Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-30
CHANGE |NBORLAND
LAW IS SUGGESTED
TO END HARDSH|PS
Bride Suggests Provision
Similar to 1904 Measure
Be Put Into Effect.
WOULD RELIEVE OWNERS
OF CORNERS OF BURDEN
Also Urges Change in Traffic Code
to Make Time Distinction
ON Old Offenders.

Recommendation for amendment to
the Borland law to enable more fair
basis Of assessing property owners Tor
street paving costs were made 10 the
District Commissioners today by w. w.
Bride, corporation counsel
Bride commended that citizens owning
corner lots and some property irregular
in shape now are required to pay assess
ments rather large in comparison with
lots regular in shape" He pointed out
that under the Borland law property
owners in some instances pay larger
assessments on lots with small areas
than those with lots containing more
area.
Would Allow Adjustments.
One of the most important recon-
mendations made by the corporation
counsel is that the District Commits
sioners be given authority to adjust as
sessment where a hardship apparently
Is being worked on the property owner
This would give the Commissioners
power to reduce certain assessments.
Should the revenues fall off too much
under the plan, Bride suggested that
there be an increase In the gasoline
tax rate, or an additional tax of 81
on automobile tags. Regardless OF this,
however, Bride declared. the present as
sessment laws for paving should be re-
pealed.
THE law is greatly in need of amend
ment," Bride reported. Citizens are
very largely dissatisfied with its opera
lions and are seeking every opportunity
to evade the payment of assessments,
often with a great deal of reason. In
the case of corner lots. for example, an
assessment must be paid for two 'front.'
ages, with no allowance for depth.
L. - 80 sol fiv1r 70
ment of water mains and sewers. the
provision of law is that the assessment
shall be made only on the short front,
and on the long front, only when that
front exceeds 100 feet, and then only
for the excess over 100 feet.
Present Law Infiexible.
"Our paving law should contain such
q provision. It should also contain
provision that the Commissioners may
adjust assessments where because of eX-
cessive frontageS or irregularities III
shape the assessment against partlcu-
lar lot is large as compared with other
lots in the neighborhood. But the pres
ent law lays down hard-and-fast rule
that assessments shall be made accord
ing to the frontage, and no latitude
whatever is allowed for adjustments.
This works a hardship in many cases.
court the assessment is either sustained
as a valid assessment or Is declared
void altogether"
Bride also recommended that in in
stances where heavier roadbed is laid
for through traffic than Is called Tor by
local needs the Commissioners should
have the authority to adjust the situa-
ton because this is manifeStly unfair"
In discussing the possibility of an
increase here. Bride pointed out that
the gasoline tax at present is cents
n gallon in Virginia and 4 cents in
Maryland. He said If the tax could be
increased q cent a gallon and the same
amount Of fuel was assessed In the fu-
ture as last year. the additional in
come from this source would be $685.
1885 annually.
Needs Aid in Court.
The corporation counsel said a fair
fee for paving could be arranged by
Burfacing q normal block OF a 3o-foot
street. with an average depth Of con-
creta, and fixing a definite rate by pro-
Nortional assessment on that block.
The corporation counsel declared
there Is q crying need for additional as
distance at Police Court. He pointed
out that there has been marked in
ureaSe in the number of cases there.
He bald that there Is also a demand
Dor new quarters al as early date as
possible.
Bride again recommended that the
Commissioners suggest to Congress a
modification Of the traffic act relating
10 penalties upon conviction of second
and third offenses. The present law
draws no distinction as to whether the
Cnake was committed !, 5 or 10 years
ago