The times., 1901-04-18
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
The Law Requiring Bond for the
Use of the Fish Wharf.

Secretary Tindnu Calls Attention to
an Old Law and Suggests Refer
ence to Attorney - The Alley in
SQUARE 225-The Tax Sale Barred.
DR. William TindaH. Secretary to the
Board of Commissioners. has Informed
them that 7. w. Riley and w. w. Riley
have not yet given bond, as required by
law. for the use Of the fish wharf. Dr
Tindan further states that the Rileys say
they do not see the need of giving the
bond as it has not been required since
they held the privilege. DR.. Ilndah sus
gests that the opinion of the Attorney oe
obtained upon the points, whether the
law recurring the bond and return of one
fourth OF the gross amount received for
wharfage is stiIl in force, and what steps
should be taken TO enforce the Districts
rights in the matter
DR.. Tindall encloses the following mem
orandum of the law as contained in
Webb's Digest, for the information OF all
concerned:
THE law Of the corporation of Wash
ington requires that the owner or pro-
prietor Of the site established as fish
wharf and dock shall return to the
Register one-fourth of the gross amount
received for wharfage for the use. bene-
fit. and revenue of said corporation. is
this law still in effect? 1t does not ap-
pear to have been enforced since the re-
vocation Of the charter OF the city Of
Washington. presumably from the fact
that section Il of the act Of the Legisla-
tive Assembly entitled An act prescribing
the duties of certain officers for the Dis
trict Of Columbia and fixing their compen-
sation.' approved August %, 1871, does not
include that provision.
But the act Of the Legislative Assem-
bly, entitled An act to provide temporary
officers for the cities of Washington,
Georgetown. and the county of Wash
ington,' approved June >. 1871. creates the
office of Register, and in section 3 pre-
scribes that the functions Of the several
officers and the duties, salaries. and fees
of the said several officers shall be the
same as are now defined by the acts of
Congress and the laws and ordinances of
the corporations of Washington, George
town. and the Levy Court for the offices
and officers of like designation 50 far as
they may be applicable and not in CON
flict with the act Of February p, lS1, as
aforesaid.
''The act Of the Legislative Assembly
entitled An act creating certain offices in
and for the District Of Columbia and au-
thoriZing appointments thereto, also ere
ates the office of Register. but does not
define or refer to the nature of his du-
ties.
Section Il Of the act Of the Legislative
Assembly Of August %, ISL before re-
ferred to as not embracing the law on
the subject in Webbs Digest does not in
terms exclude that law.
The Commissioners yesterday granted
a hearing to any persons who might wish
to offer objections to the plan Of lower
ing the grade Of the alley in square DDS
bounded by Fourteenth Fifteenth, and F
Streets and Pennsylvania Avenue north
west. The case is one of considerable in
terest TO several parties, and they, with
their attorneys. were present TO present
their views at the hearing.
II. A. Willard, who owns the Kellogg
Building, and Joseph Willard, who owns
Wilard's Hotel were present, the form
er being represented by Attorney Jere
NJ. Wilson. and the latter by Attorney ].
]. Darlington. and Bernard r. Green. At
torney Chaptn Brown was also present,
representing the owners of the Columbia
Hotel, or the old Owen House.
IT appears that H. A Willard is op-
posed to the lowering Of the grade OF
the alley. Mr.. Wilson explaining that he
feared il would endanger the founda-
tions OF the Kellogg Building. while Mr..
Brown also objected TO the lowering OF
1t is understood that Joseph Willard
faVors the making of the proposed i'm
movements but at the request of Mr..
Wilson the hearing was postponed until 3
O'Clock .. m. April p. in order to allow
the Engineer Department to prepare
detailed Information as to the grade TO
be adopted.
Charles c. Colison has requested of the
Commissioners that the tax for 1885
against sub-lot 50 and part of sub-lots s
and Q. square 3S3, be Cancelled, the same
having been omitted from tax certificate
No. 6,25 IN his report upon the appli-
cation II. II. Darneile, the Assessor, sub
mits the following facts Of record:
Certificate No. 6,525 was issued Febru-
ary q, 1888 TO Charles c. ColisOn, on sub
lot 50. square 3SS of original lots and
8. which omitted the tax for 1885, against
the west part of lot s, which part is Who'll
~ embraced In sub-lot so.
by deed recorded 9th day Of Febru-
ary. 1883. conveyance was made to said
Colisun from Jacob S. Redman, and as
sworn TO in the accompanying petition,
on the faith of the certificate OF Febru-
3ry =. 1893.
This case comes within the provisions
Of the act OF May l3. 1892, relating to tax
sales and taxes, and il is, therefore, rec
commended that the collection and recoF-
cry OF the tax for 1885 in the amount Of |
s1o59 against the west part OF original |
lot s. included IN sub-lot 80, square 3S3 be !
barred as TO any purchaser SUBSEQUENT TO |
issue of certificate No. 6,525, dated Feb
Tuary q, 1873, and so noted on the records |
Of this office
Walter c. Allen. the Electrical Engi-
ueer. has called the attention Of the Com
rnissioners to the need of a cable to carry
the District wires across the Navy Yard
Bridge He suggests that the Anacostia
and Potomac River Railway Company be
requested 10 make deposit of S3S4.20 with
the Collector of Taxes for the cost Of
such a cable. In reference TO the matter
Mr.. Allen says:
Several times recently the wires of
this department on the Navy Yard Bridge
have been broken and the fire alarm and
police patrol instruments connected TO
them damaged by the wires coming in
contact with the trolley wires on the
bridge. The telephone company has ex-
perienced similar trouble with their
wires, the JarTing Of the bridge by the
passage Of the heavy cars over il causing
the wires 10 break and fail over the troll
ley wires. To remove this difficulty, the
telephone company has placed its wires
IN a lead covered cable.
After several conferences with the rail-
road officials they have agreed to pay
for the cable for the District to replace
the Individual wires across the bridge I |
obtained a price of Z.6 cents per foot
for this cable from the Standard Under
ground Gable Company, who have a con
tract 10 furnish cable for this department
Il therefore recommend that the Ana
costa and Potomac River Railroad Com
pany be requested to make a deposit OF
$500 TO cover the cost Of the 100 feet ,
Of cable needed for the bridge; the cost
OF installation VIII be borne by this de-