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The Washington C Erne. 22D YEAH NO. (3,720. WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19, 1890. PRICE TWO CENTS. NEWS OP THE WORLD IH BRIEF. t-ncnl. Henry Johnson was on trial to-dny Tor tho killing of Knock Turner, All (tio Episcopal mill Catholla churches celebrated tho opening of Lent to-day. Judgo Miller dismissed tho caso against Admiral Porter's son and ho was roloasod, Tho congregation of St. JohnM Church, object to n chango In al.cntou hcrvlco made by their now rector. Tho deferred pajtnenta duo contractors fiom tho District (iovernmnnt will prob ibly ho mado next Monday, Tho District Commissioners and Auditor l'elty Rnvo the-Houeo Committee, on Appro priations their vlows upon tho Qoncral Icflclcncy bill. Major Peyton Itandolph, general man ager of tho Flcdmont Air Line, who has 1 ccn lying seriously 111 for tho past two wcekant his rceldcnco In this city, Is now convalescent. I'ulcnts havo been Issued to local In ventors n8 follows! John A. Bailey, oar lock; Frances M. Harbor, fruit stand; It, Or tli, explosive compound: Kathau II. Clark, steam holler; Robert 8. Crawford, blcyclo bearing; Ocorgo II. Darin, printing from stencils; George C. Hcnning', tele scopic packing case; John McCormfc, um brella, Goveriimtintul, II. C. Kcnah has been appointed post master at Mount Savage, Md., and J. U. Updllto at Buffalo Forgo, Va. Chief Inspector Rathbono of tho Post olllco Department Is In Now Orleans as a witness in u postal caso. Ills assistant, Mr. Maynard, Is acting chief. Tho President to-day granted pardons to Angus Brobham and Beauregard Hrobham of Charleston, S. C, convicted of selling liquor without a United States license. Congressman Washington will odor a rteolutlon In tho House providing for a low of higher taxes upon tho property and franchises of Btrcot railways of this city. Tho Scnato passed tho bill votoed by President Cleveland, which allows tho claim of Dr. McBlalrof this city against tho Government of about $20,000, and re stores him to the Army. Domestic. Democratic mayors wcro elected at Allen town and Lebanon, Pa. Dcmpsoy knocked out McCarthy at 8an Francisco In twenty-eight bloody round?. Friends of tho Cronln murdorers aro ask ing contributions of money to get a now trial. Tho president of Cornell University's freshman class was kidnaped by the sopho mores. Johnstown, Pa., has taken In eight adja cent boroughs and elected V. Horace Rose mayor. Ellison Mounts, a member of the Ilatflold gang of outlaws In Kentucky, was hanged jestcrday. Tho stcamor City of Kingston, supposed to havo been lost, has arrived safety at Seattle, Wash. Colonel Henry C. Do Alma, soldier and Government officer, Is In destttuto circum stances at Denver. Jako Staples, a negro, Is in danger of lynching at Knoxvllle, Tenn., for assault ing a f aimer's wife. It is rumored tho Russian Government lias leased Its Ilehring Sea seal fisheries to the Alaska Commercial Company. R. K. Emtth, representing tho Corbln Banking Company of New York at Elmly, La., Is said lo bo a defaulter for $10,000. A Seittlo jury has found Homer C. Brown to bo sane. Ho has been persecuted for years by his family and confined In In sano asylums. The owners of tho schooner Frank Pratt Lcohao sued tho owners of tho schooner Edward Harlow for $27,000 damages for collision in Chesapeake Hay last week. Tho alibi which A. A. Fosdlck, accused of assassinating his brother, Dr. .Fosdlck, at Kalamazoo, Mich., has attempted, to prove, Is found by tho shorlfli to ho .very tame. Fourteen Republican and seven Demo cratic magistrates havo probably been elected in Philadelphia. Republican voto about 85,000 against 55,000 to 00,000 Demo cratic votes. A large delegation of Baltimore business men participated in a public discussion be fore tho Senate committee last night of tho Western Maryland Railroad bills pend ing in the Legislature. Judtro Zano decided that sis Mormon councllmen of Salt Lako City wero en titled to certificates of election. This vould make tho council stand 9 Gentiles and 0 Mormons. Tho Gentiles appealed from tho decision. Tho bill creating a Boaul of Exclso Com missioners to regulate tho granting of liquor licenses has passed tho Virginia llouso of Delegates by a largo majority. It is designed to prevent the payment of licenses in coupons. Tho King of Italy has sent Mayor Hart of Boston u communication thanking the Board or Poltco of Boston and Captalu Cain and his officers, who ilsked their lives in icsculng tho Italian people at tho lecent North-street lire In that city. Tho victims of tho railway accident ou tho Grand Trunk Railway 'at St. Georgo, near Hamilton, Ont., about a year ago have begun suit for damages against the railway company, consolidating their suits, the aggregate amount of which Is $3,003,000. The G. A. R., Department of Maryland, began Itsfourtcenth annual encampmeut at Harris' Academy of Music, Baltimore. Gcucial Russell A. Alirer, cotntmiulor-In-chief, was their guest, and at night was tendered a banquet at the Carrollton. A number of guests from Washington, wero rusent. Foreign. Tho English Government will not support an clght-houi measure. The rumor that Bismarck will lcslgn lacks continuation. Joseph Gtllis Bigcar, M. P., died to-day. Ho was u noted obstructionist in Parlia ment. Tho French euglueers who havo been examining the Panama Canal aro returning from their labors. Foveral largo Ironclads and cruisers will bo constructed by the Russfau Government iluiltig tho summer. Tho soldiers wero called out to restore order at a fight which occurred at Socialist election In Muhllmuscn, Saxony. Piesldcut Kruger of tho Transvaal has conferrul upon Prlnco Henrv of Prussia tho Grand Cross of the LIou of the Nether lands. l'roslilent llarilsun Departs. Tho President left hero to-day at 1!J o'clock, over tho Pennsylvania Railroad, for Allegheny City, Pa., to attend tho open ing of tho freo library donated to tlut city by Mr. Andrew Carnegie. .Representatives llnln and Dalzcll, Professor Luugley of tho Smithsonian Iustltuto and Mr. Enoch Pratt of Balllmoio wero In tho paity. Aiuusomcnt Notes. A I ihuoii's Salo of scats for next weok's engagement, Stuart Hobson, in "An Arrant Knae," opeus at this house to-morrow uiointng. Lincoln Mumc Hall John Stetson's company In 'The Gondoliers" open at this houso on Monday, and tho sale of tickets begins at Droop's music store In tho morn-Jul-. Charles L. Davis, tho well-known de lineator of rural character, will bo at lluv jls' llljou Theatre next week In his now play, "One of tho Old