National Republican., 1885-02-05
THE COMMISSIONERS.
Current Transactions at tho vsrlous
DlatrIot Omces.

The commissioners have sent letter to
the attorney for tho District in which
they say you return the query Of tho
commissioners without answering
whether tho residences Of foreign minis
tors are exempt from taxation. Your
predecessor decided in the affirmative in
1915; the authorities cited by him raised
q doubt as to the correctness Of his opin-
ion. If, however, IL was correct at the
timo 1t was under the act OF 1877, which
declares that no property shall be exempt,
except that specifically described and such
property as is now exempt by tho laws Of
the United States. Does this last phrase
refer only TO statutes and treaties of tho
United Statos2 Should we discriminate
between those who rent houses aud those
who own them2 As congress provides
that the United States shall bear large
| portion of the local expouditur es, was
not the statute in question framed to in
olude all owners of real estate not espooi-
ally oxomptedp They ask him to decide
tho question.
| Mark ketmastor Buell. has presented a re.
port on the applications Of certain parties
TO erect lunch stands in tho reservation
in front Of tho market house. Ho says
that ho consulted tho inaugural commit
too on the subject, aud was notified by
them that they intended to erect an OBJ
servation stand on tho reservation. Ho
therefore recommends that the applica-
tions be refused, and that the inspector Of
Of buildings supervise the erection Of the
observation stand.
Tho commissioners have notified the
property owners on Sheridan avenue 10
move their fences back to the proper limo
within sixty days, after which tho attor-
ney for the District will proceed against
those who fail to do so for obstruoting the
highway. This action is the result Of
of complaints from property owners. who
claim that the street was originally sixty
feet wide, and that IL is now only forty
five feet wide, which Ia caused by persons
overstepping the line.
Capt. Greene has recommended the
following changes in sewer plans: Omit
1S-inch sewer on Twenty-third street,
between IL and l streets northwest, 40C
feet; add 15.inch pipe sewer on Second
street southwest, between + and G. streets,
400 foet; add l2-inoh Pipe sewer on Second
street, between Il and +, 325 feet; add
12.inoh pipe sewer on + street southwest
: between Second and Third streets, GOO
: feet; add 12-inch pipe sewer oil Il street
! southwest, between Second and Third
! streets, 800 feet.
James Williams was granted a liquor
! license yesterday.
I Mr.. Edward Dom has asked that tht
district bear the expense Of q sewer II
:. I alley of square 236 or allow him to build
D on the alley without connecting with the
\ sewer.
0 The commissioners do not regard tn,
: adverse action of the house District com
mittee on the bill providing that an,
Q able-bodied person sentenced TO imprison
Q ment in the District jail shall, unless eK
1 empted thorefrom by the judge, be en-
3 ployed outside of tho jail in the daytim
1 at labor under the supervision of tn,
T commissioners with favor, and say tina
y there is grading work enough to kee
y both the workhouso and Jail gangs EN-
: ployed for fifty years to come. The situ
0 alton 10 remote. being under tho hills o
. that section, so that such employment |
0 not demoralizinR TO honest labor. 1t |
not proposed to bring these prisoners il
contact with honest labor. As 1t is now
a the Jail Ia believed to be hot-bed O
IS vice from the congrogating of 30 man
% idlers together. The reports of Superin
'. tendent Stoutenburg from time 10 tim
n show tho wholesome influences Of tn
It labor system in that institution, and thH
t. the District is being partially rein
v bursed for the maintenance Of the yiciou
8. class who spend their lives in houses c
d correction, &c.
% Building permits were issued yesterda
d to William III. West q Bro, erect fou
N two-story and cellar dwellings, $50
= Elizabeth Rhodes, erect q private stabl,
IS rear of 495 II street southwest, 1925; ,
q A. Gadsby, repair brick dwelling, SO
d Twentieth street northwest, $500; y
g T. Bridwoll, erect frame ice house,
d between Third and Four-and-a.h hal
d streets southwest, 5000; Geo. w. Watson
repair frame, 900 Eleventh street soutt
east, $40.