The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-24
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
Why Pennsylvania Avenue South
east Cannot Be Opened.
Litigation Hns Delayed Matters since
the PnS7Age of the Law-Pressure
OF Work I'm Attorney DuvnIrs Of
flee - Views ON "Pending Asse..-
ments" - Hospital Site Purchased.

| The Commissioners have replied to the
letter of John A. Baker, of 1919 H Street
northwest. asking for information rela-
tive to the opening and improvement OF
Pennsylvania Avenue southeast. They in
| form him that 1.-The provision of the act of
| Congress for the extension of Pennsyl-
vania Avenue southeast, approved March
| 3. 1899. relative to the assessment of one
| half of the damages, was similar to that
contained In the act passed on the same
| day for the extension of S, Twenty-sec-
| ond, and Decatur Streets.
THE Court of Appeals held that the
provision in the latter act was uneonsti
| tutional.
"Thereupon Congress, by the act for the
| extension of Columbia Road east of Thir-
teenth Street, and for other purposes,
approved June 6, 1900, enacted that the
provisions of the last mentioned acts re-
lating to the mode OF proceeding and the
assessment of benefits should be appli-
cable to the extension of Sixteenth Street
northwest, to the extension of Pennsyl-
vania Avenue southeast, the extension of
Staughton Street, the extension of Eek
ington Place, the extension of Fifth
Street, and the extension of Howard Ave-
nue..
'In the cases of Columbia Road east OF
Thirteenth Street, Columbia Road, and
old Sixteenth Street, Staughton Street,
and Howard Avenue. jures of condemna-
ton have been summoned and awards
have been filed, and an order has been
passed by the court in the extension of
Sixteenth Street. summoning u jury on
December 7, 1900.
The Sixteenth Street extension will
probably occupy several months. II con-
dennis and takes the property of about
10 separate owners, and the assessment
OF benefits will extend to several hundred
separate parcels of land. 1t is the most
extensive and complicated street condem-
nation in the whole history of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and will involve an ex-
penditure of about 100000
1T is entirely impracticable to conduct
two street extension cases at the same
time. As it is, the Attorney for the Dis
trict Of Columbia, with the limited force
at Els command, finds it next to impos-
sibe to keep up the current work of his
office and give attention to the litigated
cases in the several courts and do JUS
tice to the interests of the public in the
case of the extension of Sixteenth Street"
Inc question OF noting the words,
pending assessments" on tax certifi-
Gates, has occupied the attention of
the authorities at intervals for some
months past. A few days ago the Engi-
neer Commissioner recommended to his
associates the advisability of doing this,
and gave his reasons therefor, which were
published in The Times. Yesterday the
Assessor reported on Captain Beach's
recommendation as follows:
Careful consideration has been given
to the matter Of reporting the words as
sessment pending on tax certificates.
With due Difference to the views of Com
missioner Beach, it is my judgment. as
stated in q former report that the nota-
ton proposed would probably conflict
with the act of February 6, 1879, which
provides for report Of taxes and assess
ments that may be due and unpaid at the
time of making said certificate. The en-
try on certificates, No assessment to
date is suggestive to a purchaser of n
future or pending assessment, and the
publication, as provided by law. twice a
week for two weeks in the daily newspa-
pers of proposed improvements. should
be considered sufficient notice
1T is submitted that the District would
not be liable under existing law for fail
ure to report on certificates any tax or
assessment not due Or payable at the date
of issue of said certificate, but an equita-
BILE Interpretation of the act would seem
to favor the endorsement of Commission
err Beach. A technical construction of the
law would indicate that only such taxes