Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-25
BurIeith and FoxhaII Village
Associations Say LevieS-
Exceed Benefits.
INCONSISTENCY CHARGED
IN MAKING ASSESSMENTS
Resolution Adopted Asking Keech
to Take Action to Check Size
of Gas Bills.

BaSlng their plea on declared lncOn-
sistencies in the assessments levied
against property holders in Burleith in
connection with the widening of Reser-
voir road from Thirty-f1fth street to
the Conduit road, the Executive Com
mittee of the Burleith Citizens ASso-
citation prepared today to present a
formal protest to the District Supreme
Court against the method of assess
ment. Benefit assessments amounting
to $50, were levied several weeks
ago against property in Burleith Extend
ing north of Reservoir road to aid the
District in paying the cost of the Wild
ening of the road, which forms the
eastern boundary of the subdivision
known as Burleith for one block on
Reservoir road. Six hundred and
thirty-elght property owners have been
assessed various amounts ranging from
50 to nearly 5000, and these assessments
are said to have been found to be SO
"Spotty' and to have so many incon-
sistencies that the association moved
today to retain counsel to make a
formal protest against the method Of
assessment.
Inconsistencies Charged.
Comparison of the awards of the
condemnation jury, according to J. s.
Gorrell, president of the Burleith Citi-
zenS' Association, with a plat CT the
Burleith section disclosed that prop
erty owners IN the blocks on r and S
streets between Thirty-fifth and
Thfrty-sixth streets have not been as
sesSed at all. The Executive Commit
tee found by the same comparison that
property holders on one side of Thirty
seventh street were assessed, while
those across the street were not as
nj no. to- he
street some property holders were as
seSSed sums running up to $40, while
others received no notice of assessment.
On these declared Inconsistencies the
association decided TO take action. The
Executive Committee pointed out that
Reservoir road has the status at pres
ent of an arterial highway and that
1t is seldom used by residents Of Bur-
leith. These residents. 1t was declared,
use r, S or T streets and the num-
bered north and south streets to get to
their homes, while the traffic which
uses Reservoir road Is almost exclusively
traffic destined for points farther west
and north than the Burleith section.
The assessments were levied by con-
domination jury consisting of Peter A.
Drury, chairman; Frank Jelleff, secre-
tary; ]. S. Copenhaver, John j. Camp
bell and D. j. Barry. The association
takes the stand that the assessments
are out OF proportion to the benefits
that will accrue to residents in the
Burleith section, and have been levied
in an inconsistent manner.
FoxhaM Citizens Meet.
Residents of Foxhall Village who be-
lieve they have been inequitably assessed
for the widening OF the road were told
they would have to take individual &C
ton in court to secure adjustments, at a
meeting of the Foxhall Village Citizens
Association in st. Patrick's Chapel
Parish Hall last night
There was a difference Of opinion at
the meeting regarding whether the resi-
dents were receiving benefits" from the
widening and improving of the thor
oughfare sufficient to balance the
amount which they are required to pay
in assessments.
James x. Polk. jr., secretary Of the
association, explained, however, that
among the citizens living on streets a
block or more from Reservoir road a
number of them felt they had been in
equitably assessed, in view of persons
on the side of the street nearest Reser-
voir road being required to pay much
greater sums than persons living across
the street from them.
The meeting, a special one, II was ex-
planned, was called to give the members
OF the association an opportunity to
discuss the question In open meeting
and to take up the question of alleged
increased amounts Of gas bills In the
section.
Gas Bills Are Discussed.
The general question of assessments
for the widening Of Reservoir road was
explained before the association by
Lucien H. MERCER. chairman of the
Legal Affairs Committee of the organi-
zation. No action on the matter was
taken by the association as a body, 1t
being explained that 1t would be neces-
sary for the citizens to take action in
court as individuals to contest assess
ments, If they so desired
The citizens in the section, 1t was
pointed out, will be assessed additional
sums later for the repaving and i'm
provementS to Reservoir road The as
sesSments under consideration last
night involved principally those for the
acquisition of land for the widening Of
Reservoir road
Following the discussion. the asSocia-
ton took up the question of the al
legged increase in the amount of gas
bills and adopted resolution demand
ing the peoples counsel, Richmond B.
Keech. to take action to put a stop to
| the increased amounts the citizens Of
the section say they have to pay.