Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-24


ready due to the United States by the Dis
trict. which is 81 ,9e1, 7O8, is payable in three
years from the first of next July.
finance believes thaf the plan of the Com
missfoners for meeting these extraordinary
expenses is the proper one, and that they
should be paid for by advances from the
treasury, to ben reimbursed In installments
during period of twenty years. The COM
mittee hoped that Congress could be in
duced to adopt this plan, as it could hot
help resulting in great benefit for the Dis
Col. Truesdell NOTED that the board APP
prove the committees recommendation that
the Commissioners bill now pending in
Congress be passed
Before that motion was put Mr.. Robert
A. Pnnllps moved to amend 1t by proV1d1ng
that the repayment Of the advance from
the treasury be not begun until the end OF
twenty years, but that motion was not sec
onded. and the former motion was adopted
unanimously.
Sales for Unpaid Taxes.
Mr.. Jackson H. Ralston, chairman of the
committee on taxation and assessment, Of
fered the following resolution:
Whereas by act of Congress, approved
July l, 1902, the Commissioners of the Dis
trict OF Columbia were authorized, without
notice. to sell al public or private sale and
deliver deeds for property heretofore bought
In by the District at tax sale, upon pay
" Oil ldAeS, &C, III arrears,
Resolved, In view of the hardship to
individuals which would be caused by
nasty execution of this law, the existence Of
Which is unknown to many Of our citizens
tne District Commissioners be respectfully
requested. pending fuller information by
our citizens and investigation by the Board
OF Trade. to defer sale and delivery Of
deeds hereunder
Mr.. Ralston emphasized the Importance
OF the board passing the resolution, show
ing now easy 1t is under the present law for
any one. by overlooking the payment of
taxes for six months without ever having
mad that fact called to his attention, to
lose his property by having it sold for such
delinquency. Property, he said, Is being
sold ny the Commissioners under such con-
d1tlons without the knowledge of citizens,
anu tnese sales are conducted privately.
rms law Is being enforced to the extent
that property is being sold that was osten-
ago.
The further information has been given
to u.s. said Mr.. Ralston, that within a
DAY or two the Commissioners have made
an actual delivery of twenty-five pieces Of
property that had been bought in by the
District This is danger to any one own
ing property in the District Of Columbia. If
this law is carried out il should only he
with the fullest knowledge of everybody in
the District. 1t should not be carried out
under any circumstances by the sale Of
property privately.
Laws Not Mandatory.
The law is not mandatory so that the
commissioners are not compelled to sell
this property. 1t is not mandatory in per-
hitting or compelling private sales of prop
erty under these circumstances We believe
that such sales should not take place, and
that pending the fullest investigation by
citizens no sales whatsoever should be
made
Mr.. Ralstons remarks were greeted with
applause and the resolution he offered was
adopted unanimously.
Before the adoption Of the resolution DR..
PARDON stated shat check had come here
from city in New York to the amount
OF 100000 to be used in the purchase Of
property under the plan now being carried
cut by the Commissioners. DR.. Pardon ex-
pressed surprise to find that the law was
not mandatory. He had supposed it was
mandatory. He cited an instance of q case
In which a piece of property had been
bought In for $4.16, and In order to get 1t
back the woman who had owned it had to
pay 500, VITA an additional $40 for the
deed.
Opposed to buttons Removal.
Mr.. w. J. Newton offered a resolution
favoring the retention of Mr. R. w. Dutton
as chief Of the. fire department, as follows:
Whereas the House of Representatives
has so framed a provision In the District Of
Columbia appropriation bill as to threaten
forced change in the head of the District
fire department; and
Whereas the present head of that de-
partment is a most capable official, through
whose intelligent activity our fire depart
ment has achieved superiority far beyond
anything heretofore known In this COM
munity; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Washington Board
Of Trade requests the Senate of the United
States to strike out of the bill the provision
referred to, and to insist that there be no
fire department legislation adverse to vital
interests of the District and unfair to
highly respected and thoroughly efficient
department head.
Resolved. further. That the Board of
Trade requests the conferees who may be
appointed on the part of the House to with
draw from the adverse position already
taken.'
This resolution was amended by motion
of Mr.. w. II. Moses as to provide that
Congress adopt the recommendation of the
Commissioners that the head of the fire
department be designated as superintend-
ent. Mr. Moses spoke of the high efficiency
of Mr.. Dutton in the performance Of his
duties. Mr.: Newton said the results of Mr.
buttons administration should be sufficient
to recommend him to the consideration of
Congress. Mr.. Newton's resolution was
carried unanimously.
Mr.. Thomas P. Morgan offered a resolu-
ton requesting the Senate committee on
appropriations to incorporate in the District
bill provision for the increase of the SAL
airy Of the chief of police to $4,000 per
upon the chief of police warranted much
more salary than he is now getting, which
Is $500. The resolution was adopted.
Those Present.
Members of the board present were:
Thomas w. Smith, Archibald Grunlees w
H. Edmonston, D. ]. Macarty, A. P. Far
don, Captain J. P. Walker Frank A. Butts.
W. H., Singleton, Howard Fisk, General
George H. Harries, S. s. Shedd, General C.
T. Yoder, o. G. Staples. DR.. D. Percy Hick-
ling, Jno. c. Parker DR.. c. R. Dufour, S.
j. Prescott, DR.. VIM. Tindall, Thos W.
Sidwell, Jesse B. Wilson, Colonel George
Truesdell, VIM M. Shuster, DIR. w. Wood
ward, JOS 1. Saks, DR.. 1. 8. Stone, Geo.
Field. c. c. Duncanson, M. 1. Weller, Jno
W. F Smith, Jas. Sprfgg Poole, w. H. Hen
shaw, H. E. Bittinger Geo. H. Judd, Major
H b. LOCKER, W. H. Hopper, VIM Burke,
IT., Robert c. Howard, DR.. John Van
Renseler, William H. Moses. William ].
Frizzell, A. Lsner. F. A. Fenning,
Donald Mcpherson. w. s. Hoge. H. B. Pol
kinhorn, John w. Babson. Jno. Doyle Car
mody, r. R. Bennett, Smith Thompson, jr.,
L. S. Smith, Chas F. Weller. H. v. Rams
dali, Geo. w. Evans. Rev. DR.. w. E. Par
son, James Lansburgh. w. H. Stoutenberg,
Oscar w. White. Jas. L. Owens, Evans
Grains. Warren Stutler, s. p Bailey, Alex.