Evening star., 1902-01-09
DISTRICT BIllSCONSIDERED
FIVE MEASURES TAKEN UP By THE
HOUSE COMMITTEE.
Favorable Action on Four, Including
the Proposcd Regulation of the
Collection of Local Taxes.

Action was taken on five District meas
ures by the House committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia this morning-this ac-
tfon was favorable on four bills and ad-
verse as to one. Fourteen of the seven
teen members of the committee were pres
ent at the meeting, which was the first
business session of the committee IN the
present Congress.
Bills FavOrabIy Acted Upon.
The bills acted on favorably were:
House bill 5S14. which provides for the
execution in the Philippine Islands and in
Porto Rico of deeds for land situate in the
District of Columbia. This bill was amend
ed by the committee by striking out pro-
vision which stated that all deeds hereto
fore acknowledged and certified in the
manner specified when recorded among
the land records of the District shall have
the same effect as if such deeds had been
executed, acknowledged and recorded ac-
cordng to law, except as to rights hostile
to the grantees in such deeds acquired by
deeds recorded in said District before the
passage of the act.
House bill 3740, to confirm title to lot l.
square 1113, in this city, to Johanna g.
Block
To Regulate Collection of Taxes.
House bill 1872, to regulate the collection
of taxes in the District of Columbia. This
bill provides that hereafter, beginning with
the fiscal year commencing July !, 1902, the
whole tax on real and personal property in
the District of Columbia shall be payable
in the month of May of each year; pro-
vided, however, that on and after the 1st
of November of each year the tax may be
paid in two equal 1nStallmentS, the nrSt IN
November and the second in May, but that
no penalty shall accrue for delinquency un-
til the following June, as hereinafter pro-
vided; or if the whole or any part of said
tax upon real and personal property shall
not be paid before the 1st day Of June in
each year the same shall thereafter be in
arrears and delinquent, and there shall
then be added. to be collected with said
tax a penalty of 1 per centum per month
upon the amount thereof, and like penalty
on the first day of each succeeding month
until payment of said tax and penalty, and
the whole together shall constitute the de-
linquent tax, to be dealt with in the man
ner now provided by law.
The Eastern Star Home.
House bill 26IS,to incorporate the Eastern
Star Home for the District of Columbia.
The bill states that the particular business
and object of such corporation shall be to
provide and maintain, under the direction
of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the
Eastern Star of the District of Columbia,
a home for needy and worthy master Ma
sons of this jurisdiction. their needy and
worthy widows and orphans. under such
rules and regulations as the board of direc-
tors, acting under said grand chapter
shall make and establish, not inconsistent
with the laws of the United States. The
bill was amended by the committee by
striking out provision which gave the
corporation power to construct rooms and
offices for rental in connection with the
home.
House bill 6291, to receive arrearages of
taxes due the District of Columbia to July
l, lgto, at d per cent. per annum. in lieu of
penalties and costs, was laid on the table,
Personal Taxes.
The personal tax matter was discussed in
formally by the committee. Chairman Bab-
cock informed his colleagues that a per-
sonal tax measure had been formulated and
would be introduced in the Senate shortly