National Republican., 1883-10-25
THE COMMISSIONERS.
Current transactions Mt the Various Dis
trict Omccs.

NNNN-~N~-ANAA'
triot Omces.
The com missioners have written to Mr..
David Rittenhouse, stating that their attorney
advises them that the Metropolitan Railroad
company is legally responsible for failure
to give any passenger q continuous ride to the
termination of tho route in Georgetown, and
can be sued for such failure, but that the
commissioners can take no action.
Liquor licenses have been granted to John
Connor, John Curtin, William Finn, Gilbert
Cannon, Francis Hall, Edwin Norman, +.
Schneider, Barbara Weber, Patrick White,
and Bertha Young.
The agreement between the commissioners
and the Postal Telegraph company was con-
cludod yesterday, which permits the company
to lay conduit of wires, and the contract
will he made.
Mai. Lydccker is reported as being better.
The citizens living on Seventh street road
have protested against the granting of liquor
licenses in that vicinity.
Comptroller Lawrence yesterday decided
that the commissioners had no authority,
under an act appropriating money for the
expenses of public works for n designated
fiscal year. to make contracts for the contnu-
alton Of such public works in a subsequent
fiscal year, contingent on an appropriation by
congress. He snys that a contract made for
the construction of public work during the
fiscal year in which an appropriation is avail
able to pay therefor, but which contract is
made for work to commence after such fiscal
year, is absolutely void. This decision was
rendered in tho case of Il. j. Coylc, who con.
tracted to construct so much of the Boundary
street sewer as would amount to a total cost
of SjO,OOO-the amount appropriated by the
act of March, 1SSl-and in whose contract
the following clause was contained: "rhe
commissioners have presented to congress an
estimate of $4,000 to be expended during the
fiscal y ar ending June 30, 1888. Whatever
amount may be appropriated for this purpose
Will be expended under this contract
In reply to communication, from Sister
Elizabeth Relihan, of st. AIMS infant asylum
the commissioners state that they regret they
are unable to comply with your request to be
allowed to place n fence around st. AIMS in
fant asylum higher than the usual 3 feet
They have refused IL in several instances, to
maintain uniformity in respect to fences along
the streets, and cannot depart from the rule
in your case without allowing it to others"
The annual report of Collector Cooke to
the district commissioners, submitted yester'
day, shows the percentage of collection to be
greater than for many previous years, eX-
ceeding the estimates on which appropria-
tions for the support Of tho district for 1884
were based. Arrears of tax also show tho
like good result. The uncolleoted balance is
against church, college, asylum, and govern
ment property, and amounts to only half q
million.
As to the arrears of personal tax due prior
to the levy of 1851, mainly OH arbitrary and
baseless assessments and against persons who
have nothing which can be legally
distrained, 1t Is recommended that the
auditor should be empowered to close these
personal tax accounts.
HEALTH OFFICE WEEKLY REPORT.
Tho co1I cx,nnnsic nf tho nnarot;ons of
the health department for tho week ending
Oct. 90, 1888 is presented by Health Officer
Townshend:
Nusances reported, 374; referred, II I;
abated, 352; referred to commissioners, g.
official notices issued, 40; citizens complaints
recev ed, 80; cases referred to coroner, 2 !;
cases referred to attorney, 33 inspections of
plumbing work made, "a; garbage removed,
800 tons; dead animals, lag; night soil, $50
barrels; animals impounded, Ill redeemed,
IS; killed, Il unwholesome food condemned,
555 pounds of meat, 20f bushels of fruit, and
S7t bushels of vegetables.
Marine products nspected-136 $50 bushels
of oysters. 5,s57 punches of fish, surgeons,
3 drunifish, Z shcephead, and 1,750 crabs.
Marine products condemned-1,4 AGO bushels
Of oysters, 151 lunches of fish, and l, ,i7forabs.
Patients treated by physicians to thopoor,
$40; white, 90 colored, 254; visits 40; Of
| flee consultations, 106. tra'
Vital statistics-The number of deaths oc-
CURING during the week was 66; SO white,
and 80 colored. The rate of mortality per
1000 per annum being 14.63 for the white
1920 for the colored, and 1851 for the total
population. There were deaths from
zymotc diseases, 13 from constitutional dis
eases, 81 from local diseases, 6 from develop
mental diseases, and from violence. The
principal causes of death were: Consump.
tion, o; cancer, A pneumonia, 6; bronchitis,
Il; congestion of lungs, A. heart disease, 2;
whooping cough, 1 measles, 1 Group, ! ; ac-
cidents, 2, and homicides, 2. OF the dece-
dents 16 were over 60 years of age, and 20
under years.
Births reported 42-White 21, and colored
81.
Marriages reported 20-White 10, colored 10.
Still births reported-1 white.