The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-21

The District Commissioners were be- !
fore the House District Committee this /
morning for nearly two hours discus
sing the various bills which are before /
the committee affecting local affairs.
Commissioners Macfarland. West. and
Biddle We're present. and the members
manifested much interest in what
they had to say respecting the legis-
lative needs Of the District
The Commissioners took up the sub
jects coming under their respective di-
visions Of the District government. Mr..
| Macfarland devoted his attention large
" to the series of bills intended to i'm
prove sanitary and health conditions,
| while Mr.. West discussed the snow and
ice bill. and then went into a lengthy
consideration Of the amendments to the
personal tax law
= Mr.. Macfarland said as a part of the
scheme of general legislation to i'm
prove conditions, the Commissioners de-
sired the passage of the bin TO create
a board to condemn insaBitary build
ings. The bill to abate nuisances has
already passed the House. The bill to
condemn insanitary buildings, ne sud
was the next step which should be
taken. He said tlS measure was in
tended to reach the alleys and slums.
and allow the authorities to remove
unhealthy dwellings in these sections.
Legislation OF this character, ne SAID
had been tSe result OF study for years
and the experience of other municipali-
ties.
Owners Are Protected
The measure had been drafted by the
Corporation Counsel. who believed that
the interests of property owners had
been fully protected. The Health and
other departments had given- sugges-
tions.
Mr. Campbell a member Of the COM
rnittee. wanter 10 --ow what the loss
would be 70 ownezs OF the property il
was proposed to condemn.
Mr.. Macfarland said there would be
no real loss, as the Dlli provides for an
award OF damages and gave them pro-
lection hy reeort TO the courts. Mr.
Macfsriand said there was opposition
to the bill only from mercenary persons
who are benefited by the maintenance
OF the alley shacks which pay an in
come Of 10 to 30 per cent. whereas sani-
tary buildings might not yield net in
come OF more than per cent
Tenement House Law.
The next bill discussed was the tene-
ment house law, which Mr.. Macfarland
said had been framed upon the exper-
fence of other cities.
MIR. West took up the bill to appro-
pirate 5000 to clean the snow and ice
from the streets He said the Com
missiOners had been handicapped in
cleaning snow and ice from the streets
: by the decision Of the Comptroller OF
the Treasury. who had ruled that money
/ tod
not be used for general purposes. The
bill appropriates 5000 for the removal
OF snow and ice, and authorizes the
Commissioners to cause the STREETS and
sidewalks to be cleaned and the cost
assessed against the property holders
Mr.. West said that now. when warrants
are served against property owners who
} fail to clean their walks they simply
go to the station, deposit 81, and the
snow and ice remains until il thaws on
He favored a minimum fine of s., in
addition TO costs.
Personal Tax Statute.
Mr.. West then took UP the bill to
an end the personal tax law. which he
sid was an omnibus measure 10 correct
the imperfect provisions of the present
law
The first amendment desired. he said
I
sonal Tax Review to have four months
more time in which to collect personal
tax, and to facilitate the operation of
the law. There are he said. from 1900
to 1900 personal TAX returns made by
, August u under the law; Il large num-
ber of people do not make any returns
at all. and 1t is necessary TO go out and
find them. The penalty Is attached
for failure TO make returns. but the
penalty for nOn-payment, he said. does
not accrue until the following May. The
amendment. he said. would practically
do away with payment OF personal tax
H. November. bat that there was little
demand for payment or desire to pay
In November
The next section. he said proposed to
exempt private art galleries which are
open two hours day for two DAYS a
week. He thought that galleries which
were thrown open to the public should
not be taxed
Mr.. West cited the instance of Mr..
Waggaman in Georgetown. assessed at
a valuation of $4,000. The owner pro-
tested against the imposition Of the tax
because he had opened the gallery at
certain seasons OF the year for charity,
charging an admission fee of 50 cents
To avoid the tax he said the owner had
, donated the entire collection to the
Catholic University.
Interest and Penalties.
Another section of the measure re-
ferred to by Mr.. West was the one
which enables the Commissioners to re-
nit interest and penalties in certain
4 cases. and cited a number of Instances
' where equity demanded a remission