Stock." Utllly unci 'Woods' now big show will bo tho attraction at Kcruan's next week, em bracing the leading novelties of the world. (leriimn In n I'lvu Wcoltb' Con mo, lluupt's thiid season In Washington opens to-morrow at Lincoln Musio Hall Building, 1) ami Ninth. Tho hours will ho 10.H0, 4;20 ami. 8 p in. Dr. Llpplncott, Plltsburir, l'a, wrote: "Haupt's method Is most admirably adapted to tho purpose of acquiring a practical knowledgo of (leim.ui Any other method mffers yreatly Inj comiari8nn " A practical uso of tho (Jejmaii proinUed to speak, read and write It, Investigation froo to all. STOP THE TAX THIEVES. What Prominent Citizens Havo Say About tho Frauds. to Mil. HEMMINGWATS sharp criticism He Calls tho Assessors to Account Their Own Statements. on Dlillciiltlffl of the Proliant System More Clearly Shown by Thono Who tlaro llcen Famlllnr With It Opinion. In Congress. "Within tho past two days The Oiutio lins shown in Indisputable figures, gathered from tho official records of the city, that gross and Illegal inequalities exist iu tho present mode of assessing tho taxes of tho District of Columbia. Only a small part of tho talo has been told, but enough to demonstrate, boyond tho shadow of n doubt, that widespread irregularities exist in tho raising of the municipal revenue on account of an In adequate administration of a faulty tat law. Tho injustice dono tho bulk of tho tax-payers and tho Illegal dis criminations practiced against them havo been established to bo matters of fact. No glittering generalities have been indulged in, but each statement has been Hanked by an array of facts which mado its stronghold lmprcgnablo to controverting assaults. Tho presence of tho existing evils may be in a meas ure accounted for by tho explanation of tho system Of administration ofthc tax law. Tho assessment of District real estate and improvements, for the purposo of establishing a value upon which to levy a tax, Is mado onco ovcry three years. Tho last ono was mado last summer. For tho purpose of assessment, tho Dis trict of Columbia Is divided Into twelve assessment districts, and twclvo ap piaisers aro appointed. The law re quires the assessment to bo completed within 150 days. Tho territory of each assessor Is large. Ono, for Instance, embraces that part of tho city lying be tween Fifteenth and Twentieth streets at d the river front and boundary. It takes in the wealthiest section of the clly. The ical valuo of the property in ihnt one district would probably reach over $00,000,000. Tho territory com prices nil sorts of properties sonio that lmvu lain dormant for years, and others that have increased with almost in credible rapidity. The Assessor has only 100 days in which to look over each houo, lot and improvement iu this Immense territory and arrive at an idea of its value. IIu hns no lime in which to study tho strides in values which certain localities have made. IIo cannot take the time to settle a disputed value by referring to lbu,cltv records to discover what It was purchased for, or to ascertain any facts in relation to It. Ho barely has timu to get over the territory assigned to him, and gicat eirors necessarily creep into his reports. Thcv nny be eirors of judgment on his part,-or tho 4 lesult ot nusinioimaiion or lacic ot in formation upon tho subiect matter. The disastious hasto of tho Assessor can be often tiaccd by a glance at the assessment book, showing all sides of a square with every lot assessed at the same price save the two corner o"hcs. rennidless of the difference in value of individual lots. The assessors nic men hired at a compensation of $3 per day. In not cvciy caso are they men who aro iutimatcly acquainted with tho city's growth and the rapid iucrcaso In values. Their compensation,, term of service and the wholo sunoundlngs of their positions mo too tcmporaiy to give tho public confidence in their work, When the twclvo assessors have com pleted their valuations of tho propeity and enteied them in tho books, they then lesolvo themselves into a Hoard of Appeals, to hear tho arguments of citi zens who claim an unequal assessment upon their piopcrty. It is a most peculiar spectacle. Twelve 'men sitting ns a higher court to bo judges of their own actions. CritlcUm of the Assessors. Sir. O. II. Hemingway has been in terested In tho question of local assess ment and taxation for several years, and. when applied to by Tun Ciutig tor his vlows on tho situation, lcplled substantially as follows: This Is on old story with me. For years I havo been trying toattractpublic attention to this matter, which is the greatest evil wo suffer to day In this District. If tho nconle could bo brought to realio how far-ieachlng tho evil Is, how disastious Its effects ate, and that ench lesident of the District, whether a land-owner or not, is a sufferer, it would not take long to coirect It. TUo couiso of Tnu Chitio is highly com mendnblc, and if it keeps on until it tenches tho people what tho facts aro It will lender a public service that will stand unparallelled. Tho interviews published yosterday with tho latosub assessors tell a story of ignoianco, stupidity, dishonesty and sycophancy that accounts for it an. jur. uoiuen aunuts mat "Iho wealthy taxpayers bulldo.ed the tax asscssois into nu under estimate value of thelrjpropeitles," and that "an unjust discrimination Is made against tho poor peoplo In favor of the rich." Tlio assessors, ho says, "could not stand tho pressuio brought to bear on them." So they lacked tho man hood to eufoico tho law they wcru swoin to uphold. Hut It Is refreshing to know that tho bouid contained ono man as honest and Intelligent as Sir. Golden appeals to be. lint tho most surpilslng thing of all is the fact that there appeared to bo a disparity of opinion as to what their duties wcro ou tho most Important point in connection thciowith. Sir. Shoo maker says thut "tho law says wo should assess tho actual value," and then asks whother It would bo "fair" to so assess. Tho law clearly states that all property shall bo assessed at Its "tiuu valuo," ami makes any other assessment a misde meanor. And yet, Mr. Nash siys thoio Is "no uniform basis of valuation," and that "(hciu should bu some definite niloof assessment," whiloMr. Carpenter says that "the law Is vaguo," ami that, "If it only said conllno yourself to a two-thiuls or thice-fourths valuation, wo would know what to do," Hut ho does not know what to do, when It ro quires assessors to confine themselves to n tin co thirds or four-fourths valuation, and prescribes a penally for