National Republican., 1883-03-17
THE COMMISSIONERS
Current Transactions at the Various Dis
trict Offices.


trict Offices.
No action has yet been taken by the COM
missioners upon the request of the Washing
ton Gaslight company to tear up certain
thoroughfares in the center of the city for the
purpose of laying large gas mains.
Mr.. Pierce Shoemaker has made an offer to
the commissioners to gratuitously furnish
such stone as may be needed to complete the
macadamizing of the Laurel Hill road.
MIR. G. e.. Willard has received a permit to
repair his brick house, No. 1884 f street, at
cost Of 81 500.
The commissioners yesterday commissioned
w. N. Wood rs an additional private on the
police force in connection with his duties as
agent of the S. p. G. r. A. Mr.. Wood succeeds
Maj. King in the latter position.
Mr.. Allan Rutherford, one Of the newly
appointed special assessors, asked the district
commissioners in writing if such assessors
were United States officers. The inquiry was
referred to Attorney Riddle, who yesterday
rendered the following Opinion
Though created by act of congress- an
assessor is an officer of the District of Column
bia and not an officer of the United States
within the meaning of the constitution and
general statutes of congress. The general
laws of congress do not apply to the officers of
the district, unless made so by special provis-
ion. | know of no special provision which
brings assessors within the general laws (sec-
tion 03, Revised Statutes, District of Columbia,
is not such a provision, as think. The act
creating them is not before me, The case of
the District of Columbia VS.. the Washington
and Georgetown railway is a judicial settle
mcnt of this and kindred qucstions-Wash-
ington Law Reports, volume 10, page 179. If
the district is not department, bureau, or
branch of the general government, then its
officers are not officers of the United States,
as seems to me-"
Mr.. Riddle adopts the affected style re-
Gently imported from across the water, and
signs himself Riddle atty, ID. c.
Tho health officer yesterday received n
communication in French, postmarkcd Bay
onne, France. Dr. Townshend looked at It,
turned it upside down, and remarked that If
il was not a prescription for malaria it was
undoubtedly Il bloodthirsty espistle from an
irate nihilist. Fearing that IL might have
been soaked in an explosive essence which
heat would cause to spread devastation he
turned it over TO Mr.. Barr, and incon-
tinently left Mr.. Barr said he believed
il was challenge from Swampoodle
base ball club, written in Irish, and turned it
over to Chief Clerk McGwin. The latter
said he had no doubt it was an engrossed
copy of vote of thanks passed by the Mala-
gassy embassy before its departure, and
moved to have IL framed and hung over the
water cooler. In the face of such diversity
of opinion the entire staff of the health office
solemnly formed in single file, and waited
upon Commissioner West asking him to trans
late the Mysterious epistle.
Mr. West informed the delegation that il
was request from DR.. Deloraile, president
of the health department of Bayonne, asking
for the details Of the district health depart.
ment-the number of officers and employees
their salaries, and the adopted rules and forms
al hn,,
of schools were done and forms of the certih
Gates of births and deaths. The delegation
hcaved sigh of relief and withdrew. The
answer will be transmitted through the com.
missioners.
The commissioners yesterday appointed
George w. Hardness and w. b. Moore special
assessors under the recent act of congress tC
fill the vacancies in the sixth and twelfth dis
tricts respectively.
The position of assessor for the twelfth
division was rendered to Mr.. John II. Shell
ton, but that gentleman declined on account
of the pressure of his private business.
Seventeen burial permits were issued yes.
terday and twelve birth certificates received
at the health office.
1t is discovered that the authorized increase
of the metropolitan police force by congress
is only nine men altogether, the appropria-
tion for salaries providing for only that in
crease.
The commissioners have informed the COM
mercial agents. peddlers, and produce dealers
at large, by advertisement, that the licenses
will expire ON the thirty-frst day of March
1885, and must be promptly renewed.
The district commissioners have advertised
for proposals for the sale of several schoo
house sites-two in the second division, one
in the third division, one OH the old Bladens
burg road, near Brooks's station, and one a
Benning's station-possesson to be given be
fore the twentieth day of April next.