Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-22

To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
is 1t possible that one OF the Commissioners of
this District has, as stated In Saturdays STAR pro-
posed such law as is there printede Why, look
ut It's provisions. First ''That when snow has re-
manned for SIX hours after a snow storm upon any
OF the sidewalks such sidewalks may be cleaned by
the commissioners &C. Suppose the snow storm
ceased at midnight; according TO this law every
citizen, before u u m, must have his sidewalk
cleaned HOW many men could he find TO do this at
this hour, or is he expected to rush out into the
cold and dcrk and do it himself? Look again at
the price the Commissioners are to assess the citl-
zen Tor this WOrk-tt sounds like light CHARGE
1.-TWO cents per lineal fOOt."- But think what fhis
amounts tO-forty cents for the pavement of =
twentArfoot front house. Half of this is about
what the boys and men ask for such job Most Of
the SHOWS could be cleaned rroIn such sized pave
ment in half hour. and at this rate q day OF ten
hours In snow cleaning will yield the workman ss
Why. there is a bonanza here! Henceforth the
fame OF plumber bills will dwndle before those OF
"The corporation snow cleaner" To show how
furry OF snow which whitened the pavemepts
last sabbath, and was swept away by good
broom in about ten minutes According to
the law proposed II the owner or tenant neglected
to clean that snow. the corporation SNOW cleaner
Is to do the job, and the man has to pay 40 cents
for 20 foot pavement, 81 for one of so feet But
this Is not all, for after having assessed the prop
erty for double what the snow cleaning was worth.
1.-THE owner, tenants. occupants agents are to be
believe the lowest lne is g. Let us calculate again
\ citizen OF Washington goes to bed at lOpln. 4
sudden snow furry comes and stops at midnight.
Said citizen wakes up at six and finds his pave
ment. OF course, uncleane1. Now, according to the
letter OF this law. the Commissioners step in.
charge the owner 40 cents, and besides have him
dragged to the Police Court, prosecuted upon in
formation and 'snned!" 1t may be said that the
Commissioners win exercise discretion Alas, We
know by experience, that they point complainants
against unjust taxation to the letter. or the ldac
and say "they must execute the laws as they are
written" This is, then the time to protest against
the letter OF this law, which, II ever carried out
will subject the neglectors OF snow cleaning how,
ever light the snow may be, to virtual penalty,
before which even the two per cent per month On
unpaid tax bills pales into 1nslgnifcanee.
Pro BONO PuBLICoA
NATIONAL THEATER.-"The Queens Lace Hand.
kerchief' as produced last night at the National
theater by the McCaull opera company proved
and abounds in catchy airs. Sprinkled through
the score are several beautiful waltzes that are
already familiar as dance music. The opera is
mounted in handsome style, the costumes being
magnificent and by far the most elaborate yet seen
here in comic opera The company is an excellent
sustained. s.T6e Lace HandRercnler9 Viii be w" re-.
peated tonight and tomorrow night.
INSURANCE COMPANY ELEcT1oNs-The election OF
the Mutual Fire Insurance company yesterday re-
suited in the reelection OF the old board OF drec-
John Van Riswick, airs; Matthew q. Emery, $50:
James w. Barker, 3,225; E. Kurtz Johnson Sl6b:
George 7. bearing, 3,1s3; Samuel H. Walker, 3,l5&
These gentlemen constitute what Is known as the
"Old board"
: At the annual meeting OF the members of the
Mutual Protection Fire Insurance company OF the
District yesterday the following were elected trus-
tees Tor the ensuing year, viz:-MeSsrs. VIM. Bal
lantyne, John C. HARNESS. william j. Sibley, John
7. Given, N. w. Burchell, William s. Thompson,
James II. Savtlle, William Thompson, and Admiral
8. p. Carter.
THE POSTAL acknowledgements Conger has
issued an order changing the designations OF che
several postal stations In Washington to avoid COM
plication In the address Of mail matter Hereafter
tine georgetown station will be known as station A.
the East Capitol station station B. the Office on
street. between 14th and 18th. as station c, and
the ONCE corner OF 14th and COrcOran streets as
station D. Postmaster CQnger has established
branch postal station at zS6 sth street southwest
20 be known as station E The transaction OF reg.
istered business viii commence tomorrow, jan
uary 23d.
WASHINGTON CATTLE MARKIT.-At the Queens.
town drove yards. on the Metropolitan Branch, b.
e Q: r. R, three miles nom the city, Lewis D.
up and sold to butchers at the following prices
bests nom 6ka6&; good, from 6a64; fair, 81 to 9;
sheep sold At nom 4as; Lambs, nom sa61f Cows
ana calves, nom t3Oa$6o per head state Of the
market good