not doing so. Mr. Nash confesses to a deliberate violation of law when ho says: "I aimed to place tho values at ono half of what iho properly would bring at a fair piivato sale. Had ho assessed at two- halves of what property would bring at a fair private sale ho would not havo committed n criminal act. Mr. Kalbfus ays, "It Is a mis tako to suppose that we assessed tho property nt its cntlro value." "Truo valuo" surely includes "cntlro" valuo. Then ho gives us tlio surprising In formation that "what property sells for is not its truo valuo." Again, ho says; "It is tho height of absurdity to say that District property should bo as sessed at Its full valuo." Hut tho law requires that it should bo, and whether absurd or not is a question with which an assessor has nothing to do. His statement that to assess at full valuo "would drlvo tlio Investors who aro seeking tho Capital ns a profitable field elsewhero" Is probably truo as to ten dency, but perhaps it would be a good thing for tho people If less land wcro held idlo by speculators, who require tho peoplo lo pay a fanny prlco for It when they want to uso It. I can't sco how I, an Inhabitant of the District, am benefited by being compelled to pay a largo profit to nn outside speculator who holds land I want to use. Is not tho "tendency to drive capitalists (land speculators) away from tho city" a good icuuvnuy iui iuu pcuiuu wiiu uvu iiuru. Mr. Bright states that "on unproductive land tho rato is lower" nn unlawful discrimination in favor of tho speculator and against thosowho build and thus icolly Improve tho city. Tho "single tax Idea" men wcro tho only ones in iho city who appeared to havo read tho assessment law, and, far from wanting "no classifica tion ns between real cstato and improvements," thuy draw a sharp distinction between land valuo and improvements. You have novcr heard ono of them talk about a "building" notoriously enhanctng in value, nor about a house be ing nioro valuable becauso "It stands alone in a favored locality, open on all sides," as Mr. Hackney did. They realize that the land, instead of tho building, increases In value, and that a "favored locality," etc., is land valuo. I am the "ono of theso fellows," referred to by Mr. Carpenter, who protested against the assessment of the Saks build ing lot. My appeal related to tho land. and did not Include the house. The ground rent is $11,000 a year, and tho lot Is worth not less than $220,000 (you could not buy It for $300,000) ond It Is assessed at only 20 or 25 percent, of its "truovaluo." Idid work, inanhumblo way, "tor a purpose," which purposo was to sccuro the enfoi cement of the law as it stands. There Is a remedy for tilts' inequality, but Its essential feature has not yet been suggested. I will tell you what It is sometime, if you want to know. Senator Inuulls Ignorant, Senator Ingalls said yesterday that ho hnd not had time to read Thk Ciutic Monday evening, and, therefore, had not read tho article on unjust assess ments. He asked to bo excused from expiessing nn opinion on the mattor, but said he would read the artlclo re feried to, and If ho found It required attention he would attend to It. Concreislouiil Opinions. Philip S. Post of Illinois, a member of tho House Dlstilct of Columbia Committee, said ho wns against any such style of assessing piopcrty as told in Tun Cr.vric, and thought, If it was true, it should bo remedied. General W. II. F. Lee of Virginia, another mombcr tf this committee, said lie was out of town Monday night and had not seen Iho article. Ho would not express an opinion, however, until he hnd dono so. John 31. Clancy of Biooklyn said that, accoiding to the nitlclc, tho poor man was discriminated against. He thought this was very wiongnnd should be remedied. Felix Campbell, Hcpicscntattvc from Hiooklyn, who Is a member of tho House Committee on tho District of Co lumbia, said that all assessments should be equal. Tho one who would assess ono person's piopcity nt a certain valua tion and then assess another person's propeity, equally as valuable, at a less valuation, would not last long, he said, ond was suro to go under. It Is all wiong, ho continued, for such a state of affair's to exist, and ho was decidedly against its continuance. J. Hemy McCaithy of Now York was of the opinion that tho evil should be dono away with by legislation. Frank Lawlcr of Chicago thought the matter should be Inqulied into and somo action should be taken to prevent Its continuance. John Quinn of New York held a sim ilar opinion. Sir. Nnsh StrlltOM tho Koj-Note. Sir, Nnsli naively lcmarkcd: "As things aro now all appeals aro rofened to tho assessor who mado the assess ment complained of, and he, of course, is not Inclined to undo his own work." A former Assessor of tho District, tho pudeccssor of the piesent in cumbent, before making his exit trom office, embodied In his annual report to the Commissioners tlio following vlg oious lenmiks upon tho vlclousucss of tho plan of assessment: "To pick up twelve mon at $5 a day to assess 'from actual viow' every plcco of properly and overy houso in thico months, oven If thoy wero experienced In our piopcrty values and competent In all other respects, and do It correctly, can hardly be hoped; but when men aro appointed who havo had no experience In locating, assessing and determining values, eirors and mistakes of tkograv" est character must bo tho result. "If these errors and mistakes of as sessment fell equally upon tho taxpay ers It would not bo buch a serious mat ter, but It woiks altogether against tho small taxpaycis and in favor of tho huge taxpayois. For Instauco, when the sub-assessor has to value ground wotth from 5 cents to 25 cents a squaio foot, ho cannot get far out of tho way. but when the same man has ground woithfrom $1.50 to $25 per square foot ho Is cntlioly nt sea. Ills mistakes heio make tho great differences lu our general nggrcgato of assessment. "Experienced and competent assessors would assess all property within U3 per cent, of Its true value; then rich mid poor would bear ou equal propoillonof tnxatlon. If tho assessment should yield moro lovenuo than is requited, tho rato of taxation might bo i educed. It Is tho ralo of tax, and not alow li regu lar and unequal assessment, that in vites luvcsluient." No better cutlclsm upon tho system of tho assessment can bu afforded than tho rcnuuksof tho assessors themselves, who expressed their opinions at length lu jesterdny's Ciutio. A fow oxtracts fiqm Ihoso remaiks convoy the general tenor. Aneecsors Admit tlio Outraee, Assessor