The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-18
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
The Law Requiring Bond for the
Use of the Fish Wharf.


Secretary TindaII Calls Attention to
an Cid Law and Suggests Refer
encc to Attorney - The Alley in
Square 225-The Tax Sale Barred.
DIR. William Tindal, Secretary to the
Board of Commissioners. has informed
them that T w. Riley and w. w. Riley
have not yet given bond. as required Dy
law, for the use of the fish wharf. Or.
Tindall further states that the Rileys say
they do not see the need of giving inc
bond, as 1t has not been required slhce
they held the privilege. DR.. moan sus
gests that the opinion of the Attorney DC
obtsined upon the points, whether the
law recurring the bond and return ot one
fourth of the gross amount received Tor
wharfage is still in force. and what steps
should be taken to enforce the District s
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 a fish
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 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 so far as
they may be applicable and not in con-
flict with the act of February p, 1Sh, as
aforesaid.
'sThe act of the Legislative Assembly
entitled An act creating certain offices in
and for the District of Columbia and au-
thorizing appointments thereto. also Gre
ates the office of Register, but does not
define or refer to the nature of his du-
ties.
Section "A of the act Of the Legislative
Assembly of August %, ISL, before re-
ferred to as not embracing the law on
the subject in Webb's Digest, does not in
terms exclude that law.
The Commissioners yesterday granted
q hearing to any persons who might wish
to offer objections to the plan of lower
ing the grade of the alley in square 225,
bounded by Fourteenth, Fifteenth. and
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
Wizards Hotel, were present, the form
er being represented by Attorney Jere
M. Wilson, and the latter by Attorney j.
]. Darlington, and Bernard r. Green At
torney Chaplin Brown was also present,
representing the owners of the Columbia
Hotel or the old Owen House.
1t appears that II. A Willard is OPP
posed to the lowering of the grade of
the alley. Mr. Wilson explaining that ne
feared it would endanger the founda-
tons of the Kellogg Building, While Mr..
Brown also objected to the lowering OF
the grade of the alley adjacent to the Co
lumbia Hotel.
1t is understood that Joseph Willard
favors the making of the proposed i'm
provements. but at the request OF Mr.;
Wilson the hearing was postponed until
o'clock p. m, April p. in order to allow
the Engineer Department to prepare
detailed Information as to the grade to
be adopted.
Charles C. COLLISION has requested of the
Commissioners that the tax for 1885
against sub-lot so and part of sub-lots
and 9, square 3S3, be Cancelled, the same
having been omitted from tax certificate
No. 6,525 In his report upon the appli-
cation H. H. Darneille, the Assessor, sub
mits the following facts of record:
Certificate No. 6,525 was issued Febru-
airy q, 1888, TO Charles c. COLLISION, on SUBJ
lot 80. square 1888, of original lots and
Q. 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. 1888. conveyance was made to said
COLLISION from Jacob S. Redman. and as
sworn to in re accompanying petition,
on the faith of the certificate OF Febru-
3ry q. 1893.
This case comes within the provisions
of the act of May 13, 1892, relating to tax
sales and taxes, and ii is. therefore, rec
commended that the collection and recov-
cry Of the tax for 1885 in the amount OF
sJ0.59 against the west part OF original
lot S. included in sub-lot 30. square SSS, be
barred as 10 any purchaser SUBSEQUENT TO
issue of certificate No. 6.525. dated Feb
ruary 81. 1873, and so noted on the records
of this ONCE
Walter C. Allen. the Electrical Engi-
Cd he att Com
missioners 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 to 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-
perienoed similar trouble with their
wires, the Earring of the bridge by the
passage Of the heavy cars over II causing
the wires to break and fall 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.
obtained a price of 2.6 cents per foot
for this cable from the Standard Under
ground Cable Company, who have con-
tract TO 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 LOO feet
of cable needed for the bridge; the cost