The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-22

of owners of property which abuts on
work which must be done under the as
sessment system. In this case, he says
the initiative for the construction of the
sidewalk referred to was taken by the
property owners, who submitted a petit
tion signed by the owners of majority
of the property, requesting that the work
be done. Mr.. Hunt informs the Commits
sioners that in response to such request
which was believed to express the gen.
eral wish, form of notice provided by
law was given by public advertisement
twice week for two weeks, and a pub
lie hearing was held, at which no advan-
tage was taken by any property holder
to present objections to the work.
Mr.. Hunt states that personal service
of notice of work of this character is
neither required, nor is it entirely prac-
ticable. While Mr.. Hunt regrets that the
work does not meet the wishes of the
writer, yet ha sees no way to avoid the
assessment legally.
Reporting upon the alleged injury to
the parking, Mr.. Hunt states that he has
made a personal inspection of the prem
ises, and he believes tfat the writer re-
fers to the trimming down of the park
ing to give the proper width to the side
walk, and he says that the writer should
be informed that the correction of the
resulting conditions must be made by the
property owner. Mr.. Hunt states that he
can find no defect in the walk, and be-
lieves 1t to be in good condition.
The Commissioners have approved the
report and the complainant will be in
formed in accordance Herewith.
The Commissioners yesterday forward
ed to the District Committees of both
Of h. e. tx;r
regulate the collection of taxes in the
District of Columbia" The bill was draft
ed since the hearing on Saturday, and was
framed to meet the views expressed at
that time, and by others who have ad-
dressed the Commissioners by letter.
The bill provides that hereafter, be-
ginning with the fiscal year commencing
July /, 1902. the whole tax on real and
personal property in the District of Co
lumbia shall be payable in the month of
May of each year. Provided, That on
and after the list of November of each
year the tax may be paid in two equal
installments, the first in November and
the second in May, but that no penalty
shall accrue for delinquency until the fol-
lowing June, as hereinbefore provided;
and If the whole or any part of said tax
upon real estate and personal property
shall not be paid before the first day of
June in each year, the same shall there
after be in arrears and delinquent, and
there shall be added, TO be collected with
said tax, a penalty of l per cent per
month upon the amount thereof and like
penalty on the first day of each succeed
ing month until payment of said tax and
penalty, and the whole together shall
constitute the delinquent tax, to be dealt
with in the manner now provided by law"
The bill also contains the usual clause
repeating all laws or parts Of laws incon-
sistent Herewith.
Andrew B. Duvall, the Attorney for the
District, yesterday submitted to the Com
missioners an opinion upon the applica-
tion of George A. Warren for permit to
string private telephone wires across Oak
Avenue and other highways to establish
private telephone service, etc. The At
torney calls attention to the case of Mol
an VS.. the Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company, in which Justice Barnard
held that the Commissioners rightfuIIy
granted a permit to the telephone COM
pany to string two wires over the side
walk from its cable line on a legally ex-
listing telephone pole on Columbia Road
for the purpose of making house con-
nection with premises on said road.
The Attorney, however. says that the
court in that case did not have for ad-
judication the question OF granting a per-
Nit for the stringing of private telephone
wires across the public highways Hesiates
that IL was dealing with the matter of
house connection for telephone service
concerning which Congress had on several
occasions iegislated.
Mr.. Duvall gives It as his opinion that
the Commissioners are without authority
to grant the permit.