Golden Of couiso, tho law Is not lived up to, and an unjust dis crimination is being mado against tho poor in favor of tho rich. I havo known of Instances where poor peoples' houses havo bceu assessed almost double tho actual valuo of tho property, "Thero is no doubt that a great ovll exists in this direction, which Is caused by tho Influenco of Iho wealthy class of tax-payers oor tho assessors." Assessor Carpenter Seo what n farco of a law wo nro asked to work under nt tho present time. It Is ono that can not possibly bo followed, and never Is. "No clearly dcflnod rules nro given lo bo followed by assessors in tho valu ation ot pronorlv. Consequently wo aro left to go it blind. "I will admit, as is stated, that the small property-owners suffer to somo extent by being, in somo Instances, called upon to contribute moro to tho tax fund than the larger property owners do," Assessor Shoemaker: "Ono reison which appears lo causo such a diver sity ns to valuations In various portions of tho clly is, because thero aro twelve different assessors for as many differ ent sections, and w ith as many different Ideas of valuation." Each assessor admitted that the law was crude; agreed that tho tlmo in which to perform tho work was entirely Inadequate, and heartily favored the establishment of a permanent Hoard of Assessors. Year after voar tho Assessor of tho District, Incumbent at tho tlmo, ha appealed for a change in tho law. Tlmo after tlmo havo tho Inequalities and injustices of tho law been pointed out. Nothing has ever como of such appeals save incases whero tho Assessor was too vigorous, then bis own official decapitation followed. Tho sentiment of tho citizens at largo is clearly in favor of a chango in Iho mode of assessment. Thero aro a fow who aro satisfied with tho oxistlngplan. Their names will bo found in the lists of instances cited by TiieCiutio, whero certain favored ones wcro pocketing thousands of dollars annually that should under tho law go into tho city's revenue from taxes. Kent Estate Dealer Urown Talks.. Ono of the most potential real cstato firms In tho clly is that of Fitch, Fox & Brown. Tho properties they handlo foot way up Into the millions. Careful, conservative and solid, their opinions upon, matters pertaining to the city's good aro valuable. Mr. Brown, tho junior member of tho firm, said to a, Cnrno reporter yesterday: "The last assessment In a great many cases gave dissatisfaction. Thero wore numerous-instances of unequal assess ments complained of by our clients, and thus I came lo havo a knowledge of the cases. "If wo had had a permanent Board of Assessors it would bo au advantage In tho respect that when tho tlmo came for making an assessment the appraisers vwmld be better educated In tho details of their duties and would have acquired a moie accurato knowledge of values of properties. "The piesent rote of taxation is not excessive. I would favor an appraise ment upon a fair cash valuo, or an auction value, which is the nearest ap proach to it. Then when the revenue uas thus raised, If found to bo In ex cess of the needs of tho district, tho legislative poweis could foim an Idea ot the advisability of a lcduclion in tho rate. "A stable, fair lax would tend to In crease the amount of money to be in vested in improvements." Views of u Conservative. Mr. E. C. Cutter is one of the most conservative of tho larger dealers, and he, too, lias extensive intciests in the city, personally and as agent and at torney. Ho is thoroughly posted on Dlstilct mattcis, and is In a position to give an opinion of value upon the sub ject matter. "We should certainly have an estab lished Boaid of Assessors, constantly employed in levislon, to make them selves thoioughly familiar with tho value of District properties," ho sa'd. "The assessment law itself I think is not so much responsible for the evils as the execution of tho law. Theie is a great difference of opinion as to tho ensh value of piopcrty. It is very hard for even the best judges to determine it. How much harder, then, must it bo for men not familiar with valuations in general and the changes in tho prices of piopcity. I legard tho method of set tling appeals asialhcr a peculiar one. It is not exactly in the line of juilsdic tion for a board which makes Its own values to also consider appeals fiom the values thus established. "Ono of tho leasons why small prop eities are likely to be assessed moro that than largo ones is owing to the fact thero is gi eater demand for them and they aro moio easily sold. Tills gives them a lively valuo In compailson with nn cxpensivo property that might be a drug on tho market." Mr. Stelluncon Itetlcont, When Mr. Edwin J. Stellwagcn, of Iho ical estate Dim of Thomas J. Fisher & Co., F street, was asked by a Cumo hitmicwer for his views upon tho laws of the District of Columbia governing tho assessment of realty, ho replied: "I have not given the subject enough thought to express an opinion for pub lication." "Do no changes In tho law suggest themselves which would bo for tho beltei';" "Well, I would ralher not be quoted on tho subject. 1 will say, however, that 1 think it right that, the changes in the prlco of ical estate In tho Dlstilct being so lapid, a now assessment should take place overy thico years at least; but really I don't know much about the law, and would lathernot talk." "What do you think about tho pres ent mode of nssessineut of real ostato?" "I think that the assessors are hired too cheap. They aro picked up In a huiry, and have to complete their work in two or thiee months, and this pushes them too much. Thoy should havo a great deal moro tlmo. Tho pilco that is paid them Is also cntliely too Rtnall. I don't know just what thoy lecelvo, but I do not bellovo it is much. They hhould not receive less than $10 per dav. and good men should bo selected. I do not believe that the light kind of men con bo secured for less than this salaiV." "Do you think tho present law has a tendency to Invito foieigu or non-resident Investments?" "I cannot oxpicss an opinion. I don't think, however, that loiclgu in vestors ever think anything about it ono way or tho other, but I cannot say positively." Tlio T.iiu- Should bo Clinngeil, Mr. M. M. Paiker, ical estate agent, No. 1118 F street, when addressed upon iho subject, repllod: "If the law of tho Dlsttlct was car- rlcd out It would keep money out of Washington, but tho assessment law hero is mado clastic, or rather Its en forcement is clastic. A fair valuation Is generally construed by our assessors to bo ono-half, or two-thirds