The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-19
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
A Petition for the Cancellation Of
General Taxes Denied.

The Collector Not Required TO Make
Search and Furnish Statements to
Property OvRers-Curbing and
sidewalk improvements Ordered.
Andrew b DuvaH Attorney for the Dis
trict of Columbia. today submitted to the
Commissioners his opinion upon the ap-
plication of Charles A. and Cora T Hines
for the cancellation of general taxes for
the years 1898. 1885, and 1859, against part
of lot y and lots . and % of the sub
division of Friendship The Attorney
states that the claim of the applicants
that these taxes should be Cancelled
should be denied In connection with the
matter, Mr.. DuvaH says:
Because their agent requested bills for
all taxes and assessment against said
property from a clerk employed in the
Office of the Collector of Taxes. stating to
him a willingness TO pay any taxes then
due or overdue and that said agent was
Informed by said clerk that, excepting the
taxes due for the current year there
were no unpaid taxes against the prop
erty.
The duties Of the Collector of Taxes
are prescribed by statute, and he is not
required TO make search or furnish state
ments of unpaid taxes. And the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia held
that his statements and mistakes in re-
gard TO unpaid taxes could not operate as
an estoppeI upon the District of Columbia.
The act Of Congress approved May
Is. 1892, authorizes the Assessor upon pay
ment Of the fee Of 80 cents to furnish =
certified statement, over his hand and
official seal, Of all taxes and assessments;
but the Collector of Taxes has no such
authority and no mere statement which
he might make could have the force and
effect of the certificate of the Assessor
under said act of Congress in respect to
omitted taxes
The second ground Tor cancellation is
the claim that the taxes are not collecta-
bic because of the failure on the part of
the District to file d bill in equity to en-
force its lien for taxes within a reason
able time after two years after the prop
erty was bid of by the District at the tax
sale
The law. however. does not provide
that the penalty for not so enforcing the
lien Of the taxes by filing bill in equity
should operate TO release the lien for
such taxes
Il am of the opinion that the appIica-
ton should be dismissed
The Committee on the Bathing Beach.
consisting Of Snowden Ashford W J.
Douglass. and Dr. William Tindan. have
recommended the acceptance OF the pro-
posal OF NJ n Hickman to rent the re-
freshment stand and the shed for bicy-
cles for the season OF 1901 The commit
tee prescribe certain conditions TO the &C
ceptance Of the proposal. among which
are that the bidder sfitSS not sell intoxi-
eating drinks. that no tobacco or cigar
cites shall be sold TO minors. and that
the payments are TO be made at the
times specified in the. contract It IS I'M
deTstood that the Commissioners will APP
prove the recommendation
The Commissioners today have issued
orders for public work, as follows: Thai
the curb be reset and a cement sidewalk
laid on the west side Of Columbia Road
in front Of the reservation bounded BY
Connecticut Avenue extended, Columbia
Road, and California Avenue, at an est.
mated cost of 1925; also, on the west side
of Columbia Road in front of reservation
bounded by Twentieth Street CoiuTnbis
Road. and Wyoming Avenue, at an esti
mated cost OF $50 and alse-on the cas-
Side of Columbia Road in front of reser
ystion bounded by Nineteenth Street. Co
1umbia Road, and Wyoming Avenue a
an estimated cost Of Sls3 all chargeabls Il
the current appropriation for replacing
SIDEWALKS and curos around public reser
vations and municipal buildings
That the necessary connection Of house!
pm the north side OF ? Street northwest
between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Streets
with the present siKteen-inch sewer il
said street De made. at an estimated cos
OF $50. chargeable to the current apprO
priation FOR replacing obstructed sewers.
The District tax sale was finished yes
terday by the bidding in Of the agricul
tural land IN arrears for taxes Their,
was considerable spirited bidding toward
farms in various parts of the District
Many of the small pieces Of propert,
were run up to $500. and one farm Wa.
withdrawn after the sum of $4,000 wa.
offered for it. The farm was sold on
bid of 5000. During the entire sale
there were offered 6. 4S5 pieces Of property
Taxes were paid on about 100 pieces
during the sale The original list con
tanned 10 S5 items. but taxes were paid
on 1890 pieces after the issue of the
pamphlet and before the sale. The sale
proper was narrowed down TO about :, 90
pieces OF property, about LOCO Of which
were bought in by the District The sale
from the beginning was marked by the
large amounts OF surplus bid for the
property offered
Captain GafIIard, formerly Assistant I,
the Engineer Commissioner, who is in tn
city to attend the sessions of the F.ltra
ton Commission, was at the Distric
Building today greeting his old friends
Captain Gaillard is stationed at Duluth
MINI. and has charge Of the Iank and
harbor work on Lake Superior
At the request OF the Rev John D
Whitney. President Of Georgetown Uni
versity. and upon the recommendation O
r II. Boardman, who was Acting Super
intendent Of Police in the absence o.
Major Sylvester. the Commissioners ap
pointed Wade H Moore as an additions
policeman and assigned him TO duty a
the University.
The Southern Railway Company has IN
formed the Commissioners that it desire.
to equip its building on Pennsylvania Ave
nue. with . stand pipe for fire protection
and asks for information with reference
to the proper course 10 pursue to have
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