Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-05

FOStered by TaliaferrO.
The new measure was drafted after
o two-year study of the matter. 1t was
fostered by Commissioner Taliaferro
and was approved this week as one of
the last major actions of the outgoing
Board of Commissioners. The bill Is
based primarily on studies made by
Capt H. C. Whitehurst, co-ordinator
and chief engineer of the District, who
served with Corporation Counsel Will
liam w. Bride and Tax Assessor Will
liam P. Richards as a special committee
named by the city heads.
Briefly stated, the new law would
take into consideration the difference
between major traffic thoroughfareS
and residential streets and difference
in the depth and shape of lots, each
property owner to be assessed in pro-
portion to what is computed to be his
personal benefit and no more. the re-
mainder of the cost to be paid by the
users of the streets through their gas
oline tax payments.
Capt Whitehurst said today that he
believed enactment of the measure
would be a long step ahead, equaliZing
diSproportionate levies against property
owners made now in conformity with
the existing but out-of-date Borland
law, and providing that those who use
the highways assume more equitable
share of their cost.
The Borland law vas enacted in 1914,
At that time all streets were of one
type of construction. The increase in
traffic, however, since has led to the
adoption of a heavier and more costly
type of construction for major traffic
arteries. The question arose: Why
should owners of property abutting these
streets have to pay the greater assess
ment than those who had property
along streets that did not happen to be
traffic arteries?
Triangle Owners Relieved.
The principle in the new bill is that
property owners be assessed for their
"local' benefit. but not for the general
public benefit resulting from the paving
Of a through traffic artery. Relief also
would be granted to owners of tri-
angular lots and through" lots, or
those that have frontages on two par
allel streets
Some of the major principles of the
Borland law, however, would be con-
tinued. For instance. the cost of new
streets would be divided half and half
between the individual property owner
and the Government Through the gas
oline tax found) up to the point where
the local benefit to the property owner
ends. The cost of paving intersections
would remain with the Government.
Where streets are more than 40 feet
wide the gas tax fund would provide for
the extra cost, as at present, the 40-foot
width cost being divided on the $3.50
basis. within the restriction of the local
benefit clause.
In arriving at the "local' benefit to
property owners the District would levy
one-half the cost of new roadWays
against property owners, but in no case
would the amount of the assessment
work out to be more than $3.50 per front
foot of the property assessed, or to more
than three and a half cents per square
foot, or to more than 20 per cent of the
assessment on the land for general tax
purposes.
A new principle would be enunciated
in regard to streets laid under permit by
residential Subdividers who pay the full
cost. Under this whole cost" plan
home builders desiring early paving of
streets which the District could not
pave in its general program possible
for number of years pay the cost of
such new streets. From $4,000 to rs
900 square yards of street paving is
done by this plan each year.
Under the present law when these
streets are repaved benefit assessments