of tho cash valuo of tho realty at a forced salo under tho hammer. If 1 was an assessor I would not forco tlio point of assessments too far. Vo now havo a surplus of nearly $700,000 In the Treasury, eo what Is tho uso of need- Ujsly Increasing It fiom year to ycur We cannot get Congress lo spend the Miiplusor allow us to do sn, became the inenibTrs want lo poso baforo their constituents as being economical. Thoy will not voto for nny measure which may bo construed into uxtravagnnco that they can avoid. Tho Scnnto Is ready now to let us spend tho surplus, but the Houso will not consent to It." "Have assessments been decreased on account of iho surplus?" "Tho Inst assessment Columbia Heights realty Increased 000 per cent. I appeared before the board and protested mid got n reduction of 113 per cent., but t is still too high. There Is another point I want to speak of that Is not generally known. Property owners In tho county havo been paying for tho last fifteen years exactly tho samo assessments as city property owners, while not 2 per cent, of the col lection of taxes has over been spent in county improvements. "I think tho law should bo amended so as to crcato a board, consisting of Ihrco or live men, who should bo sal aried. Their salaries should bo con tinuous from year to year, and thcv should fit constantly. In this way the members would bo como familiar with real cs tato values and with their duties, and It would glvo citizens a proper oppor tunity to flic complaints and to sccuro equitable assessments and readjust ments oi valuation. The city of iioston has such & board, consisting of thrco members. After a fair trial I am suro the District Could not bo induced to abolish the board and return to tho old system, pitr assessors are too often appointed for political reasons, or hur riedly picked up through necessity." Sir. I-rltchott Talks. Mr. William II. Prltchelt had just re turned from a meeting In tho Metropoli tan M. E. Church for the purposo of indorsing a bill to establish an inebri ates' homo in the District, when he was found iu his cosy homo on Can oil street southeast by a CntTic reporter, who asked him about the discrepancies between tho real and assessed values of his property. Mr. Pritchctt is tho as sessor of tho district bounded by First and Sixth streets southeast, iho city boundary and the Potomac River. Mr. Prltchett ptroked his beard reflectively for a moment and answered: "I am perfectly willing to discuss the matter, but there is nothing that I know of that requires a defense, at loast so far bs my dlstilct Is concerned. Of courso thero must be discrepancies between the assessed valuo and what the owners of the property consider its actual value. Tho latter Is almost impossible for us to arrive at. Tho law says we must asses3 at Iho cash value. Now, there is a great difference of opinion as to what Is tho rash value. Somo contend that it Is what Jhc property would fetch at a foiccd sale, which, ot course, is not tho fair valuo. Then, on the other hand, a man sometimes sees a piece of land which he needs badly for some particu lar purpose and which suits him so ex exactly that ho Is willing to pay a little more fhati its ical value ralher than lose It. This would not be a fair basis of assessment. "Tho way I airlvcd at the values In my district was by consulting with a number ot propcity-owncis ot vailous classes, and from what they said I managed to generally , I bcliovc, stiiko n prelty fair aveinge. In many In stances my assessments were much higher 'Ian foimcrly. "For instance, Sam Walker's place, at the coiner of Fifth and D streets, was assessed thrco jeaisngoat 15 cents a foot, but I in cieascdthis to 8p cents. Allnoithof East Capitol stieet, between Third and Sixth stieets and Stanton Square, was assessed at n very low rate, and I was obliged to ignore the woik of my pro dcccesois and put the values up to 00 cents a foot. "After tinning in our assessments all tho asscssois sit as a board of aibltra lion and hear appeals from any person who is dissatistled. In this way auy injustice that may havo been dono is pri-tty sine to bc'set right. In a ma joiity of cases tho appeals aio mado by people who kick ou general principles, and wo find on investigation that their representations aie incoirect. "I Aiinlc that peihaps tho public would bo bettor satisfied with a pcrma ntnt Doaid of Appeal, who would have nothing to do but lo examine tho work of tho asscssois. I don't think the boaidnsat otescnt constituted makes mnny mistakes, but that would bo n still surer plan." Tew Complaint at Goorcotnwn. Thomas L. Ciopley, tho Georgetown assessor, was disinclined to talk about tho assessments. "So far ns Georgetown Is con cerned," he said to n CntTic re porter, "I don't think you will find many complaints, for the property up huu is, generally speaking, all of about the samo value, and any attempt to dis ci (initiate would fall, for it would bo so tippuicnt as to latse a storm of piotest. My district takes iu tho coimtv west to Hock Cictk, but as it is not ullccted by I n r. Clinics aitlclo I won't say any thing about It. A permanent Bo'atd of Assenois, I thtuk, would bean improve ment over tho piesent system." coNsmtVATivi: st. John's In u riutter Over n Ken Deimrttiro by Its Hector. A stiong feeling of disappointment and a little flutter of well-bred indig nation pervades the congregation of fashionable St. John's Episcopal Church over a dcpaituro from long-established custom in ono of tho foi ins of service which tho now rector, Dr. Douglas, has said ho will Inaugurate. Tho con gregation of St. John's Is nothing if not conservative, aristocratic ami lcservcd. They don't liko chango, but want to go on in the ways of their forefathers. Tho senior wnulcnshlp of tho church has been held through tho fenerations of ono fiimllv slnco the church was or ganized, in lrJlO. Thoy like their forms of Ecrvieo mid cling to them tena ciously. One of iho most touching and beau tiful services has been that held on tho evening of Maundy Thursday, tho Thuifcduy befoio Easter. It celebrates tho Institution of tho Last Suppor. On MauiHly Thuisday night St. John's Church is shiouded In daikncss. Tlio only light Is a dim lellectiou fiom tho altar lamps. Tho congicgntlon cntor silently, and, lu tho mysteilous gloom which envelopes the church, ntienit a communion strvlce. It Is nn appro pilato ond beautiful cclebiatlon of n liolv event. Tlio church Is always crowded upon this occasion and the congicgntlon treasure it as ono of their most sacred services. Dr. Douglas, tho