National Republican., 1884-04-02
THE STAR CHAMBER.
The District Commissioners Lock Themselves
Up and Do Business.
Press Representatives, ms UHuai, Denied
the Right TO Make Report.

All Of the commissioners we're busy yes
terday, and in the afternoon they held "se-
cret session." To an inquiry for news tho re-
sponse of zach was, Don't know anything"
snd.yet at this session" half dozen important
measures were acted upon. When approached
by reporter they all manifested great an
noyanco, and their manner showed deter
mination to freeze the intrudsrs out. In
truders are not so easily set back always, aud
the daily bulletin of the way business is
transacted will appear each morning in THE
REPUBLICAN,.
The commissioners have betrayed an un-
usual activity in attempting to frustrate the
efforts of news gatherers. A reporter for THE
REPUBLICAN has made application on several
occasions to be admitted into the sessions of
tho commissioners, and has zach time been
refused. He made the same request yester-
day.
Commissioner West was tho first to enter
the "star chamber" Judge Edmonds was
conversing with some ladies in the room ad-
joining
"You had better tell Maj Lydecker to come
in said Gen. West, turning to the colored
attendant.
When Mai Lydecker came in with aquick,
nervous tread he held some papers in his left
hand, while blue vapors of smoke arose from
cigar in his right hand. The reporter en-
tered the room and took his station in the
back part, and waited.
The ladies left after few minutes and
rising to tho full extent Of his six feet in
height Judge Edmonds stroked his chin and
said, "Iave you anything you want to call
my attention to?"
Gen. West The regular board meeting,
you know.
"Oh yes" and Mr.. Edmonds turned tow ard
his desk and picked up paper.
bn ody 20 ha af ho
room and made his presence known by a
sautation.
Mr.. Lydecker stopped in his quick, nervous
walk, laid his papers down and puffsd at his
cigar
Gen. West regarded the engraving of the
capitol which adorned the room, while Mr..
Edmonds showed his teeth.
Gentlemen" said the reporter addressing
the trio "can l remain and make a report OF
your meeting"
Mai. Lydecker mumbled something and
drew himself into his shell in confusion.
Gen. West shifted his gaze from the picture
but said nothing.
Said Mr.. Edmonds: "Yes, you can er--"
Not in here" interrupted Maj. Lydecker,
with an inquiring glance at Mr. Edmonds.
"Yes, you can" repeated Mr.. Edmonds,
"aftor the board is through in the other
ROOM"
The three gentlemen then turned away
with an air of relief, and Commissioner Ed
monds jerked his thumb over his shoulder as
an announcement that the audience was at
an end.
The reporter made q profound salaam aud
left the ROOM leaving the mysterious trio to
the performance of their public duties by the
light of rkllantern. These "star chamber"
conclaves the commissioners insist upon call
ing open meetings, and they assume an air OF
injured innocence when anybody says they
act rs though they had something to conceal.
As he turned from the closed and locked
doors of the Star chamber the reporter was
confronted by the following sign: THE com
missioners are now in private session. Please
call between 8 a. m. and p. m"
Gen. West came out of the star chamber I"
promptly at 4 o'clock, after two and a half
hours' session. In his right hand he carried
q bundle of papers.
"All to be given out" he said
The following is the report of the business
transacted by the commissioners given out:''
| Approved the recommendation of Capt.
laid by w. c. Murdoch in 1879, and to brin z
suit against him and his bondsman to recover
cost Of the same.
Pardoned Thomas Franklin from the work
house.
Ordered the removal of fences of lots "a
and % before April 5, and if not done by that
time instructed the superintendent Of streets
| w VIZ IL. lhtbO louCSb oDStluCb tho llut
of West street.
Dsapproved the application of L. NJ. Will
lis to lay side track from the Baltimore aud
Potomac tracks on Thirteenth street To
square 270 and across Water street to his
wharf. The engineer commissioner thought
that side track would be Objectionable and
obstruct Water street.
Disapproved the application of the United
States Electric Light company to lay wires
underground on Pennsylvania avenue from
the capitol to Seventeenth street, and place
lights at different points suggested by the
commissioners, at rs cents per lamp for each
night. The company state in this application
that they will erect ornamental posts at the
points designated and keep them il
thorough repair for year.
In disappearing this application tho com
missioners state that the cost would be $l1
900 more than it costs now and they do no
think the benefit of having the lamps would
be worth that much. They also state that il
the city could stand that much cost it woult
be needed to light parts of the city which
have but meager lighting facilities.
Approved the application of John Fitz
morris for liquor license at SIT Boundary
street.
THOUSANDS of families have had occasion Il
try the never falling qualities of DIR. Bulls Cough
Syrup, and they ali unite In the praise of thi
/ nj