Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-23
NO FURTHER ACTION
SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON
LOCAL TAXATION.
Reports Ordered q various Bills at
This Mornings Session-The
Personal Tax Measure.

The Senate committee on the District of
Columbia held meeting today and ordered
reports on several bills of local interest.
The committee discussed in general way
the subject of local taxation and it was
generally understood that the committee
will take no further action regarding this
subject having reported Senator McMillans
personal tax bill. 1t will give no hearings
and considers that so far as the District
committee is concerned the subject of tax
alton is for the present a closed incident.
The committee on appropriations, however,
will have a limited number of hearings at
which the personal tax bill will be dis
cussed.
Tax Sales in the District.
The committee ordered a report on House
bill 114OO, in relation to taxes and tax sales
in the District Quite number of amend
ments were made to this bill. These
amendments do not change the general pur-
pose of the bill. Among other amendments
by the committee is one that provides that
sioners of property sold for taxes shall at any
time be set aside by decree of any court as
invalid the party in whose favor the decree
is rendered shall pay to the party holding
the conveyance the amount paid for taxes
and conveyances, together with interest at
the rate of 6 per cent per annum.
1t is further provided that all property in
the District, except that owned by the
United States or the District government,
shall be subject to assessment for water
main and local improvement and only such
property used for educational purposes as
is not used for private gain shall be exempt
from general taxation. Hereafter the as
SCISSOR of the District shall have the records
of his office open to the inspection of the
public free of charge at such times as the
public interests will permit.
Hereafter the rate of taxation on all
real estate in the District shall be uniform,
not exceeding $3.50 on each 500 of assessed
valuation, and whenever a subdivision Is
made and recorded the board of assistant
assessors directed to reassess the prop
erty subdivided.
In all cases where assessments of benefits
for street extensions have been or may be
levied payment of the same shall be made
in five equal annual installments with inter-
est at the rate of per cent per annum. In
all cases of payments the accounting Off
GERS shall take into account the assessments
for benefits and the awards for damages.
Nothing in this act is to be construed as re-
ducing the present rate Of interest to be
paid in redemption of any tax certificate
issued to any purchaser other than the Dis
trict upon any sale prior to the first of
next July.
To Condemn Insanitary Buildings.
Senate bill 500 to create board for the
condemnation Of insanitary buildings,
which bill was framed by the, Commission
ers, was ordered reported as soon as the
subcommittee having 1t in charge is salts
fled as to the legality of the form Of its
provisions. This subcommittee consists of
Senators Stewart, Martin and Mallory, and
at the meeting today Senator Dillingham;
was added to the subcommittee. The bill
will be reported without amendment as ap-
proved by the Commissioners and pub
lished in The Star, except SO far as the SUBJ
committee may consider a change of Ian
guage desirable.
To Extend Overhead, Wires.
The Senate joint resolution introduced
April % by Senator Mcmillan authorizing
the Commissioners ito issue permits to
existing electric light companies in the Dis
trict of Columbia for the erection of and
extension of overhead electric wires out
side the fire limits and east of Rock creek
to be used for lighting purposes only was
favorably acted on and will be reported
without amendment.
Inspection of Milk.
A favorably report was also ordered
the proposed amendment by Senator Stew
art to the District of Columbia appropria-
ton bill in relation to dairy products. 1t
increases the salary of the superintendent
of dairy products, or chemist, from 81 900 to
24OO, and provides for six inspectors Of
udlTy pTOuuCtS, Two Oh WHO'LL Shall ne
veterinary surgeons, at 81, 800 each. These
inspectors are to examine all farm and
dairy establishments from which milk is
shipped into the District. and all diaries.
dairy farms and places from which milk
is sold in the District. They are to assist
the health officer to enforce all laws and
regulations now in force, or which may
hereafter be passed relative to milk and
cream in the District.
The Commissioners are authorized to
make rules and regulations to prevent the
sale of unclean and unwholesome milk and
cream, and to allow none but pure and un-
adulterated milk and cream, free from
every foreign substance, to be sold in the
District, and to provide penalties to secure
the enforcement of these rules and regua-
tons No milk is to be brought into the
District from diaries where free opportunity
is not given for thorough investigation, and
where the laws, rules and regulations re-
specting milk and cream are not regarded.
License Taxes.
The committee also ordered favorable
report on the Commissioners bill prescrib-
ing license taxes in the District Of Co.
lumbia. This bill will be reported in the
form in which it came from the Commits
SionerS.