new rector of tho church, gavo notice last Sunday that this commemoration of tho feast of the Last Supper would bo celebrated at midday on "next Maundy Thursday. A heavy piesBiiro of opposition to tho chango "has been aroused, however, and tho congregation expect tho new rector to respect their wishes In this matter. ROBBERY OF THE POOR. Lotteries, Policy-Writing and "Orap" Aro Co-Demoralizers. "MORE CRIMINAL THAN CRIMINALS." Such Aro Iho Lawyers Who Aro Subsi dized by Iho Gamblors. Humble Hnimnlinlilii I.rt Without 1'ninl in Orilnr Hint the Ill-Ontton I'rnllta nr tlio Mliciiiitm Mny He Atiunionlril llroedern of Hillclilo". Come, old fellow," said a gentleman n reporter on Sunday morning, 10 "let's tako n walk over tho Long Bridge. I know It will bo well worth your while, for you can gather some point ers In relation to policy, crap-shooting and other robbing schemes that aro In keeping with Louisiana Lottery meth ods, which Tun Cumo Is making such a noblo effort to show up." Tho suggestion was very readily ac cepted, and that It resulted In convey ing considerable Information can but bo juugcii uy me lncts that follow. This old wooden historical relic, with Its crumbling stono piers, its ancient mako up and tho remembrances con nected with It, will never leave the memory of thousands of old veterans who crossed it cither going or coming during tho sixties. Tho tramp, tramp, tramp of tho boys In blue who went out In those days, inspired with a spirit of patriotism and a desire to serve their country, and tho maimed, broken-down and dispirited condition in which they camo home after the conflict, if thoy were among those fortunate onough to come at all, will long bo remembered. Now this tramp, tramp, tramp is kept up to day under illiTerent circumstances and for different purposes. Those who go over now very irequeutly uo so in high spirits and with a flush pocket book, only to icturn with an empty purse, much depressed in spirits and in a lit frame of mind that often leads to suicide. Over this Long Bildge, from the hours of 10 a. m. until'late nt night, thero Is a continual stream of peoplo passing. Having crossod the draw at the flood gates, groups of darkies aio to bo seen gathered hero and there along tho uats "snooting crap. "Ult there, eeben, clcben," "lilt 'cm on do head wid a natural," "Cum up dar, four," "Gib me dem cro bones," are only fair samples of expressions that will greet one all along tho flats. Two Michigan Congressmen stood wntching one of theso games, and they wero both among the number who gave free cxpicsslon to their opinions In relation to Tun Cumc's Louisiana Lottery expose. What conclusion they came to In regard to the permission of a public ciap shooting game on a well traveled thoroughfare within tho Dls tilct of Columbia on n bright Sunday nfitrnoon can leadlly Jic conceived. They were, however, ignorant of tho other infamous pollry concern that was running in full blast nt the Yliginla end of the bridge. Stunding Immediately behind the Congiessmcn on the draw was a poorly clad colored woman with an almost miked infant in her aims. This babe could not havo been ovcrthicc weoks old, and, as tho mother leaned up against one-f--the- iron supporters of the span, standing gazing down Into the muddy and swift-running curicnt of the Potomac, thero was but one im pression to be drawn by anyone who watched her closely. About this time a dissipated-looking darkey came shuf fling nloi.g from tho Virginia side of the stream. "Well, you lazy old coon, how did lhe'v'wood row' woik this morning?" said the woman, who proved to be his wife. "Tell de truth, Li?, do wheel done gone cockkl'd dis morning and dcre is no use ob talkin', we coons can't win." "But, you nigger Solomon, de tabic husgotlo be supplied wid something to eat." "I knows dat, Li, but if dey don't spin the wheel my way I cau't help it " Now hero was a fellow who had been acioss tho bildge to see the policy wheel tin n, and to learn if his "row" came out. lie was only one of a do?eu men met with on tho bildge who talked policy slang In tho healing of tho le poiter. A combination in policy gives a man about as much chance as ho gets whon ho buys a ono-dollar ticket fiom tho Loulsiona Lottciy. Ono man who camo fiom over the river had a crisp $10 bill Unit ho had won on a ten-cent "gig." 'I he news that he had made this win ning was spiead all over certain locali ties' iu the nflernoon, and by noon on Monday $20 for $1 had been put in the wheel lhat never came out and never will. Any one who has had any expo liuicc with policy, if he will sit down und ilguio out his favorablu chances on a i-j steinallc basis, wilt find that ho has ono in 20,000 for a leturii of his money. On tho Virginia side ot tho bridge thcio is n slccpy-looklug joint with tlosid blinds. On tlio outside It shows no evidence of life, but on the lnsido there Is a tiger of vaiious stripes and hues fiolicklng around promiscuously. Here is wheio tho policy wheel spins twice a day.and whcie the thousands of tickets puicuaseuln Washington, vary iug in prico all the way .fiom five cents to five dollais, aro preseulcd for record. The branch is ono of many kept up by a New Yoik company that makes mil lions every year out of tho 5, 10 and 15 cent pickings which come daily fiom tho pockets of the poor. Thero aio Innumerable agencies In the city wheio these tickets aro written. There aio in the employ of theso agon clcs what aio called "runnels," who cany tho books acioss tho luidgo, check up with tho concern and collect an' deliver tho monoy to the lucky win ncis, if there happen to bo any. Only a few weel.s ago ouo of these "ninners" was on trial in tho Criminal Court. Ho admitted on tho stand that hu did cany policy tickets into Vir ginia, but it could not bo proven that he conducted a plnco where they wero written. Consequently ho was dis- cluneal. "Thcio ought to bo i caching these 'uinfleis, toiuoy yesterday, "and them pietly hard they somo way of ' " said an at- if we crowd will give up. XIicic mo places lu me District that policy plovers frequent everyday and wheiu tickets aro wiltten legularly. Tun Ciutic has been very outspoken on the lottciy steal, and tho next thing thcv wont tb tackle Is tho policy deal In Washington, for it is oven a worso lobbery thou tho other and tho poorer classes aro tho sufferers. Now, your paper hat. token up tho flght for tho poor, and I hope to sco you cairy It out to Iho bitter end. "Washington deals libeially with tho policy millionaires, as it does with tho Louisiana Lottery monopolists, and