The critic., 1891-02-04
LOCAL TALKS.
What Persons. Prominent and other
wise, Find to Interest Them.

what Persons. Prominent and other
wise. Find to Interest Them.
Dr. Smith Townshcnd-The general
health of WGshinlt ton Is cttcr now than
IL has cen tt the same season for several
years. The Health department is in II
ictter position since the new law went
Into effect than II was before, when it
mes to obtaining actual information as
Il diseases of u contagious nature. Under
THIS law the doctors are required to fur
nis.i the Department a report Of all con-
tagi aus diseases that they are called upon
10 u eat whereas under the old law they
only had to report the deaths.
Fo' example, look at to.day's report
furni he'd the Office in regard TO diph-
iberia II shows that there are only six
cases, and they are scattered about
between AnacOstia. Georgetown and the
city prol cr thus indicating that there is
no cpidci iic of this dread disease, as has
been reported. There are few cases of
scarlatina "a very mild type, but not -
many as thcrc are in several ncighhJring
cities of much amaller population.
We propose to carry ont Tie new law rs
thoroughly as possible. TltE CRITfC to-
day had an account of one case in regard
10 the removal of cards of warning from
houses and others of "A similar nature will
follow. After an example has been made
of few doctors and undertakers, they
will come to the conclusion that the law
Is not mere childs play. ] am IN hopes
that the appropriation asked for, with
which to increase the force In the Health
Department, Will be acted upon favorably
bv Congress.
! have stated the exact objects for which
II has been made to the committees and
although they have not yet reported they
considered the amount asked for reason
able and necessary. If II is granted am
satisfied that the Department will be capn-
bic of crushing out any epidemic that we
may have to contend with.
DR. l.awrence-l still think with much
amust tmcnt Of the way the Mckinley bill
forced up the prices of luxuries, such as
colognes and things of that ilk, when the
fact of the matter was that much OF the
stuff had been imported long before
(maybe year or sol the MiKinley bill
went into operation. tell you that the
humorists have not exaggerated the sharp
practices which some Of the wholesalers
aud many of the retailers rcsorted to in
raising the prices of their commodities to
correspond with the increased duty. The
more honest retailers were entirely power
less, as they were Obliged TO pay the ad-
yanced Wholesale rates, and to protect
themselves had to increase the prices on
articles which were obviously old and
stale. The most of this has blown over
now, however, and the cxhorbtant prices
of the smaller luXuries which go with the
drug business will gradually lower.
ID. n. Walford-Therc has been consid-
cradle controversy lately rs to- the rela-
tive merits of magnetic aud anti-magnetic
watches, and IL is amusing to notice to
what an extent IL il being carried. The
manufacturers of the magnetic watch
90 so far as to say that electricity in medi.
cal treatment, electric brakes. electric
lights on cars and public streets, etc, are
destructive to the time-keeping qualities
Of watch, while on the other hand the
makers of the anti-magnetic watches re-
pudiatc oil such ideas. They say that
railroad men go right along with their
wathes full of magnetism, and run the
trains without hitch or an accident. and
men work right beside dynanios without
any trouble.
have had magnetic watch for some
time and have held IL against the dynamo
in the Central Bank Building without
having the time affected in the least /
would not want tn venture that far with a
valuable non-magnectic time piece. At
the same time know from the number
of my sales that the magnetic watches
are not in so much demand as they were.
Anti-magnetic shields are being used by
many OF the leading manufacturers and
dealers instead. Everybody. however,
who owns good watch, whether il be
magnetic or anti-magnetic, knows that it
was not made to drive nails with, to drop
in pail Of hot water. to lay on red hot
stove or put in the armat,lre of II dynamo.
A w. & q. Car Conductor-Spotters No,
sir. have been on the road for six years
or more and during that time ] never saw
any person that know or thought was
detective in the employ of the company.
IL Is said that the company has n number
cf them and some of the conductors
think they can detect them. but have
had no occasion to be on the lookout for
them. The conductors have no particu-
lar method for locating n spotter, and
believe that the idea they have found one
is more Imagination than anything else.
Many conductors have been discharged
for stealing fares. IL is understood,
though such an accusation has never
been made. In the fall and spring more con-
ductors are discharged than ut any other
time, and 1t is supposed that more spot-
tiers are employed at that time. But what
good are spoilers anyway The passen-
gers are spoilers enough. ] have often
noticed respectable people, whom | know
rrc.all right, keeping tally of the number
of fares.
hNi' 10 ~ Hltit cniptutiDli iOI u Cpll-
ductor to steal The amounts taken would
be very small, and think it's human ma
ture TO make big steal when you want to
steal. AS said before, no conductor has
been discharged and openly accused of
stealing. Why? Simply because it would
be impossible to prove anything against
him. Did you ever hear of such case in
any court? The best spotter in the world
couldn't swear to a conductor putting fares
into his own pocket.
The cable cars must break up the spot
ting system, for don't see how one man
can Keep watch over two cars, and two
spoilers would be unable TO do anything,
for you know people are continually going
from one Car to the other. think that
the idea of the spotter with system of
counting fares and a conductor ON the con-
slant watch for him is morein thepeople's
mind than anywhere else. Nobody knows
anything about that profession except the
members themselves and their en-
ployers. and if we knew anything
about them | don't see what use they
would be, For my part, | don't care
how many spoilers are on the car, only
| hope nobody will spot me smoking this