of the act to restrict alien owner
ship OF land, was next on the District
calendar. This measure provoked a short
debate, but when Mr.. Wellington, the author
OF the bin, stated that Mr. Ferna had be
come, since he purchased property in the
District, an American citizen, it was
passed without dissenting vote.
the hill 10 authorize the reassesSment
OF water main taxes was also passed. This
bin is as follows:
That the Commissioners OF tie District
OF Columbia be, and they are hereby, au-
thorized aud directed, in all cases not
exempted by this act, where water main
taxes or assessments in the District OF
Columbia have been quashed. set aside, or
declared void by the supreme court Of
said District, or have been otherwise can
celed or set aside by reason OF such tax
by the proper officer, to reassess all lots
or parcels Of ground in respect OF such
taxes or assessments, with power to assess
aud collect the same according TO existing
law relating 60 the assessment and col
lection of Waterman assessments or taxes.
Provided That in cases where such
assessments have heretofore been quashed
or declared void by said supreme court,
,T..l Of.
aside for the rea son hereinbeforc provided.
the reasSessulent shall be made within
one year from the passage OF this act.
And provided further, That hereafter all
Waterman taxes OF assessments in the
District Of Columbia shall be levied and
authenticated by the Commissioners OF
the District OF Columbia who are hereby
authorized to designate the official whose
duty il shall be TO notify the owner or
agent OF any lot or land of any Waterman
tax OF assessment levied against such lot
or land.
Provided, however, That where lots or
parcels of land have been released from
Waterman taxes or assessments by reason
of technical defects or errors in making
such assessments, and where such lots
or parcels Of land have been sold by the
former owner between the order OF said
release of said tax or assessment and the
passage cf this act, the Commissioners OF
the District OF Columbia shall notreaSScss
the same against such property in the
hands of bona fide purchaser for value
without notice OF the failure TO put the
Waterman assessment on said property.
section ,. That outside the city Of
Washington the said reasseSsment Sian be
levied or assessed only on thoselo or par
GELS of land into which Potomac water has
been or shall hereafter be introduced
Provided, That where Potomac water
has heretofore been introduced the said re
assessment shall be made within ninetyCays
after the passage Of this act, andthat where
Potomac water shall be hereafter intro
duced the said reaSsessment shall be made
within thirty days after such introduction.
And provided further, That any levy,
assessment or reassessment on land not
subdivided into blocks and lots shall be
MADE on frontage not exceeding 90 feet
for each lot or parcel of land or premises
into which Potomac water has been or shall
be introduced, and shall be considered in
any subsequent subdivision of such property
as having extended TO a depth Of not ex-
Ce'tslLE 1Ob ltti IIOll Iat lIOlI Oi sGIu IOl
or parcel Of land.
And provided further, That said water
main tax or assessment or rea assessment
shall be due, payable and collectible on
each lot or parcel of landOr premises onand
after the date on which the connection is
made from the water main to the said lot
or parcel Of land or premises.
''Sec. 8. That in any assessment or
reassessment made under the provisions
of this act, the owner of any lot or parcel
OF land shall he credited with any amount
which may have been heretofore paid
upol any Waterman tax or assessment
levied against such lot or parcel of land.''
The bill dedicating the Potomac flats as
public park, TO be known as Potomac
Park, was next considered. Chairman
Babcock explained that the object Of the
bill was TO prevent the reclaimed flats
from being used for any purpose but that
Of public park.
NJ. Dockery offered an amendment to
the blll providing that one-haIf OF tie sum
already expended for the reclamation of
the flats be charged to the District.
Mr.. Richardson said the bill did not
provide for the expenditure of a single
dollar. 1t does not put upon the govern
ment the expense of beauhfying the park.
Its object is simply to have Congress make
a declaration to reserve the flats for
public purposes. There is no proposition
to give the park, when made, to the Dis
trict.
Mr.. Pitney, OF New jersey, offered as a
substitute. reserved for such public pur-
poses as Congress may decide" He OBJ
.ected to having the ground declared
public park for the use OF the people.
Mr. Dockery made one OF his character
istic speeches, advocating the payment by
the District OF one-haIf the expense for
the reclamation and improvement Of the
land. Mr.. Dockery wanted the amendment
offered by Mr.. Pitney adopted Mr.
Richardson suggested that the ground
might be used as Navy Yard, or might
be given by the government To private in
diyiduals. Mr.. Dockery, however, insisted
upon his original suggestion. Mr.. New
lands, OF Nevada, spoke in favor Of pass
Ing the bill as reported by the committee.
Mr.. Pitney and Mr.. Brumm became very
much excited over the bill Mr.. PitDey en-
deavored to have Mr.. Babcock bind the
future action OF Congress in regard to the
matter Mr.. Brumm came to the assistance
OF the chairman of the District Committee.
Don't you understand the English lam
guage?" asked Mr.. Pitney of Mr.. Brumm.
Yes; as well or better than the gen.
tleman who asks. I am trying TO put
what nc is driving at in words that can
be understood" "angrilyretortedM Mr. Brumm.
The Indications were that debate would
continue indefinitely, and Mr.. Babcock
moved that the committee rise. Immedi-
ntely after this he moved that it re-
sol,-a ttSelr into rnnai,nittea nf tho whole