Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-10
District Government Atfair..

The number of drawback certificates issued
by MT Roome, clerk in charge of revisions of
special assessments, up to O'Clock to-day was
6,141, aggregating S3T1, ,325 a. Amount awaiting
claimants, SS2, 1885,
The District Commissioners have notified Mr..
j. G. Naylor and his bondsmen, MesSrs. Rich
ards and Lewis, that unless the building OF the
school-house on Massachusetts avenue is not
commenced within five days the contract will
be relet at their cost.
1t is understood that the report of the
physicians appointed to inquire into the physical
condition Of Lieut.. Sktppon is to the effect that
he Is Incapable OF performing the duties OF his
office. The question now before the Commits
S1onerS is as to their powers to reduce him to
the ranks and appoint his successor In Office.
Major BLOCK has revoked the commission Of
John E. Skfvington as one OF the guides to the
places OF interest in the District. This action
was the result OF an investigation into the acts
Of these officers.
UTILIZING THE CITY CIsTERNs.
DR.. E. NJ. Chaplin, superintendent of repairs,
In note to Engineer Greene, recommends that
the old reservoirs constructed by the corpora
tion of Washington, and long ago covered up
and abandoned, be uncovered, cleaned out and
utilized by the fire department whenever fires
occur in their vicinity. These reservoirs are
masonry, Of capaciOuS size and furnished with
two openings, or man-holes, in the tops for ad-
mission OF fire hose, or Workmen, whose duty it
is to clean them out They were constructed in
most instances to connect with water spoutS
from the roofs Of adjacent buildings by which
means they were kept filled, and in some in
stances with springs, In regarding for the new
pavement On Market Space one OF them was un-
covered opposite the Bank Of Washington, which,
attracting the attention of Fire commissioner
p. +. Bacon, it occurred to him that 1t would be
well to make use of it, and the matter was then
discussed, with the result stated
UNSETTLED CLAIMS OF CONTRACTORS
committee of the old contractors who have
unsettled claims against the District; (the COM
mittee consisting of Messrs. H. ]. Mclaughlin,
M. J. Laughlin Henry Birch, Thomas A. Brown
ID. M. Smith, and others,) waited upon the Dis
trict Commissioners yesterday to request some
special action on their part in behalf of SETTLE
ment Several OF them made statements as to
great alleged injustice which had been shown
to class OF honest claimants who. were not
fortunate enough toget their certificates funded
into 3.65 bonds within the time prescribed by
law. Some OF them have neither certificates
nor bonds, but open accounts. Their respective
cases dlf1er some but for various reasons their
accounts had not been funded, and as O conSe-
Quence they have been kept out of their lust
cues without any provisions being made for
Their relief. Commissioner Morgan stated that
he had just come into possession of House bill
No. 29S to provide for the settlement of all out
standing claims against the District of Columbia
and comforting Jurisdiction on the Court of
he asked If they were satisfied with the proyf-
sions OF the bill, and advised them If they were
TO aid In its passage as it would soon probably
come up as unfinished business. He said the
Commissioners were disposed to heIp them out
OF the difficulty In any way they could. Mr..
Hunton. of the District committee was fair
minded gentleman and disposed to do every
thing that was honorable and just in the matter
lie was In favor OF disposing of these cases by
the Court OF Claims. An informal debate sprung
up between the contractors and the Commits
sioners in which it appears that some OF the
members Of the District committee are In favor
OF payment OF these claims from District reve-
nues entirely, others are in favor OF the United
states paying the whole, and others are favor
able to division of the amount between the
United States and District of Columbia The
Commissioners said they could not answer as to
how this would be settled, and it should not
matter much to the claimants so that their
claims was settled. 1t was stated in the course
OF the conversation that these claims amount TO
about one million Of dollars 1t is understood
that this matter will come before the committee
next Monday.