Year: 1878

THE BILL TO REVISE SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT


ASSESSMENTS.


In the bill to provide for the revision and cor.
rection of assessments for special improve.
ments in the District of Columbia, the Senate
District Committee as stated in the STAR yes
terday, made several amendments and the
bill was reported to the Senate by Mr.. Rollins
As amended by the committee, the bill pro-
videS: That the enforcement of the collection
OF the unpaid assessments prepared under the
Snh section OF the act OF Congress entitled, an
act to provide government for the District
OF Columbia, approved February 2lSt, 1871 be
suspended until the assessments shall have
been corrected. The District Commissioners
shall revise all statements heretofore made of
the cost of any and all improvements for any
part of which assessments have been pre-
partd, or in the absence of such statements
shall determine the cost of Improvements
which have been or are liable to assessment
and makea new statement of the cost thereof
showing the character of the work done this
ssiOners OF majority of them. In determin
ing the cost of improvements tine Commits
siOnerS shall deduct one half the cost of the
intersections and charge the same over to the
interSecting street or avenue. They shall de-
termine the amount chargeable to street rail-
roads by their character or the general law,
and the amount charged to or paid by the
improvements in front of property belong
ing to it, both OF which amounts shall be
deducted from the cost as found by them.
hey SIldil dSCcItdiu tue Ol il0oal I6oC
of the street, alley, avenue, or road, over
which any Improvement extends, and the cost
per lineal foot upon the basis of the statement
aforesaid, and also the number of front feet
ment not owned by the United States or the
District of Colum bia, and shall assess upon
each such lot or subdivision Of such property
for each front foot thereof One-sixth Of the
cost per lineal foot, ascertained as aforesaid
But such property shall not be assessed twice
for like improvements, nor shall it be assessed
for repairs or for the lowering of water mains
or the relaylng OF service pipes when such
work is caused by change of grade, nor for
haul OF grading in excess of that which rea.
sOnably could have been obtained, and for the
sewers where sewers have been laid down as
part OF such improvements; the cost charged
shall be that of 15-inch pipe sewer, and when
ever the contract for any pavement required
tor therefor, the cost of such grading shall be
deemed to be included in the contract price
for such pavement, and truncated or trian-
gular lots or spaces not suitable for Subdi-
vision shall be assessed in accordance with
rules to be prescribed by said Commissioners
not inconsistent herewith, and not exceed
And the amount so assessed shall be de deemed ned
and taken as the proper app0rti0nment charge
able TO each lot, according to the benefit con
terrea; and the balance Of the expense shall
be paid out OF the general fund of the District.
And the Commissioners shall thereupon make
out revised assessment, which shall be sub.
stltuted for the original. Whenever 1t shall be
found that the amount of any assessment paid
exceeds the sum found to have been due by
the revised assessment the Commissioners OF
the District shall issue to the person entitled
thereto certificate reciting the amount 50
lound 10 have been overpaid, which certificate
snail be receivable in payment Of any assess
menu ior special improvements due and un-
PAID, or be payable out OF the proceeds OF re-
y1Sed assessments hereafter collected, after
the payment of such outstanding certifi-
Gates Of indebtedness as have been
by law made payable out Of said fund,