Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-03
District Govern ment Affairs.

Mr.. j. B. johnson, secretary and treasurer OF
to the District commssoners @ % for tie sum OF
$1,000, the second quarterly instalment OF the
$4,000, appropriated by Congress for that
to be placed to tt credit OF the institution at
the U. S. Treasury.
The District Commissioners have issued an
order fixing the time for the pay ment OF taxes
for the fiscal year ending June SO 1919; that u
first half Of said tax shall be due and payale
on the 1st day Of November, 1s79 and the Sc
ond half on the 1st day of May, 1880.
The statement in yesterdays STAR, showing
the amount collected for water taxes from June
1879 to July 1879, should have read from June
Mr.. James Small, sealer Of weights and meas
ures. In bis last monthly report, shows the COL
lection Of s154 fees. and the condemnation OF
several hall peck and quart measures for being
Commissioner Twining made a visit to Baltl-
more yesterday for the purpose Of examining
into the extension Of the water works of that
city, and especially to inform himself in rela-
ton to their reservoir capacity. He, In COM
pany with Mayor Latrobe and Messrs. Manning
and Martin, connected with those works, made
an examination Of the reservoirs. He reports
them, in comparison with like service in this
District, as enormous.
REVISION OF OUR LICENSE LAWS NECESSARY
Mr.. c. S. Jones, inspector of licenses, In re-
port to Treasurer Dodge states that since his
last monthly report he has filed information
with the attorney for the District In 4O cases of
produce dealers doing business without license,
being nearly the entire number engaged in that
business. Process has not been issued in any
case as yet. He calls attention to the necessity
existing for revision of the license laws as a
matter of equity between the various mercan-
tile interests Of the District In this connection
be expresses the hope that no movement In
this direction will be taken advantage OF by
sentimental theorists to inaugurate warfare
upon the lfduor system as now recognized by
law, looking to its ultimate extinction, saying:
sit Is SO closely interviewer with the material
interests of this locality and with those of the
government of the United States that any at
N0nffr hfC ffl nfa
by legislation must not only prove abortive,
but at the same time render futile all efforts to
improve other portions OF the law, so absolutely
essential to its just administration. For these
reasons 1t iS to be earnestly desired that our
efforts for modification of the license system
will be directed to portions OF 1t other than that
involved In the liquor question. That can very
well stand as 1t is at present. There is one fea-
tuTe of Importance in the way of amendment to
the law in question, necessary to its vigorous
execution, which should not be forgotten. In
formation on oath, filed by the chief of police
or the Inspector Of licenses, as to the parties
violating the law, should constitute a ptimsa
tacie case against them, thus throwing upon
such persons the burden Of disproof'
THE LICENSE TAX ON VIRGINIA HucssTERs
In reply to the communication OF Hon. Eppa
Hunton, chairman OF the House District COM
mittee relative to the imposition OF a license
tax on the Virginia hucksters who do business
in our markets, the District commissioners say:
1.-THE parties for whom this exemption is asked
are In fact hucksters. They buy in Virginia to
retail in Washington and the Commissioners
understand, pay license In the state of Vir-
ginia. Farmers and market gardeners In Vlr-
ginia can bring produce Of their own raising to
the Washington markets and sell without ey-
else charge Of any kind, but those they call
hucksters are really m1ddlemen They bring
what they purchase to sell at retail In this mar.
ket, and are as much huckSterS as those who
buy butter in Pennsylvania for sale at retail
lere."
LADIES ON PUMPS.
The District Commissioners, In reply to a
communication from G. w. Woolley, Md, re-
questing by direction of Friendship lodge,
GOOD Templars,) that they order dipper or la
dies to be placed on the pumps of the city, in
close copy Of portion OF the report of the
water registrar as follows: clippers have been
put on all the pumps repeatedly, and have been
taken Off by thieves Under the circumstances
l cannot recommend that others be put In
their places If pa! ties interested choose to put
a dipper or cup on pump at his own expense
see no objection to his doing So"
HOLIDAY FOR ODD FELLOWS REQU ssTED.
In reply to a request of Truman Ross and
others, Stating that the Grand United order OF
Odd Fellows will hold an anniversary on the
18th instant. and requesting that leave Of
absence be granted on that day to members Of
the order in District employ, the Commissioners
request that statement be furnished them of
membership in the employ OF the District.
BUILDING PERMITS
issued by Inspector Entw1Sle to Henry Cahill,
construct tWo-Story brick dwelling 10th, be-
tween G and SITS. s.e.; $500. Hugh McCaffrey,
construct twO-stOry brick dwelling, 4th, be-
tween and SITS. se.; $4,000.