Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-16
District Government Affairs.

The long-contestad and troublesome case Of
the alley in square No. 1G2 on Capitol Hiil has
been settled 10y the Commissioners the last
| claimant for damages having come forward and
made Application for payment. This settles the
case and the alley viii remain Just where it is
The Commissioners have addressed note to
Messrs. 8 X. Bond and James II. Smith attor-
neys, IN reply TO a communication from them de-
handing payment of the salary of Ellen A. But
Ter as teacher in the public schools for the year
ending June So 1881. amounting to 5000 and
enclose report of John II. Brooks, one OF the
trustees seventh school division which states
that she performed no service as public school
teacher during the year ending June. 1881; that
she dld try to get an appointment for the school
year 1881. but failed.
The District Commissioners yesterday leased
the building belonging to the Christian Brothers
on 18th street. between q and III northwest for
school purposes during the ensuing scholastic
year. at a rental Of 500.
Ex-Commissioner s. l.. Phelps. i'm a note TO
the commissioners, requests them to improve
18th and Q streets and Vermont avenue in
accordance with a previous understanding with
the District officials.
TIE CENTRAL GUARD-HoUSE PROPERTY
In relation TO the question which has been
raised about the recent sale of the Central
Guard-house 10y the Commissioners to the effect
that the Commissioners have no power to make
conveyance of the title of said property to the
! PURCHASER, the Commissioners state that they
have the power. and stand ready 10 make the
deed TO whoever shall be named by the Produce
Exchange Company for the reception of the title
of said property. and. in support of this they
cite the case of the lot of ground owned at Mass
achusetts avenue and street 10y the United
States. which. by the act Of Congress Of March
3D. 1881. the District Commissioners were author
lied to sell and apply the proceeds TO the school
fund. In this case the opinion of the attorney
for the District held that although au-
thority ito SELF the premises was con-
ferred upon the Commissioners. that they derived
no authority to convey" the same to the pur-
chaser In this dilemma the Commissioners re-
quested the Attorney General to advise them
how to proceed. That officer in reply stated,
IL am led to adopt different view from that of
the attorney of the District of Columbia: think
the power to sell to the highest bidder at public
auction carries with it authority to make a
conveyance to such bidder as an incident to the
execution OF the power. IL is a general and
familiar principle Of law that where power is
conferred to do any act, it is to be construed as
including all necessary or usual or proper modes
and means of accomplishing the act: since to
authorize the doing of an act. and at the same
be idle and absurd" ." He cites many
authorities to sustain this view of the case. and
concludes: Il accordingly answer your inquiry
py saying that IN my opinion conveyance can
be made to the purchaser under the statute as IL
now exists" The deed in that case was given
in accordance with the opinion noted above.
Messrs. Strang and Tucker request the Com
missiOners to offer the property for resale, and
with privilege or otherwise, as may be deemed
most advisable.
POLICE sTATIsTIcs.
The quarterly report of Major Brock. of the
police department. ending June Both. shows the
number Of cases in which fines were imposed:
7S7, amounting to 81. 76S.47 There were
1677 cases dismissed: number sent to Jail ISL.
sent to workbouse $40. TO the reform school 8:
total number OF arrests 3.S64, of which ITO
were males and 594 were females; Of this num-
Der $50 could not read nor write.
BUILDING PERMITS
issued by Inspector Entwisle: III. A. Willard. re-
pair the Ebbift House stables at Ohio avenue
and 18th street; $1,000 Mrs. j. f.. Johnston
repair brick house. 1923 Connecticut avenue
NV: S415. ]. Parsons. repair brick. IL Wst..
81 900: Celestine Eustis erect a three-storv
dwelling. n street. between Connecticut avenue
and 18th street northwest s4.5OO
THE LoAfERs IN FRONT OF THE POLICE CotyRr.
In the Police Court this morning Judge Bundy
gave directions to Officer Hardin, the door
keeper. to keep the crowd from In front of the
court mouse, and particularly when the prisoners
are being put in the van as there have been
bitter complaints made by the residents I'm the
neighborhOod about the crowd that congregate
there every day.
BUSINESS on THE RIVER FRoNr.-Harbugs
master j. r. Sutton reports arrivals It tho
wllarvcs a follows Barkentine Nign0u, Capt
Keen 500 tons ice for Great Fnlls Ice Compo1R
schooner F0ar Stst@s, Gray, wood for nofl6
schooner Bee, Hearu, coal for Clarke Z Gtv0&
schooner Reuyoaon OBJ 600 lnfhs "a HoGwG21. 49,. S