Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-07-15
d. trsct Government Affairs.

81, 1873. and for other purposes" the Com
mIssiOners have caused to be published i'll
eSK form me ad OF tine year
seSSments previously in arrears. These books
are now in the hands of Collector Cook and
Interested persons can, upon application to
A communication to the District Commits
SiOnerS of j. u. Stafford, of May 18th, asking
for a settlement for work done by him on v
street northwest, between James Greek and Sd
street east was referred to the attorney for
the District for an opinion as to the legal
foundation Of the claims. The District attoc-
hey says that Mr.. Stafford was a contractor
under the late board of public works, enjoying
The advantages OF their liberal rules and pro-
visions governing tine execution of contracts
His work was suspended upon the disappear
ance OF the then District government by act Oi
Congress. Upon the creation Of the commits
slOnal government, the Commissioners. real
ling the status of things, the obligations Of
The District on existing contracts under them,
and at the same time being compelled TO pro-
vide for the completion OF unfinished work.
placed AL these matters in the hands OF the
engineer for his construction, and such action
as he might advise On full examination lie
settled the construction of that provision of
SuhsiSting contracts which said that work is
to be done and paid for at board rates. which
is found in his annual report, and recon-
menGed that further work under them
lie finished according TO his conStruc
ADOPTED Of as course we a a5e old WT
was obliged to accept this construction, or
finish work pursuant to it. They had their
remedy on their old contracts or at their op-
ton might go forward on the new conditions ::
and the same is true as to any alleged rate 81
compensation or medium OF exchange. TO be
given in payment: Now understand that
visions, both as to the construction of board
rates, and mode of payment. That Stafford,
with full knowledge of all the facts, executed
the new contracts, performed the work and
has been paid pursuant to it. He now comes
in, repudiates Substantially the new contract
and makes his claim as if the work had been
done under the old rules of construction
Now it may be that Mr.. Stafford unwisely en-
tered into this new arrangement, and there
by subjected himself TO hardShiDS, but | see
no legal ground for relief. He is bound by II.
The power for equitable relief is Congress-
HEALTH OFFICER TOWNSuENO
has divided the work OF his Oliice into districts
with following assignments of inspectors. st
district, ali that pOrtOnOf the city west of 2lLh
street, including Georgetown, with DR.. Mack
all inspector: 81 district, all east of 9th west
OF It'll and north of B street southwest with
MI. robinson as inspector Sd district. all east
street, witt T. NJ. Shepherd Inspector: 18th dis
tTict, all Il e southwestern and southeastern
portions Of the city, with John y. Dennis in
Srect0r , ON GdsIflGE hSPeGt2T Oh meats a5d
Mead to be general medical sanitary inspector
fOrthe District.
DIR. TOwnshend has today sent 4 comr,pui-
cation TO the District Commissioners. asking
that the whole police force of the District be
instructed TO make daily reports OF existing
nulSanceS and such other matters rs comes
under The jurisdiction Uf the health officer
and that this be an additional duty OF the
police force. 1t is probable that the District
Commissioners will lavOldbly consider this
request.
THE NEW BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES.
4 delegation from the COMPROMISING OF
MeSSrS. J. S. Brown, j. i. Norris, Dr.. c. G..
Stsne and j. q. Meyer-cdlled at the Office OF
the District Commissioners this morning to
urge the appointment UrOn the school board
OF Mr.. Z. II. Folsom, of BrightwO0d, in lieu OF
Mir. Davis, one of the late members Several
small delegations were before the Commission
erS this morning in relation to the appoint
ment of the school board, SuppOSing the new
board OF trustees would he appointed to-day.
The Commissioners stated that in order 10
give AL parties interested a chance to be heard
on the subject, they would put Off the appoint
ments until the latter part of this week.
TAX QUESTION.
The assessors, in a note to the Commission
erS, under date OF July 5th, ask for COnStluc-
ton OF the law under the new act providing
for permanent form of government for the
District. SO far as IL relates TO property he'd
and used exclusively for agricultural pUr-
poses without the limits of Washington and
Georgetown, and to be so designated by the
assessors in their annual returns, as not to
exceed 81 tax on every one hundred dollars.
This having been referred to the attorney, he
has given al opinion that what is meant by
the words real properly held and used Ne
is obviously property, houses, lands and out
buildings OF agriculturiStS, farmers whose
business it is to pursue agriculture as a call
ing. and which is the purpose to which
the property as whole is devoted.
The purpose OF the law is to en-
courage agriculture at The expense of
less favored callings. When this farming
i'll some form is the main purpose TO which the
property is devoted, the property falls within
the favored class although there may be on it
private pleasure ground, or OrnamentaliaWn
or garden He further says: am inclined
to cOnStrue raising garden vegetables, fruit
raising, nurseries, flower culture, as varieties
of general agriculture under this law. So |
AIN inclined to hold that lands a. common,
purchased and held for sale in large bO lies
OF in lots, used for quarrieS, or race
courses, pleasure resorts, with grounds or
agricultural. To man with Il country resi-
dence, with yard and garden, a stable and
horse. not a farmer; and these not being
part and parcel of a farm or prop
erty devoted TO some Of the above species of
agriculture, is not the owner Of real estate
held and used exclusively for agricultural
and is not entitled to the favor Of the law. 4
man carrying on business in the city or carry
ing on business nowhere, may own an elegant
residence and grounds, raise his own Vegeta-
bleS, and yet IS not an agriculturiSt under the
law. He does not devote his estate mainly to
In the advancement OF agriculture. He lives
III the county FOR convenience or pleasure or
luxury, and is not to be favored in the assess
ment of taxes"
SUFFERING HOMELESS FAMILY-A SICK;
Woman and Her Three Young Children an
the StreetS.-I eSterday afternoon Officer Mich
olson, OF the fifth precinct, found woman and
three children sitting on bench III the City
Hall square, appearing very much distressed.
In answer TO questions, she said she was sick
and suffering. The officer sent her 10 the sta
ton hnuSp on 10th where prp-