The times., 1901-06-21
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
The Commissioners Considering an
Old Water Main Assessment.

The Hardship of the Owner of ii Cor
ner Lot Under the Tax Laws-Nev
Rules for the Police Department.
Water Meters in Apartment Houses
Commissioner Ross yesterday sent for
ward to his associates the papers in the
case of a. NJ. Raymond, of 7o6 Seventeenth
Street northeast. who has submitted sew
eral statements to the Commissioners rel
ative to sewer and water connections with
his property and the assessment for wa
ter main. This case dates back to 1891.
and has Eeen before the Commissioners
at different times since then. About two
years ago a reassessment was made up
on the property for the water mains laid
in Gales and Seventeenth Streets.
The property in question is a corner lot
and fronts on the two streets. There is
a nice distinction Of law growing out of
the case as to whether the first assess
ment SHOULD have been laid under the
law of July 13. 1898, or under new stat
ute enacted later, because of the fact that
the assessment was not made at all for
some time, the District waiting until wa
ter plugs were put in to comply with the
terms of the law of 1894 The case has
DSEn ulSCuSStu lIbIl tNtlg SAlNT has bN~4A
passed upon by the Attorney for the Dis
trict and has troubled the Commissioners
not a little.
Commissioner Ross. in forwarding the
paper yesterday. stated TO his associates
that on April 1G, 1900, he endeavored to
review the case. Afterwards he requested
the Secretary of the Board, he said, to
make a resume of the facts and law.
which constitutes one of the papers in the
case. Mr.. Ross remarks that if there
be no possibility of making the assess
1nent upon the basis of the law of 1894,
under which latter act the assessment
would amount almost to confiscation, he
would regard the alternative presented by
the conclusion of the secretary as the
onIv solution possible. Mr. Ross states
that this alternative is that inasmuch as
the assessment under the old law did not
become effective until fire hydrants were
erected. August Is, 1894, prior to which
time a new law went into effect, that the
District thereby lost its right to make
the as1ssment, and that this fact ought
not to delay the Introduction of water
upon the premises, as required by the
Health Officer.
The conclusion of Secretary TindaN, to
which reference Is made, is to the erect
that the assessment under the law of 1874
amounts to double assessment of por-
tion of the lot. and that an equitable set
tIement could be made either by levying
the assessment under the old law or by
assessing the Gales Street front for the
depth OF 100 feet, and assessing only the
81 feet on Seventeenth Street.
Major Sylvester, Superintendent Of Po-
lice. has submitted with his recommen-
dation to the Commissioners, certain
amendments to the regulations for gov
erning the Police Department. The
amendments are:
"On and after July l, 1901, there shall
be on duty in each police precinct, mem
Der of the force to be known as precinct
detective All mino- crimes shall be spec
Tally investigated by such officer in con-
junction with the uniformed force, as the
lieutenant of the precinct may direct all
offences, whether Of greater or lesser
magnitude, shall be promptly reported TO
tt-a Detective Bureau, and no time shall
lie permitted to elapse after preliminary
report or investigation before making re-
quest for the assistance of a detective
sergeant, if necessary.
Particulars Of any offence, accident, or
fire, shall be obtained with all despatch
and be transmitted without delay to the
Detective Bureau, especial care to be ex-
ercised in the giving Of names, dates, and
time.
'4The captain in charge of the detective
service shall be given special infOrma-
tion from those in command of precincts
concerning crimes of greater Importance
which may come TO their notice.
when arrests are made by members
of the precinct commands for the Detec-
tive Bureau, the cases shall be carried on
reports, For Detective Bureau and be
so enumerated in quarterly reports, and
members of the force shall cooperate and
assist the detective sergeants in the COM
pletion and prosecution Of such cases.
Efforts on the part Of members of the
precinct commands toward this end shall
be reported to the Major and Superin-
tendent by the captain in charge OF the
bureau. and due credit be given for active
cooperation.
..Detective sergeants shall have the au-
the rity of sergeants during the time they
may be so detailed. and shall be respect
ed as such by members Of the force, and
shall report TO the captain in charge OF
the Detective Bureau any dereliction or
failure on the part Of members Of the
force TO cooperate with them in the de-
lection and suppression Of crime
Members of the force shall keep mem
oranda Of all expenditures for the sup
press ION and detection Of crime, and pre-
sent vouchers for the same to the Chief
&AcIk OF the department. hllull LL4I
days after mourning any expense"
II. l. Rust. Of COS Fourteenth Street
northwest, some time ago requested an
extension Of the water main into the al
ley Of square So for the purpose Of sup
plying water TO the engine-house Of the
Winona Flats. In making this request
Mr.. Rust said.
Il am anxious to comply with the re-
quirenents of the Water Department in
having a meter placed in the engine-house
OF the Winona Flats, 40 to 420 Eleventh
Street northeast, that viii meter all Of the
water used there, and beg to request that
a water main be extended in the alley TO
the engine-house. At present there is 4
separate service pipe through the front for
each Of the six buildings. There are no
Easements or cellars and the water for
the third and fourth floors has TO be
pumped 10 a tank on the roof. The Water