Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03

pia was sued at law to recover Gums
judgments were rendered IN the total sum
OF $3.50 and with other Judgments
now pending on appeal In the Court
or Appeals amounting TO $iS.SO0. In
the Equity Court ten eases were, disposed
of. all practically in favor OF tie District,
and ten equity cases are now pending.
The law cases still undecided aggregate
twenty-six. involving the sum of $685.
1888. In addition to these cases In the
lower courts. fifteen cases have been pre-
pared. argued and submitted in the Court
Of Appeals.
In addition to the cases before the
courts. the corporation counsel and as
sistants have been daily called upon to
give advice to the Commissioners ia mat
ters requiring legal decision. No less than
800 written opinions have been submitted,
while oral opinions and consultations with
the Commissioners and heads OF depart
ments which have involved careful con-
sideration on q great variety OF subjects
have been too numerous to mention.
The corporation counsel invites atten.
ton to the fact that the testimony Of
real estate experts Is needed In behalf
of the District In all cases involving con-
d@mnation of land, and non-hosttle wit
mes ses of this character properly pre-
pared to testify cannot be obtained for
the usual witness fees. Authority to EN-
ploy these experts at rate not less
than 81 day for each days service Will
De requested of Congress.
Social Legislation.
The Fifty ninth Congress did notable
work In the improvement of the social
legislation of the District of Columbia.
AS result of years of effort and repeated
recommendations by the Commissioners
enactments were made dealing with in
sanitary buildings, widening OF alleys into
minor streets. the playground project reg.
istration OF nurses. better registration Of
births, reaching nonresident owners hav-
Ing nuisances on their property reguiat-
Ing employment agencies. providing a new
poison ana pharmacy law. providing Z
new Juvenile court and probation system.
an effective compulsory education law and
rhe regulation Of savings banks. These
measures have all worked web, although
SOME amendments may he required as the
result of practical experience
During the fiscal year Just closed the
commissioners made several efforts 10
widen alleys into minor streets in blocks
In the heart of the city where conditions
were such as to call for the especial at
tention OF the police department to pre-
vent social disorders without allowing the
of,cers proper faci for keeping the
alleys under close observation. These
cases were attempted under the Code Of
Law for the District Of Columbia. which
provides that the total cost of the i'm
proVement shall be borne by assessments
!eV.ed upon property in the block In which
Inc minor street is opened and the four
blocks facing thereon. But one such case
was pushed to a successful issue, the
1urfes in three others being unable to re.
turn total assessments equal to the dam
ages found. The Commissioners believe
that these cases. and many more, should
pc undertaken for the public good. and
ment as special bills the cases which
failed. and. from time to time Others
The Commissioners will recommend In
each case that certain portion of the
hoh H<ab <nr,
as It Is realized that In most cases of this
KIND the code provides a zone for assess
ment which Is too limited to enable the
jury to place benefits without working ex-
IRENE hardship on many Of the owners OF
the property. r."
1t Is earnestly desired that favorable
action be taken upon other measures of
TINS class, urgently required by the neces-
sites OF the community. First on che
list of such subjects for the consideration
Of the coming Congress. the Comm ission-
ers renew their recommendation for
child labor law. The District is one Of the
very few jurisdictions which has not a
chid labor law, and, while the need for
one Is not SO great here as in some juris-
dictions. there is strong desire to have
such law enacted at an early day. In
their estimates the Commissioners have
recommended measures for strengthening
the health department, SO AZ to improve
the administration of sanitary laws and
regulations. and additional measures of
this character VIII hs submitted to Com
gress including Registration Of tubsrcu-
tosts cases and other similar matters af-
fectin9 the health Of the citizens. The
regulation Of so-cailed assessment life
insurance. provision for branch libraries
and other measures will be submitted
later.
1t is anticipated that the trienniaI as
sessment for 19OQ-l911, which is now In
course Of preparation and which viii be
completed subject to appeal. beginning
the hrst Monday in January, 1868. win
show very large Increase in the total
assessed valuation of real estate In the
District of Columbia. There has been
during the fiscal year ended June So
erection OF buildings. the total assessed
valuation for the year being e247 500, 4os,
as against $239, 461 ,965 Tor the fiscal year
1903 the total real estate tax being s.
noteworthy. inasmuch as allowance 10
made for a reduction due to the demoli-
tion Of about $142.0O0 worth Of buildings
in connection with the railroad terminal
improvements. In connection with the
work of assessment. the Commissioners
recommend change Of the law SO that
the board of equalizatio and review shall
continue In session from the first Monday
in January to the first Monday in April.
which would allow ample time for ap-
peals and also enable the board to rein
spect and investigate statements offered
by appellants so that the final adjustment
of the assessments could be completed be-
fore the beginning of the following fiscal
year when the taxes would be placed
upon the ledgers.
The personal tax levy for the fiscal year
1908 is estimated at $4,000. based upon
the amount assessed for 1907. which was
$s05 .6SS. 1t is gratifying to record the fact
that the records of the collector of taxes
show that the personal taxes levied are
collected up to and within 9S per cent of
the total amount assessed. The Commits
sionars have constantly endeavored to re-
duce to a minimum the friction which Is
almost inseparable from the administra-
ton of the personal tax law. Although
the collector of taxes is authorized to dis
train property upon which taxes have not
been paid the full rigor of the law has
been invoked only In exceptional cases,
and through the appointment of bailiffs
or collectors every effort has been made
by personal visits to delinquent taXpay-
ers to secure a settlement of thenr ac-
counts without recourse to harsh meas
ures. That this course Of action Is wise
and effective Is shown by the collection OF
q large percentage of the delinquent ac-
counts. a..
Report on Public Utilities.
Under the direction of the Commits
sioners the assessors Office prepared for
the first time in its history a detailed
statement upon the subject of the tax