Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-23

1me IHS 1S0z8H04 - DC CO0etmU00l
ANSWER OF ITs MEMBERS TO me COMMUNICATION
OF THE DISTRICT coMArssBoNERs ASKING FOB
THEIR VIEWS
The District Commissioners today received the
following communicated, sigaed by Messra Col
Inns, Bacon and TAFT, OF the IRE board:
"Gestse,nen:-We have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt OF your communication OF the
18th inst, In which you call the attention OF the
nre board to the fact that fofthe year beginning
with the lst OF july prox there Is no ap propfia-
ton to pay for their services and add: am not
able to.say whether such omission Is due to the
safy or to an inadvertence We would Be pleased
TO learn the views OF yunr boafd a. to the neces-
s sUfs Or Rropety OF the board after the
We would naturally prefer not to express any
opinion on questions which are In measure per.
cacy, and disclaimlng at the outset any Intention
OF giving reasons for our own retention in offlce
we respectfully submit the following remarks In
matter:
In regard to the failure OF the usual annual
We state that we no more
edge OF the cause OF such omission than the hon.
oraole commissioners OF the District OF Columbia
that ii Congress had meant to wipe out the IRE
board 1t would have done 80 In explicit terms by
clause ID the appropriation bill abolishing the
BOARD There Is no reason why. II that was the
Intention such action should not have been taken,
thus relieving all the parties concerned from any
In regard to the necessity or propriety Of con-
tinuing the board after the 3Oth inst, we respect
fully submit that the process OF stripping it Of
ltS powers. winch mas been IN progress for some
years past, is to be continued, then It would be
better to complete the work at once by its aboli-
troll Of the IRE department that the school board
has of public school matters; 1t selected the ne
cessary apparatus and supplies for the lre ser;
sites for buildings, supervised the construction
and repair OF engine houses. ETC., etc. Step by
selection of men for the fire service the approval of
acquisitions and bills and the trial OF members OF
the force for violations OF the regulations is about
all that Is left OF its former duties and responsible
tiles. 1t has never been even tntimated that any
dereliction Of duty on the part Of the fire board
the cause OF this gradual contraction Of its powers;
IN factwe believe II Is generally conceded that the
affairs OF the department have been prudently and
1udiciously managed, as shown BY the acknowl-
be understood as making any complaint against
the present Commissioners OF the District OF Co
lumbia, or their predecessors In Office, or as Ques.
tiontng their legal right to make such changes as
they deem proper In the administration of the af-
fairs OF the fire department, but merely state the
facts, as necessary to proper understanding OF
We are of the opinion that board composed of
reputable citizens, with proper control or the de-
IRE alarm service. the fire plugs the sale and stOr
age OF inf1ammable material and all other matters
pertaining to the prevention and extingut5hment
OF fires, would conduce to a harmonious and un..
form administratiOn-of such Affairs which would
be help to you and an additional safeguard to
the community; but II such control is to be scat
tered around among half dozen officials, with
clas hing interests and no concert or action then
fire board Is in our opinion useless appeniage OF
abolish the board it Will be necessary to make
some provision Tor the trial OF members OF the fire
department charged with violations OF the regula-
lions, now devOlved by law upon this board. That.
however, Is a matter on which the law officers Of
the District can better advise you than we can.
In conclusion. we can honestly state that we
decided that this board shall cease to exist on the
Both inst, we will he prepared to turn over its
anarS TO our legal SucceSS0rS-a new fire board,
such other officers as may be designated by you
and will cheerfully render to you or them any as
the usefulness ana weii-bsing Of the fire de-
partment and its members, With whom we have
been for so long time ofcially connected. On the
the present fire board after the Both inst, will
as faithfully serve the District without pay az we
have hitherto served it for the pttance allowed for
our services"
RIVER TRADE.-Harbomaste Sutton reports ar
rivals at the river front as follows: Schr. Mt.
Vernon, Wooas, 20 cords wood, j. O. Carter; schr.
Five Sisters. Knight, s. cords do, same; schr.
Ice Ss ICE F
new pension office; barge Mary Josephine, Smith,
265 tons coal, Stephenson Bros; schr. Mary E.
pany; schr. Geo. and Martina, Davis, so cords
wood, H L. Biscoe.
THE HUMANE SocrErY.-At meeting of the ex-
tecutipe committee the s P. G. A. yesterday af-
fEr4oon, Judge Macarthur presiding, the agent,
during the month Mrs ". q. Metzerott and Mrs Mrs
VIM. Appleton have been appointed delegates to
the international congress OF humane societies to
Bushman has accepted the position OF veterinary
surgeon.
THE BICYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP RACEs-A large a,l-
d1ence Is expected at Athletic Park next Satur-
day. to witness the first bicycle race of the series
ARRANGED H1Qh4m.
and Prince, the American champion. The track
has been greatly improved, and is now considered
one OF the best in the country. Prof. Robinson,
sentation OF an awkward beginner on the bicycle,
and Rex Smith, the famous fancy rider. will give
an exhibition. Those who saw the first meeting
between Higham and Prince will be sure to see
them again, for they now know how exciting q
good bicycle race is