this city has tho credit of turnlug as much money In this direction ns any placo iu tho Vnlted Slatce. They arguo In favor of the former mode of rambling tint It only takes a nickel and n dlmo now mid then, but It must bo remembered that It is nn every day occurrence, and fifty cents or a dollar n week would keep the wolf fiom the door In nviny poor families. It Is the same with the Louisiana Lottery, 'Wlint Is n dollar a month?' they say. But It comus from tho poor, as It docs In policy " "That's right. I glory in tho pluck of Tun Ciutio In making n light against the lop dog and In favor of tho lower one. The stlltid taken against tho lot tery combination, tho tax frauds and Iho policy shops will havo its effect In Hie long run." Theso remarks were mndo by n mnii who knows to what ev tcnt these frnuds aic carried on In tho District. "Do you know," said he, "that the attorneys who oio subsidized bv this ricli Louisiana corporation which wonts to pay the whole State debt for n lcnownl of u twenty year franchise travel hand In hand with tho New York policy wotkeis? They fre quent places In the city together, spend their money freely, nnd aic looked upon as tho supporters" of corporations that aro backing them to any amount. "It has been staled," he continued, "that the subsidized attorney of thu Louisiana concern receives $10,000 a year, but $7,000 will come nearer tho correct figure. Theio Is a liberal al lowance, howover, for expenses that mny bring tho amount up to $10,000. If you will nolo carefully both theso concerns pay liberally for olllclal sup port. Tho mnn who sells Louisiana Lottery tickets and the one who writes a policy clg, horsu or saddle, aro on thu same level. They aro both pro tec ted by the unlimited capital that bocks these 'clap trap' banks. I know of a number of negroes who canvass the barber-shops, saloons and other plnces every day. These uro 'runners,' and seem lo pay no moro attention to the law or the men who aro expected to enforco It (ban they do to a 'wooden Iugun' In front of a cigar store. Thuy know they will not be interfered with. Why? Becauso there Is 'a lip.' 'scalo' or whatever you may call It behind the whole combination. There is n well organized effort to protect nil gambling schemes, pool looms and In fact all faking' projects intended to deceive Hie public." SIIOl'MlfTKltS IN FOK If. Iteconlft of Ilio 1'rrrIoiiH t'ntr Wliti Aro Aiviilllnp; Trlnl. The two shoplifters. Koto Friday and Sarah Lcwess, will probably le celvc their just deserts beforu they get through with AVashington. They havo been indicted under two now charges and their tilal has been set for Mon day. The new indictments nro found for the lurcenv of goods from the stores of AVIllett &"HuofT and Woodward & Lothiop. 'It has been established." said De tcctlvc Ball, "that the record of theso people Is very bad and they belong to thu woist criminal class In this country. Kate Fields, now Mary But ler, alias Sarah Lewis, is tlio" wife of a green-goods man called Butler Anna Dunlgnu, alias Koto Friday, navels in the samo class, nnd, although the youngest, is tho worst of tho two, the Lcwess woman, to uso the expres sion ot a man with, whom l liau somo conespondeucc," said the detective, "is an 'old holster,' nnd fences her L'onds at 'Black Lena's1 In New York. 'Black Lena' was in Wash ington whllo these two shop lifters were working, and registeied at the St. James Hotel under the name of Brown. The child who appeared in couit with Fildny during thu last tiiat Is her own, and Matt Dunigan, n well known character In New Yorlc, is her husband. Kate Fiiilny's mother Is Hose Dunlgnu, alias 'Big Hose' Sho is also a notorious shopllltcr. "Kate Filday wns indicted in 1897 in Cincinnati, also in the same year In BrooMjn, ami in 1880 in New Haven, Conn. Sho gavo bonds in nil theso cases and they are looking for her to ap pear on another yet. She Is tho woman who can led tlio satchel for Billy Porter and 'Sheeny Mike' inthciamous Tioyrobbciy in lSS.I. Sho took It to .Too Dubuque's placo In Albany. She has a lecoul oil over the country, and her Jewish moke up and tho mole on her face can bo identified in her plcturo that occupies n conspicuous placo in many a logucs' gollery." "Thero is no use of talking," said Jim Springman, who knows every ciiminol that ever operated in Wash- ton, "but that these two women aio old loimdeis, and the fact of them know ing 'Sheeny Mike,' Iloinco llogau and Tom Keen and associating with them ought to convict them on general piln ciples." Charity llourcl nf MiiniiRcrii, The tegular monthly meeting of the boaid of managers ot tho Associated Chaiities was held last evening at the Lcntial ofllce, TOT G street. The gen eral secietary, L S. Bmcry, reported that the number of calls upon tho cen tiol olllco sinco January 21, 1890, hid been 770, on unprecedented number which, ho added, reminds us of what ho hod alieady realized, that it is a severe winter thus far for tho poor people, notwithstanding the mildness of the weather. Cold and blustoilng weather touches peoplo, and they will leallzo that tho poor need their nssM anco and they will send In their conlil butions, but, said Mr Emery, the con dilions of this season have Imposed gieater hnidbhlps and keener necessi ties on account of tho prevailing sick ness. Money is needed and must be had, or we will bo cilppled In our ef forts to aid tho poot An appeal Is mndo to tho public for contributions, which niaj bo sent to the secietary, L S. Linciy.'TOT G slseet north west, or to any member of the boaid of man ugeib. Itciu'Hlnc thi! rubor; l.imiii. Sax FitAM'iMO, Feb. 10. A prlvalo dispatch received here announces that (he imperial Kusslau Government has confirmed tho renewal of the leaso of thu ltusslnu seal Mauds in Behrlug Sen to the Alaska Coinnieichl Com pany of this city. This action is mi del stood to bo based upon u pei suasion that Iho Government of tho United States will tako a similar couiso with legaul to Its own seal Islands, and that tho contiol of thu seal fur Industiy may thus bo vested in a single management. District OlllrliilH lli'turo emigre. Commissioners Hlno and Douglass and Auditor Petty wore befoio the sub committee of tho llouso Committee on Appiopiiatlons this moinliig, mid gave tlaii views upon tho chuiso In tho General Delklency bill relotltig to tho District of Columbia. Worlil'tt l'ulr t'unferenre. Al UASi, N. Y , Feb. 19. Tho report of tho conference committee on the world's l'ulr bill as adopted In Assembly this morning by a oto ot llt to 1. Itullublu ClnuiU, Nothing Is so