Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-31
District Government Affairs.

District Commissioner Morgan. with Mr.. A. ].
Falls and DR.. Joseph, started to-day on a tour
of inspection of the various charitable organize
lions in the northern states. They will be alb
sent about one week.
There have been eleven fires thus far during
the month of August, aggregating a loss of
$3.50, on which there is an insurance of $3.50.
The commissioners to-day issued an order
that New York avenue, between North Capitol
and boundary streets, be improved by grading
and grayelng the roadway, and that bids for
this work be invited by advertisement without
delay.
The Commissioners have given permission to
the citizens on W street northwest. between 18th
and 18th streets, to lay curbing, guttering and
sidewalks, at their own expense, the District
furnishing the material.
The Commissioners have received note from
Mrs. j. B. Ricketts,, president of the board of
lady visitors, Childrens' hospital, corner of W
and 18th streets, asking that Improvement be
made on the short square. from the corner of
14th street to the corner of 18th street, on W
street, as it is almost impossible.
Capt. John J. Callahan, jr.. of company d.
65th regiment. n. Y. state militia. in a commu-
nication to the District Commissioners. asks
permission to pass with his command through
the territory of the District of Columbia on his
way TO attend the Yorktown celebration in
October. The request has been granted by the
Commissioners.
THE PLUMBING REGULATIONS.
Health Officer Townshend has addressed a
communication to the Commissioners to-day
stating that many of the plumbers evince tardi-
ness in complying with the new plumbing regu
lations He finds that it will be necessary to
send another notification to many of them direct
ing that they register and bond. as required by
law. This he proposes to do. and to set the 10th
prOXimO a limit of time for such qualification.
after which time suit will be entered against all
who fail to comply. He suggests that at the
expiration of that time the Commissioners refuse
to issue permits to tap sewers to any who have
failed to comply with the law.
IN REPLY TO THE LETTER
OF Mr.. John p Murphy. requesting that pave
ment be laid on fOOtway of south side of Virginia
avenue, from 18th street to intersection of that
avenue with street southwest. the commits
sioners enclose report of the engineer depart
ment in the premises, as follows -" l think it
would have been better, in paving street. to
have paved the triangular space just west of 18th
street, so as to continue Virginia avenue to B
street. But the pavement being entirely finished
on b street, it is not a matter of sufficient i'm
portance to warrant the expense of tearing up
the present sidewalk and trees in order to lay a
new pavement. The present line of streets does
no injury to any one, and this paving of Virginia
avenue, from 9th to 18th streets, has no bearing
on the question whatever
A LAWYER WHO PLEADED HIS Own CASE
SUCCESsFULLY.-A neatly dressed young white
man named Jno. Thompson. was called up out
of the cell at the Police Court this. morning and
charged with hiring hack for six hours and re-
fusing to pay the hire. colored hackman
named Jas. MunrOe, testified that this young
man engaged him about IL o'clock last night
and witness drove him around the city until six
o'clock this morning. when he said that he had
no money and would pay HIM some other time,
when witness had him arrested Thompson
stated to the court that he missed his pocket
book this morning, but intended to pay the man.
He also said that he was lawyer and prac-
titioner before the Supreme Court, and asked
leave to conduct his own case. The court con-
sented to this, and Thompson asked that the
case be dismissed on account of technicaty in
the evidence. His point was that there was no
evidence that MunrOe was licensed hackman
and had right to make charge. And if he
was licensed hackman the record is the best
evidence, and the best evidence is required in
all cases. and as the record was not put in evil
dence he asked that the case be dismissed The
court asked the prosecuting officer what he had
to say to this, and he said that it was so absurd
that he had nothing to say about it. The court
said that absurd as it was he would dismiss the