National Republican., 1879-12-29
DISTRICT MATTERS.
Some Business Transacted by the
Commissioners.
Tho School Trustees and the Unfinished
School Building Taking steps to
Hasten Its Complction--Attorney
Riddle Renders an Opinion
Concerning the District
soldiery, Sc, SC,
Unfinished schoo, Buildings.

Messrs Samson and Somcrvlle a subcommittee
representing the Committee on School Buildings,
bad al interview with the Commissioners last
saturday morning In regard 10 the delay in com.
pletng the two new school houses. Inspector
Entwislc was also present The contract for this
work was originally awarded to Mr. J. G. Naylor
and upon his failure lessrs Lewis and Richards his
surehes, were called upon to complete y, The
former agreed TO take the Lsuritzen building on
Capitol Hill and the latter the Cluss building on
Mas. .ochuscus avenue. Mr.. Richards Is making
TO continued aud increasing ill.hcGljh Mr.. Lewis
has been unable 10 make eny progress with the
Cluss building and 81 was this situation OF atia RS
that caused the interview. AMER considerable dis
cussion on the subject i was finally decided thft a
special meeting Of the board should be called this
week at which the Commissioners and Inspector
EntWise should bC present to determine what shall
be done IN the matter.
Aid for the Worthy Poor.
The Commissioners have approved Major Rtocks
recommendation tlnt the tOllowing-nGmed per-
SONS be authorized To act in conjunction with the
police for the purposc OF distributing relief to the
worthy poor viz; First precinct DR. H. 4. Leach
TpE rhi, NlSs MARY lGIeh; second. Mis: Al1cneyi
Mrs Lcchron and Mrs J. I. swoetnau; FiRh, DR..
John Walter sixth Rev. Alexander kcrt aud
and Mrs. a. J. scharhrt, Eighth. Dr. W. p. H.
Mazcn and Mrs. Crosby; Anacostia, Or. A. w.
Christie.
The SMALLPOX.
Two cases Of smallpox were reported Saturday.
but, upon investigation, 1t was found that they
were not smallpox cases. A COlOred girl named
Elizabeth trat Who was taken 10 the smallpox
hospital on the 2lsi Instant, died saturday.
Saturday afternoon an excitement was created at
the Camden railroad station, Baltimore by the ap-
pearance Of a man suffering with smal.p poX BE.
fore his condition was discovered he had bought
ticket for Washington, and was about 20 get ON
train coming TO this city, when the conductor dis
covering that he had the smallpox, ordered him
away. He was taken by the police and subse
qucntly sent to the Marine Hospital. lie gave his
name as Charles Cordes, and said he was from
Washington and forty eight years of age Corles
was respectfully dressed, and had the appearance
Oft well-tO.dO mechanic.
Two cases Of supposed smallpox were reported
to the Health Officer ycsterday-two boys named
Ellis, on street, between Second and Third streets
southeast. Upon investigation 4 was found that
| the boys were only suffering from too much
| Christmas Health Officer TOwnsheud will to-day
propose 10 the District Commissioners 10 designate
| number OF physicians IN addition to the regular
phySHinns OF the poor to take share of the wOrK
| OF Vnccnatng the poor. DR.. TOwnshend has
arranged with Il Boston firm to supply him with
| 5JO vaccine points daily.
The District soldIory
| Hon. y. G. Riddle attorney for the District has
| given On opinion ON the points advanced in the
communications of General Thomas and Colonel
Amos Webster relative to tc status Of the District
militia. He Is OF the opinion that tie District Com
lnissluners are without power iI the promises cX-
cept as advisory from their position as The execu-
| tive Of the District The recent decision of the
supreme court Ol tins Dstii let Is the law of this Dis
rict, ana Colonel Webster Correctly approhends its
force The legislation of The late District legsla-
ture on this subject Is without force IN the prem
ises. The whole matter Is the subject of Congres.
sional legislation, and cove cd by chapter 81 Re-
vised Statutes Of the District OF Columbia page 1886
| that the power aud duty Of organizing the militia
OF the District Is there placed wholly la the hands
Of the President of the United states and doubtless
would be promptly exercised and performed Oh ad.
wee IN the premises that if chapter 81 Is found
| lacking in details II may be supplemented by the
general militia laws of the United States, Under
section 49, Revised Statutes District Of Column
| bla, page TO-. lie suggests that the whole cor
rcspondeace be referred to the President, and tha
| General Thomas and Colon Webster DO nOtitied
OF the action Of the Commissioners.