Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-12
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
STREET APPROPRIATIONS.

At the time the current appropriation bill
for the fiscal year became available the Com
missioners ordered that Only two-thirds of the
amount appropriated for the streets should be
expended. This reduced the amount of
the appropriation for street improve
ments about s2l7,ooo. Anticipating a
greater deficit Capt. Rossel has written
a letter to the Commissioners request
ing them to take such action with reference to
the amounts of money to be spent out OF the
different appropriations of the current appro-
preparation bill as will avoid any deficit due to
the revenues Of the District falling behind what
had been estimated at the time the appropria-
ton bill was passed.
THE ANAoosrIA RAILROAD TRACKS.
Several important matters coming in to-
gether this morning requiring the immediate
attention Of the Commissioners caused an early
session Of the board. The first case was that
OF the Anacostia railroad, affecting some mac
adam removed while the company was having
Its new tracks. The macadaIn was piled
up on the street until the police or
dered il removed, as il was an OBJ
struction. The railroad COMPANY, il appears.
did nothing toward removing the material
but allowed anybody to take il away. One per-
son gathered up quite quantity Of the mac
adam and hauled il to the District property
yard. The question TO be settled was. would
the Commissioners hold the railroad COMPANY
Thomas, who was present, decided ii would lac
unWise to do any such thing, as il would be
impossible to trace the amounts carried away
and the Commissioners will do nothing in the
matter.
APPLICATIONS FOR LIQUOR Licences.
The next thing TO be decided was an impor-
tant matter 10 the retail liquor dealers of the
city. In a great many cases all over the city
saloon keepers find it impossible to obtain a
majority Of the residents uniess they ooun.
themselves and family in. The Commits
sioners we're undecided to the
law on the case and submitted
the question TO the attorney for the District
for his opinion. This morning Assistant Attor-
ney s. L. Thomas rendered an opinion on the
case in which he holds that the applicants for
retail liquor licenses if residents of the square
or which the saloon is located have a right TO
sign their own application. He also states that
ths wife Of the applicant has the same right to
sign.
THE 400 RULE.
During Commissioner Hines term of Office if
was agreed between himself and Commissioner
Douglass that the best way to reduce the num-
Der of liquor saloons in the District was to
hmi; their number. Accordingly, at a board
meeting. at which all three of the
Commissioners were present. the subject was
discussed and although Col Robert objected to
ing to the rule were TO limited to 100. 1t has
been claimed that the rule so far as it applied
to this year dead letter. as it was only in
tended for last year. in fact nothing in the order
which WAS issued in accordance with the above,
signified that the rule was to operate more than
the year in which it was issued. The opinion
Of the assistant attorney. Mr.. s. 4. Thomas
was asked for and that gentleman Said orally in
the board room this morning that he did not
consider it was applicable 10 the number OF Ii
censes issued this year. Commissioner Doug
lass declined to say anything on the subject.
BUILDING PERMITS
were issued today as follows: n. J. Smith, one
frame dwelling on Galveston street, South
Brookland. $780, Sarah E. Keen. one brick
dwelling, $50 street northwest, $500.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mr.. H. d. Cooke, for the property owners in
the Burleith subdivion, has requested the Com
missioners to furnish them with $1,000 brick
for laying pavemeuts in that subdivision.
Mr.. L. A. Moseley of 1901 Q street northwest.
in a letter to the Commissioners. complains of
the dangerous condition of the sidewalk in
front of his premises and requests that it be re-
paired at an early day.
The resignation OF L. b. Hancock. a private
of the Metropolitan police force, has been ac-
cepted.