The Washington times., 1901-10-30
AFFAIRS on THE DISTRICT.
The Question of Canceling Certain
Water Main Assessments.
Opinion of the Attorney on LevyinE
Double Taxes on Corner Lots-he-
moyaI of n Fence From Sidewalk
Providence Hospital Building.

The Attorney for the District has sub
nitted to the Commissioners an opinion
upon the application Of John r Shields
for the cancellation Of the water main
tax assessed against part OF lot 6, square
5s4 said square being bounded by b. G.
Third and Fourth Streets southwest. II
appears that this lot was assessed Oc-
tober q. 1876. for water main, and that
the assessment was paid December 30.
49, The assessment was under the act
of the late Legislative Assembly, Of June
q, ls73 which directed assessment based
on she area 30 square fr his a#- -lso
pro.ll "a th.t .l -l case uid d me
Eag ta ..af me
tx Igr mains. he
erection VS.
tnat a. .ot
@ .----.-.., ,....pIaIne,4 Of.
This assessment" says the Attorney,
was made under the act of Congress,
approved August Il, 1885,, TO regulate
water main assessments in the District
Of Columbia, etc. whiV provides:
- That heIsafter asse essments levied
for laying water mains in the District
of Columbia shall be at the rate OF SIPS
per linear foot front, against all lots Of
land abutting on a street, road, or al
ley, IN which a water main shall be
laid
This act Of Congress has been uni
formly construed, under the advice Of the
Attorney Of the District, as repeating the
above mentioned provision Of the act Of
the Legislative Assembly. On October !.
1901. ] had the honor to advise upon the
subject, in the matter Of the application
Of Thomas f. Smithson, and. as then
stated, ] am OF the opinion that until
the courts determine otherwise, this con-
stIuction Of the water main tax laws
should be adhered 90.
1t may be that the assessment Of a
corner fot for a water main on each Of
two streets, upon which it abuts. unless
water is taken from both mains. IS such
an onerous and unjust provision as TO
call for relief by an amendment of tne
law exempting a lot SO situated from as
sessment for the second main. uatil con
nection is made Herewith"
The Engineer Commissioner has ap-
proved and forwarded to his associates
a recommendation OF a l. Thomas in
spector OF the Engineer Department, that
certain paving in the parking space in
front Of 29is Tenth Street northwest be
permitted TO remain This action was
taken at the request Of Walter Ii. Acker.
of 70i Fourteenth Street northwest
Mrs. Laura o. Talbot. Of 1873 L Street
northwest, recently wrote to the Commits
sioners protesting against the removal Of
the fence in front Of s27 p Street north
west
After an examination Of the facts con-
nected with the matter. Capt. II. C. New
cemer assistant to the Engineer Commits
sioner, has submitted a recommendation
advising that the complainant be inform
ed that IL VIII be necessary for her to
comply with the notice sent to set the
parking fence back to the twelve-foot line
He states that in the recent sidewalk
work on this street this width has been
used, ard that Il is the minimum width
permissible under the regulations. Cap
tain Newcomer is of the opinion that IT
sh -uid be adhered TO, not only for the