important to a connoisseur as comldcnco lu wluo; hence the u eanitd celebrity ot tho lino clarets ot J. Calvct A Co, Tor sale by the Bckoomaker Co, ami other leading dealers. RAILROAD TAX MAUDS. Rather Queer Disclosure" in the Dis trict Assessor's Office. FRANCHISES 0IVEN FOR NOTHING, And Yet Thoy Aro as Valuable as Any in tho United States. AiirMcil nt $8,000 ii Mlln In IHHil, anil at Only $1,000 in 18RII lloiv IIib (lentleinen Who Mnko Iho Aaaonn niinlH J'lgure It, Congiessman J. K. Washington of Tennessee Is preparing n resolution to bo Introduced In tho House, within thu next few days, which bids fair to create n howl among street railway cor porollons In the District. Ho said to day that his attention was called to thu high-handed way in which those mo nopolistic corporations nro running things to suit themselves, by tho story published In Tun Ciutio several days ago. Tho resolution will call for an amend ment of iho franchise given to the rail road companies lo compel them to pay higher taxes for the prlvliegcs thov en joy and to nflord better facilities for the; trnnsportntion of passengers. He will ask that the District Committee bo in Mulcted to bring in a bill demanding of the railroad companies to change their motor power to cither electric or cnblo. "Instead of being the most miserably equipped city as to transit In tho United States," said Mr. Washington, "it should bo the best, and since Congress has presented these companies with their franchises for nothing. It should be seen lo that tho companies should equip their loads commensurate with the great pilvileges they enjoy." A peep into the records at tho lot ofllce relative to tho assessed value of the property of somo of these roods on which they pay tax brought to light some peculiar facts. According to tho triennial reports in 188!! both tho Washington and George town and Metropolitan railroads paid taxes on the assessed value of tho prop erty allowed them on the streets at tho rate of ij-8,000 a mile. This was at that time considcicd a fair figure. Not withstanding the fact that other property dwncd by comparatively poor peoplo has rapidly increased in valuo and their tax has proportionately advanced, tho report book In 1880 shows no record of whut the assessed valuu of the railroad companies' hacks was, but in 1839 the book reveals tho startling Information that the compauies paid tax on only $4,000 a mile. Tho man who has charge of theso books said that this re duction of ono half on tho former as sessed value of the property was rc folvcd on by tho Board of Assessors iu 18SG, ond that instead of $8,000, as formerly, $4,000 was considered fair. When the man in charge of tho books was osked If this was considered to bo 80 per cent, of the value of tho propeity occupied by tho railroad tracks, no laugncu significantly anil saiu, alter a pause: "No, not exactly, but that Is tho way the ussessois figured It." Tho Washington and Georgetown Unilroad Company opeiates sixteen miles of ioa.'.. This is assessed ot the ridiculously low sum of $70,000 or about $a,019 a milo on which taxes aro paid. Tho company's entire personal and i nil estate property, including the pro perly on which the hacks arc laid, is assessed at $1,000,000, nnd it Is safe to say that this is not moro than 20 per cent, of the actual value. Tho Metropolitan Hailioad Company operates about twenty miles of track oudpnjs taxes on $80,000, or $1,000 a mile. Its personal and real estate and track property is assessed at $1,0115,000. Tho fianchises held by these two com panies nrc said to be as valuable as auy in tho United States, yet they not only do not pay for them, but do not pay within many thousands of dollais the legitimate taxes on their piopcity. on tuiai. fok aiuitnnit, Henry Johnson Telling tlio Jury thu blnrj of Kuoch Turner's Death. The trial of Henry Johnson, chatged with killing Enoch Turner at Seven teenth and B streets noithcnst, last fall, w as proceeded with this morning. It appears fiom the evidence that a crowd of negroes proceeded to fill them selves up with whisky and gin at Skilly's stoic, on Seventeenth street. Henry Johnson was with the crowd, and went from Skilly's store to Hetty Giicn's, whcie shoitly afterward thu body of Knoch Turuer'was found dead upon the sidewalk, with n pistol ball wound upon tho leftside of his head. George, better known ns "JIoso" Williams, a companion of Homy John son, the defendant, when placed upon the stand, said "Judge, I want to sec my council befoio I say anything. Thcv say that if Henry Johuson doii't talk'l shouldn't, and I don't want to talk." "Well, go ahead, George." leplied District Attorney Lipscomb, "wo will see that you aic piotected." Williamson gavo evidence to tlio effect lhat Henry Johnson was with him on tlio evening of tho murder, and that hu took a pistol from him nt Skilly's place, and went fiom thero to "Hetty's." He and Johnson wcie trying to out di ink each other. He did not seo tho shooting but knew that Henry did not return him his revolver, but said that he threw It in tho brush. Hilly Gicen testified that when tho pistol shot was flred sho was sick and Ijing upon the bed, but when sho jumped up anil came Into thu lront room of her place, she saw Williams runulng out of tho door Afterwnuls sho found tho body of Tinner upon tho sidewalk In front. Sho admitted that she was asleep, but at thu t-amo lime sho was talking, and the at tornoys excused her without much crovs questioning. Mining i:ng!urrn Slci-t. The convention of tlio Institute of Mln Ing Kuglneers was beM lu tho Smithsonian Iustltulo lost night, licueral ltoeecrans, chairman of the local committee, presided. 1'rofefsor S. 1. I.auglav, Major Powell, chief of the Geologic al Sun oy, and Presi dent Franklin Plorce of the Institute ot Mining I.'uKlucers addressed tho conven tion. Ur ltossltcr ltajmoml load a bio graphical sketch of Charles A. Ashburner, and also a sketch ot thu late Franklin II. (iouun. To-day tho meiubeia ot the Insti tute will isit Mouut Vernon and will meet to-ulght at tho Arlington. Contrmerm (urn Child. To-day Judge Montgomery grantod a writ of habeas corpus to Charles 11. Kim ble, commanding him to produce Bdgur Fchersou this afteruoou at 3 o'clock. This was grauted on the petition of Edgar Fchersou, 14 months old, now under thn excluoho control of C. t Klniblo ot 437 (.' street, w ho deems his right to the child and who la about to remove to Oregon and u ants to tako tho boy w Ith him. A ou can order Tnu Ciutio by postal card. It will be sent to your address every even ing for 85 cents.