The times., 1898-08-03

After an exhaustive canvas of candi-
dates, the District Commissioners yes
terday reappointed the present board of
assistant assessors. consisting of Messrs.
James A. Bates. ]. Harrison Johnson and
S. I. G. Morrell. for an additional term
of four years.
The action which resulted in the re-
appointment was taken at a MONDAY ses-
sion of the Board of Commissioners, and
the decision reached in about a half hour
The vote was a unanimous one, being
substantially the same as that predicted
in The Times, and as generally antici-
pated.
A number of other applicants were con-
sidered many Of them very highly
indorsed, but none was more widely
recommended by local property owners
than the present incumbents, who were
reappointed. The persons indorsing them
probably also represented a larger
amount of property in more sections of
the city. and this was a strong point in
favor OF their selection.
When the excise board, which is the
same as the board of assistant assessors
in its makeup, was selected four years
ago, the question of appointment assumed
a certain political aspect. Two Demo-
Gratis and one Republican were appointed
under the Democratic Administration. 1t
has been argued by some recently that
appointments should be in reversed order
this time. SO that two of its members
should be Republican in politics and the
minority rnprph her Der1pcrar
The Commissioners were of the opinion,
however, that the question of politics
should in no way influence them in the
matter of making a selection and they
decided TO select the candidates who were
best qualified for the place. One of the
necessary qualifications was experience,
and as the present board qualified well
in this respect, and as Ii has given gen.
eral satisfaction 10 the public during its
present term of office, the Commissioners
decided that no change should be made
and they were accordingly reappointed.
The following order was then drafted and
signed by the Commissioners:
IN view of the satisfactory services
rendered by the present board of assist
ant assessors in the assessment of real es-
tate and as an excise board and N con-
sideration OF the strong Endorsement of
their work Goy the taxpayers of the Dis
lElCA, CpAglGu WIFI lIlt request InaL no
change be made In the personnel of said
| board, II is ordered that James A Bates,
J. Harrison Johnson, and s. T. G. Nor
sell be, and the same are hereby appoint
| ed as the board OF assistant assessors for
a term Of four years, beginning August
~ 1885,
The members of the present board have
| each had extended experience in real es-
| tate matters, and have been engaged in
! business life here for many years MIR.
Bates, the chairman of the board, when
it sits for the purpose of considering as
| sessments, is the Republican member,
while the other two are Democrats.
They also represent the whole city in an
| admirable manner, mfr. Bates being a res
ident of Eckington( in the northeast sec
| ton Of the city. Mr.. Morsell the north
west section. and Mr.. Johnson the south
west section.
The duty of the board when sitting as
! assessors is to make general assess
ment of the real property of the Dis
| trict every three years. The board is now
making its second trienniaI assessment
and is working in the vicinity of Twelfth
| Street and Maryland Avenue northeast
| When the members sit as an excise board
they discuss applications for liquor
licenses.