Evening star., 1902-05-02

HenC- was lOSt on q viva VQEe vote, Wiler
Mr.. McDermott offered the followins
amendment to the tax provise: That all
property assessed by said assessors shall b,
assessed under uniform rules according te
true value
Reassessment Proposed.
The object OF the amendnent, Mr.. Nc.
Dermott explained, was thas there Nigh,
be reassessment on UNIFORM rule 0,
value of all the property in tie District
The amendment was lost On a viva voce
vote. y
Mr.. Mudd, speaking on & pro forma
amendment, contended that Ihe Commits
sioners had by their endeavN to collect a
personal tax seemingly not held that the
been entirely destroyed. Tho: Commission
ers, he said, had also gone Son record as
favoring personal tax by The bill which
they had sent to the present. Congress
Mr.. Bellamy submitted an amendment
providing That any person Who shall be a
bona-fide resident of the, District of Co
lumbia and liable for assessment for taxes
who shall, after having BEEN notified In
writing by the assessors. unlawfulfy and
Willfully refuse to return. & schedule of his
property as required by the act of March g.
1877, shall be guilty of a misaemeanor and
punished by fine Of not less than 81 nor
court.
Provided such notice shall be given at
least ten days before the time for returning
SAID schedules shall expire" s
Mr. Beiiamy complained that certain citi-
zens of his state avoided payment Of taxes
there by claiming residence In the District
Of Columbia, His amendmsr1t, however,
was rejected.
Mr. Morrell of Pennsylvania refuted wha t
he had construed as a reflection on Assess
sor Darneille by Mr. Cowherd, but Mr..
Cowherd at once denied that ne had re-
Hected IN the least on the assessor
McCleary Amendment Adopted.
Mr. McCleary's tax amendment was then
agreed to without opposition. He then
offered an amendment changing the title
of the office of attorney for the District
to "city solicitor"
The provisions in the bill granting add-
tional powers to the auditor was stricken
out on point of order made by Mr.
Pearre, who raised the point that the mat
ter was new legislation. The point was
sustained without discussion.
Provision Stricken Gut.
The provision which went out reads:
THAT hereafter when differences arise in
the rendition. examinations or settlement
of the accounts of the disbursing officer of
the District of Columbia which would seem
to render necessary the suspension or disa!-
lowance of any item in said accounts, the
treasury auditor shall notify the auditor
of the District of Columbia, who shall be
authorized to present in explanation such
facts or arguments as may, In his opinion.
tend to the prevention or removal of such
suspension or disalloWance.
when the auditor of the district Of Co
lumbia is in doubt as to the legality of an
account voucher for payment upon
which he is required to act he may apply
to the controller of the treasury Tor a de-
cision upon the question invqlr d. and that
ofhcer shall render the same. and Inc de-
cision so rendered shall govern ,2e ac-
counting officers of the treasury In subse-
quently passing upon the account afore-
said. The auditor of the District of CO.
tersign all checks issued by the disbursing
officer and no check involving the dis
bursement of public moneys by the dis
bursting officer shall be valid unless coun-
tersigned by the auditor of the District Of
Columbia" =
Mr.. Samuel w. Smith of Michigan offered
an amendment raising the provision for
rent of District offices from 5000 to s1O,-
600. Mr. McCleary objected, and the
amendment was withdrawn.
Under the provision for streets Mr. Nc
Cleary secured the adoption of an amend
ment defining the term livery Of horses
to the purchase and maintenance of horses
and repair of wagons and harness."
The clause in the bill authorizing the
commissioners to permit the erection Of
poles and the stringing of overhead wires
thereon outside Of the fire limits east OF
ROCK creek, for electric lighting purposes
was stricken from the bin on a point Of
order made by Mr.. Grosvenor.
The Water Supply.
Mr.. Palmer of Pennsylvania took occa-
sion at this point to make some facetious
remarks on the water supply of the Dis
tr1ct.. He could not conceive how so much
money could have been spent for a sand
filtration plant. He said he had read the
testimony of Col. Miller, but In his opinion
Col. Miller had simply taken an immense
amount of time and had really said moth
ing.
Mr.. McCleary in reply stated that the ap-
preparation for water supply had been
made on the estimate of Col Miller He
offered an amendment to this. provision of
the bill making the amount appropriated
for the water supply Immediately avail
able
Pay Of Justices.
Mr.. McCleary secured the adoption of an
amendment making an appropriation to
pay the ten justices of the peace authorized
under the District code a salary Of $1,000
year each and $3.50 year each additional
for rent, ETC.
Mr.: Benton. also of the committee, Of
1ered an amendment which was agreed to,
justices for duties as cotaries public to be
turned over to the tax collector
Repairs Of Columbia Hospital.
An additional amount of $1,000 was
placed on the bill at the suggestion Of Mr.
Livingston of Georgia. for improvements
and repairs of Columbia Hospital
Mr.. k1eberg secured the adoption Of an
amendment by which the German Orphan
Asylum is taken out from under the super
vision of the board of childrerfs guardians
An amendment was adopted TO the bill at
the suggestion of Mr.. Benton which limits
the salary of the clerk OF the Supreme
Court of the District to s3t500 a year and
provides that the fees he collects in excess
of this amount shall be turned into the tax
collectors Office.
The Bill Passed.
The House passed the District OF Column
bia appropriation bill at $40 O'Clock this
afternoon with the amendment proposed
by the appropriation committee creating
the machinery to put into effect the per-
sonal tax law of 1877. se-e
IOWA SWEPT BY ToRNADoEs.