Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-01
Sl1.5S6, 1861
District Governmen. Affairs.

J ne toilettCf OF taxes has been quite busy to-
day. and large sum has been received Oh the
new assessment Just completed Most who have
paid have paid the full amount. thus getting the
benefit OF the five per cent. abatement
The rejection of Peter DOnnelly's application
IOf liquor license was to-day fec0mmtted to
!he license committee, who again dlsapproyed
his license.
The monthly report of Poundmaster Enstein
iof october shows the total number OF animals
lmpounded at 51I, OF which number 512 We're
dogs. The amount received for reclaming ami
! mails in that time was Sl65 25
Francis A. Benter has been appOinteda special
policeman 10 do duty at the new Riggs school
house.
In response 10 the request OF Judge J. w.
Wright to the District Commissioners for the
abatement OF the oyster horn nuisance. which
that officer replies that the police department
is the proper one for such complaints. He re-
marks casually that there is no law to prevent
street noises, except when made on Sunday
HEALTH OFFICE REORGANIzED.
Health Officer TOwnShend to-day concluded
the reorganization of that Office by appointing
Mr. j. {. McGnn chief clerk. in place OF Mr. d.
:. JONES' who retireS from the office to engage
in private business pursuits. Mr.. McGinn has
occupied the position Of chief clerk in tie health
office under Dr. keene for several years and
gave satisfaction.
POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE WASHING
TON ASYLUM.
In response to a letter from G.. A. CaSwell
commissioner to the Washington ASYLUM Mr.
Riddle. attorney for the district. states that the
provisions OF the ordinance approved Oc;0ber
&c. 1920. relating To the powers OF the commits
Sioners OF the aSy iun are in force still; that the
present commissioner is invested with all the
powers OF The board created by that ordinance
including that OF the apprenicinG OF pa,,Der
children who have been sentenced to the ;iSy Illm
blythe Police Court. The commissioner can
only thus bind first, orphan children: ii child
who has lost both parents. Second the children
OF drtlnkald a VagraAt, or pauper, who T.,
bringing them up in ignorance, sl0th and Idle
han,
Tor hire at public places. Children whose parent,
do not fall within these descriptions cannot b.,
aprrenticed under the law, whether sentenced
Oy the Police Court or not. The children in ali
cases must be bound TO masters within the Dis
trict.
THE HACK STAND QUESTION.
Mr.. Robert Christie counsel for J. NJ. Young
ana otnelS, has addressed a letter TO the Com
mSSiOneiS in relation to the hack stand on 9th
street north OF Pennsylvania avenue in which
he states that by an ordinance OF the late Cor
polatlCn OF Washington Of March 80, 1872 il
was provided - that the streets and avenues in
'front.' OF any public spaces or squares excepting
opposite market houses, are established as
stands for carriages" He submits that under
the penary power touching the location of
hack stands conferred by the recent acts of CON
giess, t'the Commissioners shall have power
and change them as often as the public interests
ieQuired.") your Honorable board should he
guided II not controlled by the just and fair
spirit of this ordinance: that i, is evidently the
duty OF the Commissioners to perform the pub
lie duties with as little annoyance to the private
citizens as possible. He submits that it is
grossly UNJUST to locate a hack stand as in this
instance on street but sixty feet wide, when
In the near vicinity there is an avenue but
little used by the public for the purposes of
travel, one hundred and sixty feel wide The
case was referred to Commissioner TWininr
with instructions TO prepare a pavement for =
hack stand at the Intersection OF La ayenue
and {, 9th and 9Th streets east OF the said
Hpned street.
FIRE DEPARTMENT MATTERS
Tie Fire Commissioners have transmitted
their report Of operations from November list.
1871, TO July lSt ISIS, to the District Commits
sloners, with recommendations, estimates for
ports OF Chief Engineer Cronin and Superinten
dent OF Fire Alarm Miles for the eight month,
above mentioned. 1t may be stated in this
places in the Fire department that hv a rule
adopted by The new commissioners no man can
be appointed who is under 81 or over 80 wears OF
age. Men under five feet six inches i'm hnic,hr
are also excluded.
The report OF the Fire Commissioner, shows
the expenses OF the department for the eight
months priorto July lst, ls,s, including salaries,
contingent expenses. repairs. purchase OF
horses, fuel, &C., to have been $l56,35. oi. The
details show a discrepancy between the figures
OF the District auditor and OF the superintena-
ant OF the fire alarm telegraph. in relation to
the expenses OF the office Of the latter and the
report states that this discrepancy is an Illus
iratIon of the necessity that all bills appertain-
IuhdS for IFS support, should be transmitted 10
tne nfe commissioners for their approval so
lhat correct record of them can be kept Asit
Is now, OliS Tor repairs Of engine houses and
other bills, never come before them and they
nave hO means OF knowing what the expenseS
or The department are without going to the other
offices OF the District Government for the in
f0Imation.' They deem it unnecessary to give
all tle reasons why they should know what ex-
@ pena'tures res are made on account OF that depart
ment. The estimates for the fiscal year
enulnS June 3o, 1850, amount to SII,1:ap 10
mere are -, f1fe plugs in the District which
h,lnDer SllCuid Oe increased and such OF the Old
plugs as have inch outlets should be altered
10 lo men, mus increasing the water supply for
tne suppression OF fires. They recommended A
more hre alarm boxes In the TWO citfe, They
call attention to the fact that no provision i
made by law for members OF the department
VINO are unfit for active service by reason of lis
aDiltty incurred i'll the line OF duty: thai they
are compelled 10 carry these men on the rolls
asactfve membefs,0 or else discharge them broken
In health and unable TO make a living They
recommend that provision be made for them In
other branches Of the public service TheycalI
Vention OF the National Association of Fire En-
glneers OF the United States will he held i'm Ihi,
city september, 1879, and recommend that tn,
sum OF Si 900 be set apart to defray the exDen-
sts Ihey TESTIFY To the general good conduct
vi the oincerS and men, their efficiency and
good dlscfpiine, and to the intelligent super
VISION OF Chief Cr0nin and the faithful services
St "a AssiSsant Cnlef ": .. Drew, and Superinten-
~ The weather Is still more favorable in the
south for freezing out the fever,
1.-THE extraordinary time Of a:14k was