Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-12
The inauguration.
TuH ppHsrpUA Tim on prrnr Il onnu

sented by Messrs Jno. Keyworth, VIM. II. Norris
on and Noble ID. Larner, were before the District
commissioners today In relation TO certain matters
conn.cted with the duties OF the committee. The
result was that the arrangements agreed upon
We're ultimately satisfactory TO all The wiring OF
the avenue on Inauguration day. so as to exclude
from the roadway all but the procession. was dis
cuSSed and 1t was agreed that IL should be done
and that the Commission should attend TO that
duty. The question as to the number OF extra
policemen was discussed, but nothing definite was
arrived at There Will be no lack OF police and
probably no lack OF funds to pay them as assur-
ances have been given that Sufficient appropria-
tons would be made.
THE STREET ILLUMINATION.
The committee on Illumination favor lighting
the avenue on the night OF Inauguration Cay with
colored globes placed at short intervals propo-
sltOn TO light the avenue with electricity was dis
cussed, but IT was deemed inadvisabie use cleo
trclty. as the glare would destroy the effect OF
calcium IL rhtS anl c)iore 4 yltI
Inc Application made to the District Commission
nghts was withdrawn saturday afternoon, as 1t
was not authorized by the committee and was
made under mlsapprehension.
TUE FINANCES.
The report Of the treasurer, Mr. c. c. Glover, TO
be submitted to the general committee this even
ing. will show that cash collections have been
made amounting to s. 5OO This, OF course, covers
only portion OF the amount subscribed. The
treasurer has received sub scrption OF 81 900 from
the washington Gas Light company.
The Mechanics Lien Law.
AN OBNOXIOUS MEASURE.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Through the reports OF The STAR OF Thursday
and Friday 1 am informed that Senator sher-
man has introduced in the Senate bill to amend
the mechanics lien law OF the District OF Columbia
Permit me to say that this law IS very obnoxious
measure, and should be repealed even for other
Mr. Ashford My own experience With 1 the opera us
tons OF this law illustrates the evils OF IT. IL was
this: A few months ago employed carpenter
TODD some work for me, the total cost OF which,
some eighty odd dollars, paid to him when the
work was finished, taking his receipt therefor In
ABOUT TWO months thereafter, without any notice
TO me whatever In the interim, 1 was notified by
the lumber dealers from whom he had purch ased
the required material for the work, that .lienn
payment OF their bill, which. they claimed. had
not been paid subsequently, learned that these
lumber dealers-beiieving this carpenter to be
unworthy OF credit, they already having a claim
on him for Indebtedness they could not collect
would not have sold him any part OF the lumber
referred TO on his own credit but knowing they
could employ the machinery OF the present Obnox-
1ous law TO make their claim through nv prop
erty, they sold him the lumber with the secretly
reserved Intention to make the claim in the man.
ner Indicated. This, you will agree with me- was
dishonorable and immoral, but it was legal never
theless. 1t Will be perceived that this law is
clearly conducive TO sharp practice, and should be
repealed for this II for no other reason. Why a
small bill for repairs amounting 10 not more than
five dollars. under this law, entails the necessity
TO inquire OF every dealer in builders supplies in
the District before II can be paid with the assur-
ance that lien Will not follow. j. A. b.
Who Invented the Steamboat
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
AS 1t may possess some significance respecting
claims as to the earliest application OF steam as a
power concerning which THESTAR OF Sat
urday contained an article headed "Dsputing Full
tons Claims" | copy for publication an extract
from original M. S Journal In my possession. OF
Mai. Andrew Ellicott, under date PhiladelphIa !
follows. q \ Shn
az least be clear OF persecution from schemers dur
Ing my soJourn In this city, but my expectations /
Of the name of Fitch. who mas model OF machine
Tor working boats on rivers by steam engine. IL Is
we'll known from experiments that steam may be /
carried to any degree OF force, but whether its |
power can be applied with advantage to compl- |
Gated machinery can only be determined by actual \
experiment." AS this entry was made twenty-one |
years before Fulton's boat was constructed t is so
much evidence In behalf OF the priority OF Fitchs
claim 70 the Invention. j. c. q. K.
RANGE OF THE IBERxoMnrER-The following |
we're the readings at the Office OF the chief signal
,mcer today: a M SEE; am. 3d. II a m, 6l.7
pm, I.a
LEVIED ON THE OFFICE PRoPERrY.-Mr WI.
Dunnnivan, In charge OF collection OF personal |
axes, made report TO Collector Cook to-day that |
IN the property in the Office OF the Anglo American
Insurance company for personal taxes, and turned |
'ver the property to policeman. TO be disposed
u hereafter In accordance with law.
BELLIGERENr SPECIAL P0LICRAAN.-Between
hree and four O'Clock this morning, near the cor
ler OF 18th and E streets, young man named
William Skidmore was assaulted by Special
)ncef Robert venneTman, who struck the young
nan on the head with a black-jac making an
Ugly wound on his forehead. Special Ofdcer Tom
Young, who witnessed the assault, took venner-
nan 70 task about 1t, when the latter made an at
ack on Young. and lively tVssle followed be-
weeD the two special officers until tho arrival OF
1nncer Horn. who placed them both under arrest
They eacn left IS collateral which forfeited In
he Police Court this morning. Vennerman's con-
luct was reported TO Major Dye, and q warrant for
lis arrest was issued on a charge OF assault and
)attery.
TEE WoNANs C0NvESfIoN.-The National
Woman Suffrage association will hold its 18th
annual convention In the Universalist church.
Orner OF and 18th streets, on the 20th, 2lst and
I'd instant, instead OF In Lincoln Hall, as at first
announced. Among the speakers will be Elizabeth
cady Stanton, susan B. Anthony, Laura De Force
yer. May Wright Sewell. Lille Devereux Blake, |
Matilda Joslyn Gage, Harriette r. shatiuck.
Phoebe w. Couzins, Rev. OLYMPIA Brown, Sallie
lay Bennett, Sarah n. Perkins, Caroline Gilkey
Rogers and Mary Seymour HobbelL
BREWER RoTH CHARGED WITH LARCENY.-This
ftern0On Detectives Cox and Carter served a war
ant on Jacob Roth, the brewer, charging him, on
he oaths OF Robert P0rtner and John D. Geut heler
)rewers with the larceny OF one hundred beer
EGGS, valued al 500. About twenty kegs were re-
or appearance tomorrow.
TIE EXAMINATION FOB TEA INsPECToR.-The ex-
Ierf examination under civil neryica v7,loa IN an |