The times., 1899-11-27

! residences in half. 1t is necessary that
streets be extended into this section and
the plans are being prepared whereby the
imp Yements can be made during the next
hscai year provided Congress makes the
appropriations.
The proposed extension OF Sixteenth
/ Street, which was authorized last year,
has been baked by the action OF a few
holders OF small pieces of land which
they viii not dedicate tC the District.
These persons claim that 10 give up The
small holdings they have would complete
" strip them of all the real estate they
own and they would not receive anything
in return The Commissioners are not
I authorized 10 condemn this property and
they cannot condemn that for which the
/ bin provides until ali the dedications are
! made Consequently they are compelled
/ TO turn to Congress for relief. The cxten-
sion Of Eleventh. Nineteenth, and Streets
/ and New Hampshire Avenue viii also come
! up in the new Congress, and VIII probably
I be disposed Of
The Railroad Crossings.
Another important matter which viii
I probably receive the attention Of the Dis
I trict committees is the elevation OF the
steam railroad tracks The grade cross
ing problem has agitated the peunie for
long time past, and the Commissioners
are continually receiving protests and petit
! tions all directed against these menaces to
public welfare. The matter OF the eleva-
tiCn Of the railroad tracks has been brought
. TO the attention Of Congress during prev
I ious sessions and it is said that it viii be
/ finally disposed OF this winter Tae bill
/ has not as yet been framed, but as the Com
missioDers and the railroad officials have
4 had number Of conferences on the subject
il is probable that it viii be put into shape
before the first of January.
The bill providing for the rearrangement
Of the system of taxation in the District
will also be given some consideration.
! This measure, which was introduced and
discussed last year, IS probably as i'm
portant TO the taxpayers as anything that
has been proposed for their relief for a
number Of years. The new law proposes 10
tax all the property belonging to churches
and charitable institutions with the excep-
ton Of that which is occupied by the church
or charitable building. This question has
been discussed frequently during the last
few years, and has caused a great deal OF
bitter feeling against some Of the churches
and other institutions Of q charitable char
acter. All property belonging TO religious
societies. charitable organizations, and edu-
cational institutions, which are reckoned
as charitable, is now exempt from taxa
ton.
In some instances the churches own land
in the heart Of the city on which they have
erected business Offices, and which bring
to the owners large revenues annually The
District receives nothing from this prop
erty. One case was cited at a meeting Of
the citizens association several weeks ago,
where q church owns almost half the block
between Ninth and Tenth, T and G Streets
northwest, and on which no taxes are paid.
In another instance, college owns a por-
ton of a suburb which is now becoming
thickly populated and on which it pays
no taxes It is proposed to remedy this
so-called evil by taxing all of the property
not actually occupied by the church or
other public beneficial building.
A New Municipal Building.
It is also proposed to ask for an ap-
preparation Of $4,000 to prepare plans and
specifications for municipal building and
court house, which is to cost 81, 500, COO
This subject, also, has received much at
tention at the hands OF the citizens Of the
District and Of the country at large. The
District government has had a very no
madic existence ever since the present
form was established. II has been first in
one place and then in another, always
renting some Office building for its use and
never having what could be called per-
manent home. The amount Of money ex-
pended in rentals during the last twenty
years. ii is claimed, would have paid for a
handsome municipal building several times
over. It is now proposed TO remedy this
defect by the construction OF a building
which will be ornamental in character and
viii be a credit 10 the District and the
General Government.
The District courts occupy the old struc-
ture, built years ago, which could not be
called an adequate building for the housing
Of the iurists who occup the District Su-
preme bench. The proposition for the Dis
triCt Building includes provision for the
courts The Police Court building which
was originally q church, and which has
been rebuilt several times as II became nee
essary TO provide further accommodations
for the increased business Of the court. is
not considered IN keeping with the dignity
Of the semi national power which governs
the District, and this court will also be
moved to the new building. The construc-
ton OF an ornamental central police sta
tion is also proposed. where the headquar-
ters and detective Offices can be placed
The Police Department, like the other de-
p2rtments Of the District government, has
moved from place TO place ever since its
establishment during the Civil War. The
new building Will be one OF the most com
PlItG pDl4Nc AtdAqudl tt4S Al iLt Muliub II
the plans Of the promoters are carried out
Another matter of interest TO the Police
Department VIII be called to the attention
OF Congress this session in connection with
the rearrangement of the hours OF police
duty. bin having this object in view
was introduced in the last Congress and
secured the hearty support Of almost every
citizen Of the District. II provides that
hereafter the police will have only eight
hours duty UPF dav and II will rruuirp a
considerable increase in the force at
pres'Rt policeman is required TO be vir-
tually on duty eighteen hours one day and
twelve hours the next, with the prospect
Of being called up at any time during his
of duty period 10 go out to fires or in case
OF serious disorder. Under the new ar