Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-26
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
THE CoNFTNKlrENT OF INSANE PRISONERS.

THE CONFINEMENT OF INSANE PRISONERS.
The Commissioners today received the fol-
lowing letter from Maj. Moore relative to the
to call your attention to the fact
that the commitments TO the government
hospital for the insane by this
department during the fiscal year Just closed
numbered l43 In previous annual reports
occasioued this department by the delays at
tending jury trials in such cases. The danger
station house, he cells Of wSi2 are merely in
tended for the temporary detention OF persons
arrested for ofenses. or until they can De
Sundays, has daily sessions. IT not infrequently
happens than an insane person, charged with
no ohense is confined in cell several days, dur
ing which time he requires constant watching
lest he may do himself violence and Is fur
nished meals at the expense Of this depart
ment. Humanity demands that more suitable
accommodations should be provided for the
comfort and safe keeping Of these unfortunate
persons prior to and during the necessary pro-
ceedings to determine their sanity. and /, there
ing under your control which could be prop
erly arranged for their reception and tempo
rary care.
THE CONCERNING OF ALLEYS
Recently the Commissioners have received
several applications for the condemnation and
opening OF certain alleys. The Commissioners
in board session took these applications under
consideration and concluded to refer the mat
ter TO the attorney for the District.
He was asked to furnish them with an opin-
ion as to whether the authority given the COM
missioners by an act of the legislative
assembly Of August %, 1871, vesting
the board Of public works (whose successors
they are) with the power to condemn
and open alleys, dispenses with the necessity of
referring the matter to the marshal Of the Dis
trict for the action of the jury as provided in
section Q, page 8, Of Webb's Digest and
the levying of taxes as provided in
paragraph 8, same page. Assistant Attorney
Davis looked the matter up and today rendered
the following opinion relative thereto: The
provisions Of the law as set forth in Webb's
Digest must be observed. The act of assembly
does not affect them"
BUILDING PERMITS
were issued today as follows: A. Burgdoff, two
brick dwellings in the alley in rear Of 6O9 and
Gil n street southwest, $4,000; J. H. Burke,
one brick Office on Wilson street, 500.
WITHHELD FROM THE KLEcrRIo LIGHT ,MPANY.
1t has heretofore been the custom when the gas
and electric light companies found it necessary
to tear up the street to have the work repaired
by the District at contract prices. Some time
ago the District paid H. L. Crawford &3,379.7 IA
for work done in repairing the asphalt pave
ment over the trenches made in the relaying Of
the wires OF the United States electric lighting
company, and withheld that amount from the
company when settling for the lights. The first
auditor returned the claim today with the re-
quest that he be informed II the consent of the
electric lighting company was obtained before
the bill was paid. Auditor Petty, to whom the
matter was referred, states that the payment
was made with the knowledge and consent of
the electric lighting company.