Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-03

war cloud tina. has been hanging over the
heads of Commissioners Robert and Hine
t5rst yesterday when, as stated in THE STAR
Commissioner Hine in board session declared
that he believed the Engineer Commissioner
was a Commissioner in name only and
that he had nothing whatever 10 do with
the administration of local affairs except those
OF an engineering character. II was evident
at once that Commissioner nine resented
Col Roberts encroachment upon his
special branch Of the municipality, namely,
the police, and that he was going 10 call halt
But this was not all The bill which he had
prepared providing that the assistants TO
the Engineer Commissioner be made the assist
ants OF the civil Commissioners WAS also
another indication that Commissioner Hine de-
sired to let Col. Robert know that he must
keep his hands off the branches of the govern
ment not especially assigned to him
col. ROBERT REFUSES TO sign.
Col. Robert arrived at the building carly in
the morning and for some time was closeted
with two assistants, presumably discussing the
situation. The only thing that Indicated
trouble was Col Roberts absolute refusal 10
sign any papers whatsoever. During the day
DIR. 1lndall. secretary TO the board, presented
certain papers requiring the colonies sigma
ture. but the latter refused TO sign them say
ing that he did not propose to even act as a
Commissioner until the question of his powers
WAS settled Later in the day the colonel pre-
pared letter, which he submitted TO the Com
misSiouers.
MAKiNd TEST CASE.
The letter appears below and is the one re-
ferred to i'll The STAR OF last evening:
lin a discussion at the close OF the board
81.
sioners expressed a doubt as to the legal
right OF the Engineer Commissioner TO excr-
else the functions of a Commissioner eNceptin z
in respect TO questions of engineering or such
matters as were formally in the hands of the
chief engineer of the District and he sug-
gested that l prepare case involving this
question FOR reference to the attorney for the
District for his opinion.
This coming from an able lawyer who is pre-
sumed TO be familiar with all District legisa-
ton, | accept the suggestion and would recon-
mend that the papers relating to the houor
license of Kernan's theater be referred 10 the
attorney for the District for his opinion as 20
the validity of the license
l suggested this case simply because it is
one of several hundred similar cases. If the
Engineer Commissioner has not fallen heir 10
the powers of police commissioner then the
liquor license granted TO Kernan's Theater is
illegal as well as over five hundred more
No one would be mere pleased than the
Engineer Commissioner to find himself re-
lieycd Of the burden of responsibility arising
from the Interpretation heretofore given 90 the
law. | would suggest with the approval of the
other Commissioners. the Engineer Commits
sioner Immediately cease TO exercise the func-
hons Of commissioner, excepting so far as
Relates to engineering and such duties as are
specifically imposed by law"
THE STATUS OF THE ASSISTANT ENGINEERS.
1t was stated in yesterdays STAR that the
Commissioners would prepare bill at their
board session in the afternoon to be presented
to Congress providing that the assistants of the
Engineer Commissioner be made their assist
ants.
The board met as stated, and bill was pre-
pared which provided for the striking out of
the last clause of the act of Congress providing
for the establishment of a permanent form of
government and the insertion OF the following:
1.-The President of the United States may
detail from the engineer corps of the army
not more than two officers of rank subordinate
to that of the engineer officer belonging to the
Board of Commissioners to perform such duties
as may be assigned TO them by the Board of
Commissioners"
ANOTHER QUESTION RAISED.
Col. Robert this afternoon presented the
following letter to the board: Il would
recommend that the portion OF the
duties assigned to the Engineer Commits
sioner relating TO the general routes of
street railroads be transferred 10 one of the
other Commissioners. The question of which
street shall be occupied with street railroads is
one that is usually settled by city councils and
should be under the control of a commissioner
who has been a resident of the Dis