Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-19
District Affairs i'm Congress.

POSTMASTER GEORGE HILL OPPOSING THE CON-
soLIDATioN OF WASHINGTON AND GEORGE
TOWN.
The House Committee on the District of Co.
lumbia held regular weekly meeting this
morning. Major George Hill, postmaster of
Georgetown, appeared before the committee
and made few remarks in opposition to the
Dill Tor extending the limits of Washington to
rake IN Georgetown. He objected to the bill,
he SAID, mainly bee use under its provisions ali
OF the county above Georgetown is exclu led,
whereas he believes that a part of the lower
portion OF the county adjacent to that city
ought to he embraced in consolidating the ty,,
cities; In fact, that the new northern boundary
line should Pass in straight line across Rock
creek to what is known as the old King road.
The committee postponed the further consider
alton of the subject until the next meeting.
WHAT THE BOARD OF HEALTH WANTS.
Drs. Bliss ard Verdi and Mr.. Langston, OF tn
Board OF Health, were before the committee in
reference to the proposed appropriation by
congress for the board. DIR. Bliss stated that
asno-cOmmittee OF the District Committee had
visited the board, and bad been furnished with
information touching expenditures He also
said that the board desired to submit for the
consideration OF the committee an amendment
20 the organic act creating the present District
government, which will give the board author
ity TO establish quarantine regulations and con-
troll over all interments. The committee being
pressed Tor time, as tomorrow is"Districtday"
IN the House, suggested that the board have
their proposed amendment introduced IN the
House and referred to the District Committee
for action at future meeting.
DTs. Bliss and Verdi and Mr.. Langston were
also before the House Committee on Appr0pri-
auons this morning, in behalf of the request OF
the board fer an appropriation of $4,000 The
committee will take no action until they hear
from the District Committee, which was re-
quested to make q recommendation in the mat
Ter.
THE FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
The Speaker laid before the House to- day a
communication from the Secretary of War, in
reply to letter CT the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, asking his views Oh
House bill 1914 Ito aid in the construction of a
ire alarm telegraph in the District of COlum-
bia," and transmitting a report of the Quarter
master General, and accompanying commun
cations from the superintendent of the existing
ire alarm telegraph in this city upon the sub
ject. In his communication Gen. Meigs recon-
mends that the bill (which appropriates
$4,000 be favorablv reported to the House
He describes the present fire alarm telegraph as
almost worthless. He says the boxes are of an
t'que and obsolete construction and interfere
with each other. Ii the crank handle
is not turned slowly and deliberately
IL will not write a legible message.
IL any other box in the vicinity is worked at
the same time the two write interfering mes
sages. which are then illegible. He thinks THE
old apparatus should he replaced, and that al
least one hundred boxes are necessary in the
city, not including boxes which should be
placed on the public buildings. Superintend-
ent Miles, of the fire alarm telegraph OF this
city, in a communication to General Meiys,
onts out the defects in the present fire alarm
a'id makes many suggestions in reference to
the proposed new apparatus