Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-03
HOLD HIM RESPONSIBLE
Assessment Cle-k to Make Examination
Concerning Property Frontages.
Questions Arising From a Transac-
ton in Real Estate-Liabilities
for Paving Expenses.

The District Commissioners several
months ago were requested by Mr.. Thomas
w. Fowler to cancel an assessment for
paving alley against part of lot IL, square
516 owned by Mrs. Ella A. Birckhead. In
reply the Commissioners forwarded to Mr..
Fowler report made to them in the case
by Mr.. ]. w. Daniel. the special assessment
clerk, in which it was stated that the bill
was for one-half the cost of paving that
part of the north 10 feet of the lot which
abuts upon an alley in the rear of the said
u feet. Before purchasing the property
Mrs. Birckhead obtained a certificate from
the special assessment clerk, stating there
on that there was mo unpaid special as
sessment to date This certificate, re-
ported Mr.. Daniel, related only to the IS
feet of lot II next to the south Is feet on
9TH street. which part of the lot. he said,
does not abdt upon the alley, and where
fore it was not assessed.
Subsequently Mr.. Fowler wrote the Com
missioners to the effect that the tax GER
tificate. on the faith of which Mrs. Brick
head purchased the property, does cover
that part of the north 10 feet of the lot
which Mr.. Daniel stated is not included.
The matter was again referred to the
special assessment clerk, who reported as
follows to the Commissioners:
The Clerks Response.
THE description on the accompanying
certificate is rs feet next to south IS feet,
no other front In reporting on a certifi
cate this office has to depend entirely on
the description given on the certificate aud
the particular part of lot II in question
was reported to have a frontage on 9Th
street only. Hence an alley assessment of
any character would not be mentioned on
the certificate l recommend that the as
sessment remain, as 1t was not incumbent
on this office to report 1t, owing to the de-
i g
tificate
The matter was next referred by the
Commissioners to their attorney, who re-
ported that it is plain the part of the lot
purchased by Mrs. Birckhead abuts on the
public alley, and was therefore liable for
its proportionate share of the cost of paw
ing the alley. AS Mrs. Birckhead pur
chased the property on the faith of a tax
certificate, which stated that there were no
unpaid special assessments to that date,
the Commissioners legal adviser declared
that the assessment complained Of by her
should be Cancelled, because of its omis-
sion from the tax certificate.
Capt. Beach's Suggestion.
The Commissioners, therefore, directed
that the assessment be Cancelled, but Capt.
Beach, the Engineer Commissioner, thus
expressed himself in the matter:
This, if l remember rightly, is the sec
ond case which has occurred recently where
the special assessment clerk has stated that
no assessment was due or pending upon the
property because the certificate prepared
by the assessor stated no other front 1t
would seem to me to be>gOod office policy
to require the special assessment clerk to
make an examination concerning the front
ages of property for his own office in such
cases, and that his office be held strictly
responsible for the statements concerning
assessments, without regard to the state
ments made by other departments"
Commissioner Ross, who has immediate
charge of the department of special as
sessnents, has informed Capt. Beach that
the latters suggestion has been brought to
the attention of Mr.. Daniel, who will en-
deavor to carry out the same hereafter.