Evening star., 1899-02-02
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Bill as to the Taxation and Exemption Of
Church Property.
Proposition to the Opening of
AIIeys-To Abolish Justices
of the Peace.

Mr.. Curtis of Iowa has introduced bill
in the House OI. r. 1886 providing that
church buildings located in the District of
Columbia owned and actually occupied by
any church organization, and the ground
on which the buildings are erected, together
with such reasonable amount of additional
ground owned by the organization as may
be found necessary for convenient entrance
to the buildings and for air and light, and
all school houses and collegiate and uni
versity buildings. actually and exclusively
used for educational purposes, and not for
private gain. and land appurterant to any
such buildings so fas as is reasonably need
ed and actually used for the convenient
enjoyment of any such buildings, shall
hereafter be exempt from the payment of
general taxes
Provided however, that if at any time
such buildings grounds, any portion
thereof shall be let for the purpose of Sc
curing rent income, such buildings and
grounds shall forthwith be listed for taxa
tion for the then current fiscal year as
other taxable real estate, and the taxes
thereon collected as provided by existing
law for the collection of general taxes
The ground of duly incorporated ceme-
terry associations in the District of Column
bia, dedicated and used solely for burial
purposes, and not held for private income
ly used for burial purposes, shall hereafter
be exempt from the payment of general
taxes and assessments; but if any portion
of the grounds or lots is larger than is
needed for their legitimate purposes then
the excess shall be listed for taxation All
laws or parts of laws inconsistent with
this act be, and the same are hereby, re-
pealed.
To Open Alleys.
Mr.. Curtis of Iowa has introduced a bill
Oh. r. 1193O in the House providing that
section of an act entitled IAN act to pro-
vide for the opening of alleys in the Dis
trict of Columbia approved July % 1892
as amended by the act entitled IAN act to
open, When and extend alleys in the Dis
trlct of Columbia approved August ~
1884, be amended to read as follows:
THAT the jury shall apportion an amount
equal to the amount of damages SO ascer-
tanned and appraised including 50 per diem
for the services of the marshal when ac-
tually employed, and $50 for the services
OF the jury. according as each lot or part
OF lot of land in such square may be
benefited by the opening, widening, extend
ing or Strengthening such alley
provided, however. that in cases provided
Tor IN section of this act the sums paid
or agreed to be paid for the land contai ined
in any alley or part of alley to be closed
shall first be deducted from the amount
or benefits so to be assessed, and they shall
make due return of such appOrtionment to
the recorder of deeds and to the Commits
sloners OF the District of Columbia in
which they shall designate each lot or part
OF lot of land in such square so bene-
hted, and the amount so apportioned to
each, respectively; and in case Of failure
TO pay the amount so apportoned it shall
be the duty of the Commissioners or some
one designated by them, to levy an assess
ment upon each lot or part of lot of land
IN IN accordance with such apportionment,
the same to be collected as other special
assessments upon real estate are collected
and said assessment shall bear interest
at the rate of 10 per centum per annum un-
til paid"
Great Falls Railway Report
The annual report of the WASHINGTON and
Great Falls Electric Railway Company for
the year ended December 81, 1898, was
submitted to the Senate today. The re-
ceipts amounted to s5O6763S. including
s2,912.20 cash on hand at the beginning of
the year. Receipts from passengers In the
District division amounted to So $50 1S and
Maryland division to s17,4GS4O. Of the re-
celpts $3.50 was from the sale of bonds
The disbursements included sS972O2 for
construction and equipment Interest paid
on funded debt was per cent. No diyi-
dend was declared. During the year 99S S54
passengers were carried. The total op-
Grating expenses and repairs amounted to
81 23I 80. One employe and three passen-
gers were injured and one woman was
killed
TO Abolish Justices of the Peace.
Senator German today, by request. in
troduced bill in the Senate to abolish the
office of justice of the peace in the Dis
trict of Columbia.