Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-29
GotaI anS 4ersonaI.

is now being made TO render il more perfect i'm lis
details, and therefore efficient in its operation,
The medical members Of the two boards have had
their minds much exercised upon the subject. but
as yet, have not come 10 a conclusion on the deli.
cate points at Issue. Last Monday night, in the
board of aldermen, a physician offered sundry
amendments to the new bill, which will afford a
theme for discussion at d future day.
The undertakes, meantime, are seriouly agi-
tated, conceiving that one Of the sections, applica-
BILE TO them. is unnecessarily stringent, subjecting
them to much waste of time in procuring certain
papers as preliminary TO the process of interment.
On Thursday night they held a meeting, Mr.
Samuel Kirby in the chair, and Mr.. J. d. Brown
secretary, and gravely considered the propositions
now pending in the city councils. One Of those
gentlemen says that il is in contemplation 10 re-
quire every undertaken TO procure a licence as a
body-burier, and that in case of neglect 10 do this,
he is 10 be fined twenty dollars, and, in the event
off second offence, deprivedofhis vocation. Com
plaint is likewise made that the undertaken must
now obtain a permit from the city register before
he can enter, and that oftentimes the register can
not be found when his services are most required
and hence, they desire a return 10 the old system,
namely: that merely a certificate from the physi-
clan, or, in his absence, that Of a member Of the
family, stating. that the deceased died of no infec-
tious disease, shall be demanded, as a warrant for
interment.
Ii is said that during the recent meeting of the
undertakers, the question was seriously asked,
and s~piritedly debated, " why should not a fine be
imposed on doctors for killing people, However,
we think that this proposition ought TO have been
excluded, for if the number of deaths should be
lessened, the funeral providers would soon dis
cover a diminution of their profits! Seriously, we
have many truly skilful medical practitioners in
the midst of US, who will, of course, understand
the above allusion to refer sportively to the several
physicians Of the councils who are d~octoring the
bill in question, but who are worthy TO be classed
among the more prominent Of the profession.
The undertakers appointed a TO con-
fer with one Of the councils, with a view OF set
Hing, on fair terms, the question which now dis
turbs them.
II is true that undertakers have a little more
trouble now than heretofore; but, if The councils
would simply amend the act, authorizing any one
OF the health commissioners TO give the underta-
ker a permit for interment, when the register can
not be found, or when not convenient to seek him,
the existing complaint would be measurably re-
moved.
The law was designed TO have a true registry of
deaths, and hence it became necessary that the city
register should issue the permits on proper applica-
lion. Since the establishment Of Oak Hill Gene
terry in Georgetown, and other burial places with
out the corporate limits, bodies Of persons dying
in Washington are conveyed thither; and it was
-. i. ~ - - r. $500 !.
in this city that a mode of registry was provided.
No one can fail TO perceive the importance of this
provision but at the same time, the law on this sub
iect should be such as not TO occasion more trouble
than is actually necessary to comply with its pro-
visions.
Market Products.-We have for a long time
wondered why enterprising gardeners abroad did
not immigrate to the District of Columbia to en-
gage in their healthful and essential pursuits, con-
sidering that there is no better market anywhere
than here for the products Of the soil. II, there
fore, gives us pleasure 10 publish the following
from yesterdays Ercning Star, and we cannot
but indulge the hope that the families referred 10
will be as pioneers for similar parties to follow:
GA LITTLE NORTHERN CoLoNY-This morning,
we saw a colony Of five families from northwestern
CIV Vim Shibi usihbS ShSNSh ~" Aai os
many men, and twice or thrice as many children,
who have come on together to take possession OF
some three hundred acres of land upon the plank
road, within a mile Of the northern boundary line
of Washington city. This property is to cost them
hut $40 per acre. They propose to follow mar
ket gardening, and will, no doubt, succeed admir-
ably. We welcome such settlers in this vicinity
gladly, because they almost invariably bring indus
try, thrift, skill, and good habits; improving all
around them, no less by imparting 10 others better
skill in some part of their business, than by the
capital example their steady attention to business
affords 10 all in connection with whom they are
thrown.
Riding on a Rail.-We learn that proceedings
quite uncommon in the District of Columbia, took
place just over the Eastern Branch of the Poto-
mac, recently. A man, accused Of whipping his
wife and other mal-practices, was seized by the
indignant neighbors and put astride Of a fence
rail; and in this position, without even a saddle
for his comfort, moved about rather briskly, as a
punishment for his misdeeds. He was not Sc
riously injured, however, by this operation
Twelve warrants were issued for the arrest of as
many separate parties, who thus enforced the
milder section ofihe Lynch code but the Justice,
u. Walker, for reasons which we did not ascer
tain, dismissed the several cases. He probably
had sufficient cause for his action in the premises
TIL sLiberty' Question.-our readers are
ware that, of late, there has been some agitation
IN the community in relation to the holding Of
temperance meetings on the thoroughfares. The
aggrieved parties have had their ''say'' on The sub.
ject, and we presume are, for the present, salts
fed. The officers of the corporation deny that il
has ever been their object to restrict the liberty Of
speech, but TO execute the law prohibiting the OBJ
~struction of the sidewalks. The latter avoided,
the advocates Of 'the moral reform" can speak to
their hearts content in front of the City Hall and
elsewhere, and, if they choose, can have the at.
tendance OF police officers to prevent disturbances
We trust that, hereafter, personalities will be
avoided, and that siall things will be done decently
and in ORDER for the sake of the temperance
capse as well as for the credit Of the city.
Marriages and Dcaths.-Several DAYS ago, a