Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-01

lshed upon which the structure Of modern
statute Law may gradually be built
SCHOOL SITE PURCHASES.
Early in the year an investigation was ordered
by the House OF Representatives into the meth
DDS employed by the District Commissioners in
the purchase OF sites for public school build
ings through a middle man. Attention had
been called TO this matter by the publication in
TN STAR Of interviews with citizens who had
sold land to private individuals and then were
surprised TO learn that the same land had been
decided on the same day in nearly every case to
the District at an advanced price. Testimony
was taken by the committee and majority and
minority reports were submitted. The former
took the ground that while the methods en-
ployed in these purchases were suscep-
uble Of abuse. yet the public had
suffered no injury in the cases in
ves;igated and the Commissioners were,
in the opinion of the committee. free from
any charge or imputation OF wrong. On the
other hand the minority report characterized
the methods employed unwise, injudicous
and savoring Of favoritism. II, therefore,
recommended that Congress prohibit by legis-
lation the repetition Of these questionable
methods. The opinion of both houses found
expression in an amendment to the District ap-
preparation bill prohibiting the Commission
ers IRON employing agents in the purchase of
this property and requiring such purchases to
be made either directly from the owner or his
bona hide agent In the event that II i'm
possible to secure the land in this way author
, ity was given to obtain 1t by condemnation pro-
ceedings.
NEW DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS.
W. b. Webb, the president OF the board OF
Commissioners, was renominated by President
Cleveland, but his nomination was not acted
upon by the Senate. On the 10th of May Presi-
dent Harrison announced the appointment Of
j. W. Douglass and l.. q. Hine as District Com
mlsslOnors i'll place of Messrs. Webb and Wheat
ley. and n few days afterward these gentlemen
entered upon the discharge of their duties, and
the Senate confirmed their nominations before
adjournment for the holidays in December.
MORE DEBT INSTEAD OF MORE WATER.
An investigation by congressional COM
mittee Of the aqucduct scandal was begun
early in the year after the military court Of
inquiry had completed its work. This court
held public sessions. In the latter part of
February Senator Edmunds presented the re-
port of the investigating committee to the
senate, which declared that substantially the
whole and every part Of the lining of the tun-
mel Is absolutely and enormously defective"
These conclusions created a feeling OF strong
indignation among the people Of the District,
as hall of the cost OF the work, which had
already reached the enormous sum of over two
million dollars, was imposed by Congress upon
tire tax payers Of the District II was shown
that the District was an involuntary silent part
nor IN the entire Transaction, and that in
justice the government ought to become wholly
responsible for the loss occasioned by the
misconduct of its agents. Early in March a
court-m&rtIal was ordered to try Mai. Ly-
decker, the array officer in charge of the water
works extension, Tor neglect of duty. The find
lngs OF tins cOurt-martIal, which were an
nounced after two months spent IN hearing and
considering the evidence, sustained the charges
made AMI found Maj. Lydecker guilty. SEN
tence was imposed of the loss of 800 per
month Of his pay for nine months and that he
be reprimanded IN general orders. The trihing
character Of the penalty was quietly satiriZed
by the President III his approval of the sem
tence when he said: The sentence imposed by
the court seems to have given full effect to
every suggestion that mi.ht mitigate the
ohense.' subsequently Lydccker was or
dercd to duty to Vancouver barracks, WASH
rngton territory, and owing to the fact that
II was the most remote point from this city
whore be could be sent the order was re-
gGrded rs designed by the President to be an
additional punishment imposed on that officer.
There has, OF course. been no work done on the
tunnel during the year and IT remains in an
unfinished condition, filed with water and
practically abandoned. 1t is probable tina.
during the present session OF Congress some
action will be taken to determine not only the
future OF that work but whether the District
Is to be saddled with debt for which it is in
no way responsible and Tor which it has re-
ceiyed not the slightest consideration.
THE STREET RAILWAYS.
The annual verbal overhauing which the
street railway companies receive in Congress
occurred IN January Of last year in the Senate
Some practical results followed in the legisla-
ton which was attached 70 the District appro-
pr!at on bill. 1t extended 10 the companies the
privilege OF substituting for horse power, cleo
trIc power by storage or independent electrical
batteries or underground wire, or underground
cables moved BY steam power. 1t was further
provided that the grooyed rail should be sub
stltuted TOR the L rail Chen generally in use)
IN case any OF these motive powers were in
trOduced. However, If after the expiration OF
two years the companies fail to make use OF
these privileges. they are required to Law the
groov"d rail and to complete the work within
period OF twelve months. Under this law the
railroad companies have until year from next
March and then a further period of little over
year to replace all the 1 rails in the city with
grOOvcd rails. Tho Washington and George
town company was the only railroad corpora
ton that awaited itself of the privilege of
changing its motive power. 1t was decided
early IN the year by that company to lay
cable on the 18th street branch of their road
The work is now nearly completed and in
few weeks IT is expected that the cable cars
wall be running. The Srooved rail is, of
course. the one used on It'll street and when
Pennsylvania avenue was resurfaced from 18th
street to the Capitol this rail was put in the
place Of the old rail. The Metropolitan
company also during the year laid some
sections Of their road with the grooved
ran and the other street railways are
putting down the rail when il IL necessary
70 repair their tracks. The Columbia street
railway passed Under new management during
the year and an arrangement for the issue OF
transfer tickets at 9Th street was made with the
metropolitan railroad.
Two new suburban railroads were mt in on
Grafton during the year-the Brightwood road,
running ont Ith street extended, and the Ten
leytOwn electric road The ith street branch
and the Glenwood cemetery branch Of the
lexington electric road were also completed
TIE RAILROADS AND THE FREIGHT BLOCKADE
The opening Of the year found the railroad
controversy III full blast before a subcommittee
Of tie Senate District committee. The en-
croachme nts by the railroads upon private and
public rights have long been a cause of COM
plant, but during the year, owing TO the vigor-
Gus action Oh citizens, especially those living
IN south Washington, the illegal use by the
railroads OF the streets and avenues was some
what restricted. A notable event in the history
OF this railroad war was the hot discussion re-
gardIng the right OF railroad COMPANIES to
operate switches not provided for In their
charters Upon AMI dayits made by citizens
declaring that these tracks were in violation
OF the law. the Commissioners notified the
PENNSYLVANIA company to remove certain
tracks al South Washington. Action was begun
also 20 put a stop to the blocking OF the city
streets, especially at the crossings and fines
were imposed upon the railroad officials by
the Police Court on conviction of such offense
Attention was also turned to the violation of