Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-06
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
An Important Decision as to Permit
Work on Suburban Streets
BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
The Complaints Still Heard About Street
Musicisns-As to Manning streets-Nevs
Notes Of Local Interest.

that the Commissioners have no authority to
allow the application made BY the proprietors
Of Petworth for the improvement Of the public
ways or roads therein out Of the appropriation
for permit work under the act of March 8, 1891,
as the work was done outside CT the city.
This is an interesting case, and its history
dates back several months, when the owners Of
the subdivision first made application for
the improvement Of certain streets under the
act above referred to. In the appropria-
ton act for the years 1891 and 1892 there
IL clause sppropriasing 1000 for the i'm
provement Of rosdways under the permit sys-
tenn. There Is q proviso, however, stipuiating
Its use for the paving Of roadways which are .
continuation Of like pavements already in exist
ence. The object Of this was to prohibit
its use for the Improvement Of streets in spots
for the benefit OF individuals instead Of the
general public. When the Petworth people
made application for the improvement Of GER
tain streets, the Commissioners entertained
grave doubts ss to the applicability Of
the permit fund, as there was some question re-
Rarding the connection Of the improvements
with improvements already existing The Pet
worth owners. however, we're anxious to have
the work done, and upon an order Of the Com
missioners deposited $4,000, that being one
half Of the cost OF the work.
TO SECURE THE DISTRICT.
The Commissioners were not satisfied with
that, and before proceeding on the work re-
to be deposited with them as a guarantee to
protect the authorities in the event
the treasury officials should not COIN
eide with the Commissioners In the opinion
that payment might be made out of the per-
init fund. After time the work was done and
the contractor applied for his money. About
5000 was paid over to him. Shortly after
ward the Commissioners received word that
the first controller did not approve Of the
payment, and the Petworth people we're mott
lied that the Commissioners would have to ap-
ply the proceeds Of the certified check to the
account in order to secure the District After
this the case was sent TO the Attorney
General for his opinion, and today, O. stated
above, he rendered an adverse opinion upon the
subject
The Commissioners. however, propose to have
Q consultation with the hrst controller before
finally passing upon the case.
TO PAVE AN ALLKY.
A number Of the property owners in square
s42 haye petitioned the Com missioners to pave
the alley In that square under the provisions OF
the compulsory permit system.
THE STREET MUSICIANS AGAIN.
In response to numerous complaints from
citizens regarding street musicians. Lieut.
Kelly reports today that they are required to
get permit before they can en-
gage in the business. The permit.
however, is general In its character, but he
has notified his officers TO require them 70 move
away when IL comes to their knowledge that
there is any one sick in the neighborhood.
srRAxaER's SUGGESTION.
Fieldman Waller, - stranger en- route" sug-
gests In q letter to the Commissioners today the
appropriateness Of naming some Of the new
streets after the signers of the Deolarstion of
Independence, selecting TO be fair all around)
one name from each of the original delegations.
making a complimentary remembrance Of al
those primal states.
UNDER THE vAGRANcY ACT.
The attorney for the District has decided, in
an opinion rendered today, that the Commis-
sioners have not the power to pardon person
convicted Of vagrsncy under the Act OF Con-
gress approved July 20, 1892, as the odense Is
against an act of Congress.
AT THE ASYLUM
Bridget WEIGH has been appointed cook at
the Washington Asylum. The services Of Ed
ward Corcoran and Lucy Robinson, nurses at
the Washington Asylum Hospital, have been
dispensed with.
CAPT POWELL RETURNS
Capt. Chas. F. Powell, Engineer Commits
sioner Of the District, has returned TO the city
after an absence Of two weekA
TALE OF ROAMING LOVERS.
The Commissioners received the following
letter this morning from ]. ". Smith: The
tumble Of two ardent lovers over the 10th
street embank ment, Meridian Hill, last night
renders this morning At occasion for calling
your attention to the propriety Of cutting those
entertainments down to some proper and uni
form grade.
As they stand they are . source Of danger to
roaming COWS and lovers above a. well e. to
pedestrians below. They are constantly caving
into the street, and so long 90 this continues Il
will be impossible to maintain q side
street. If it be left to the owners to grade
down these embankments, each will do 1t, IL ct
all, when and in such way as his own interests
may dictate. each aiming to get some adj
vantage OF view over the others. Some may not
choose ito do II for years. and 90
long as one refrains from doing it his neighbor
cannot afford to grade his own lot, thereby
making it dumping ground for crum-
bling from the adjoining entertainments The only
way to prevent those parking strips from becom-
ing ragged rows Of ugliuess is for the
District to acquire, in some way. jurisdiction
over them and then give them q uniform grade
This can probably be done by consent Of the
owners, or. If that be unobtainable. by coudem-
nation under the recent law for the extension
Of streets.
USING PRIVATE PROPERTY FOB STREETS.
desire also to call your attention to the fact
that for almost year two lots ca and 2s) that i
own on the west side Of the standpipe have
been made use Of for street purposes in order
that that tower might have the whole street to
stand upon. the better to exhibit its unparalleled
ugliness. II the standpipe is to 20 soon it ID
all right, but IL it is to remain there much
longer the Commissioners must find some
other passage for the street than over my iots
NEW BUILDINGS.
Building permits were issued today as fol-
lows: Robert O'Neill. one brick dwelling, 734 Sd
st. 8. w., $4,000. Frank Shroth. one brick
dwelling. COZ c st. e. e., s2.so0. Chas. Schroth,
two brick dwellings, GIL and 61s c st. s..es,
&c, 600.
Gamblers in bad Luck.
Montgomery county, Md, is not good place
for gamblers. Two Washing tonians who wen,
to the labyrinth near Burnt Mills Tuesday re-
ceived q lesson which they will remember some
time and which will undoubtedly keep them ou
Of that part of the county in the future. They