Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-07-26
district Government An It.,

Commissioner Dent was absent ron, hi,
nee 6SaaS: on OF fesSp licenses ha sion
for dogs up to o'clock to-day 49,
The District Commissioner have Iaass5 10
}, SQUARE llS corner 81 9or cd 18th streets, on
the privilege of purcha dng ef y, Sea[S Win
price on which to erect a 1,mn% H' q sulpu ,d.t''
Be-; connected with il u sstand pipe. ' H'"S'
for liz licenses " anline into applications
lowing C. F. BohT app1T3hHed It ioI-
CatneIIiine, i h'Srtn l. and John G. BicXiigh.
ApPIii va To, &C liquor licenses to Louisa
and transfer e2I,cense ~ Psts oeoI II
on Saitu n ~ aDer of gentlemen whose names
a iPPt; print as SignerS to a petition to
MY a commissioners in favor of the APP
HViDGh0 ns III Gen. H0yey as trustee for the 81
Gts!LiCt, have come forward and withdrawn
GHei LANES, and now express their choice for
Dr. y A I'll. Mckim.
EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT As
CLAIM AGENTS.
The attention OF Engineer HOXie having
been brought to the circumstance that some OF
the employees of the District government have
been in the habit of practicing as claim agents
IN the prosecution of claims against the Dis
tT1ct OF Columbia, he has reported the fact to
the Commissioners for such action as they
choose to take in the premises. This practice
is contrary to standing order OF the Commits
signers.
TEE PoLICEMENs PAY.
Under the act making appropriations for the
sundry civil expenses Of the government for
the fiscal year ending June 50, 1879, the Dis
trlct commissioners are authorized to fix the
of the metropolitan police until otherwise pro-
vided by law. Acting upon this provision, the
Commissioners have determined to revise the
salaries paid the police INCLUDING all Of the Off
as TO how this should be done has engaged the
attention of the executive officers for some
days, and finally it was thought best to com
municate with the authorities of other cities,
and get the prices paid to the police of such
cities; and twelve OF the largest cities were Sc
lected from which to make an average of the
the price to be paid the members of the force
here. These cities, are Albany, Balti-
more Boston 9 BBrNokyR BuaIo Ghiesgo
Providence, Rochester and ST. Louis.
When it shall be ascertained what the average
rates are, it is probable that such rates VIII
paid our police. Nothing yet has been de
cided upon, all published accounts to the con
trary Notwithstanding. The result will be
that a curtailment will be made, but how much
made OF the surplus saved by this operation is
also question not yet determined, but it is
likely to lie expended in the increase of the
present number OF patrolmen, the need OF
which is generally admitted. The rumOrS of a
reduction having become current has caused
great CONSERVATION among the police, and
great dlSapprObatiOn is expressed by them and
by maIy citizens and taxpayers who say the
present prices are not too much for the faith
ful performance OF police duty by reliable and
efficient men, such as our Metropolitan police
is composed OF.
Another plan, which is in vogue in some of
the cities, IS to graduate the pay Of Office rs by
the Term 81 service rendered; in other words
10 add 10 The pay each year OF meritOriUuS SER
wee up TO a maximum amount. This has been
found 10 work we'll in other cities. and puts
the policemen on their good behavior for a
CLEAN record. This plan is regarded with favor
where II has been tried, and Will probably be
duly considered.
TIE SWIMMING SCHOOL PROJECT.
The paper filed by r E. Odum, with the
District commissioners in which he proposes
and lis arpltCa ion for a permit to use PotO-
mac water for that purpose having been re-
ferred to Water Registrar Cox, that officer will
make favorable report on it, and recommend
that Cdlum be allowed to use the water AT
a low rate, the amount used to be measured
by meter.
ABOUT DOGS.
The tax tags on dogs continues to be in de-
mand, upwards OF l,SC0 of them having been
sold by the collector of taxes. making the
amount OF revenues thus far S, 900. In 1875 the
amount collected on dogs in the city of Wash
lngtOn alone was $4.S4325: in 1869, S7,4lS; in
1870, $,395. %, and judging from these figures
and the revenue from this source, this year
ought to be at least as heavy for the whole
District, as from the city of Washington alone,
IN a single former year. If the number of dogs
still about the streets is any indication, the
amount realized ought TO be ten times what
has so far been received. One thing now which
lessons the same total of taxes somewhat is the
pound service, which was not in existence dur.
ing the years mentioned.