Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-30
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.

A. n.
chairman Of the District of Columbia Grand
Lodge Independent Order Of Good Templars
requested the Commissioners to get the
the following questions:
At what time may the petition objecting
to barroom be filed in the office of the
excise board for its action? May such
petitions be filed at any time during the
year or at the close of the license year only.
and IL filed at any time during the year will
1t be the duty of the excise board to take
1t up and act upon 1t when filed, as an orig
inal application for a license would be taken
up and acted upon?
II such petition ob1ecting to a barroom be
fled In the office Of the excise board on or
before the first day OF November Of any
year will II be the duty of the excise board
to act upon such petition as it would take
up and act upon a petition for the renewal
of a barroom license?
The report of the attorney upon these
questions was submitted today, and is as
follows:
Il have carefully considered the above
questions. and have the honor to state, in
reply to the first, that whilst the petition
referred to In the proviso might be filed at
any time during the year, II will not be nee
essary for the board to take 1t up for con-
sideration until the application Is made for
renewal of the license. In answer to Mr..
Cantelds second question, / have the honor
to state. If the petition signed by majority
of the real estate owners and house keepers
whose consent was necessary to the con-
sideration of application for a license,
should be filed with the excise board on
before the lSt of November in any license
year. 1t would be the duty of the board to
consider such application before considering
the application for a renewal of the license"
Retain Opinion.
An interesting opinion regarding retains
on contracts was submitted to the Com
missioners this morning by Attorney
Thomas. The opinion was called forth by
the application Of Mrs. Laura A. Shepherd.
the assignee of Jas. McCandlish, a contrac-
tor doing work for the District for the 10
per cent retain which the District kept as
a guarantee of good work. Mr.. Thomas
holds that the retain Is held to make re-
pairs necessary on the contract within five
years, and should not be returned.
Danger From Diphtheria.
B. F. Anterior writes to the Commission
ers today as follows: II beg leave to call
your attention to the fact that in the i'm
mediate neighborhood Of the colored school
located at 10th and u streets northwest
there are several cases of diphtheria which
owe their origin, 1t Is stated, to the fact
that ground is being opened adjoining said
school for another building. I understand
that there is some talk of closing the school
until all danger is passed. / beg leave to re-
port the matter for such action as you may
deem proper" Upon the receipt of the
above the Commissioners directed the
health officer to make a careful investiga-
ton of the premises and report at once
Against the Market House Dill.
Attorney Thomas has sent an adverse re-
port to the Commissioners upon the bill to
establish a wholesale market at the inter-
section of Louisiana AMI Ohio avenue. lie
says he thinks the bill Is unnecessary
there is already a law dated May 20, 1870.
upon the subject.
Washington and Benning.
The Commissioners gave a public hearing
to those persons interested in the Wash
ington and Benning road yesterday. which
was largely attended. The route over which
this road is to run Is from Maryland ave-
nue. and Florida avenue eastward over the
Benning road to the District line. 1t IS
proposed to run a branch from BenninS
road along Minnesota avenue to Pennsyl-
vania avenue extended Another branch
starts from Benning. passing the race track,
thence to the District line. The main stem
from Benning will, II built, connect with
the proposed electric roai from that point
to Upper Marlboro. a distance Of some
twelve miles. Among those present were:
W. A. Croffut, A. j. Curtis. Chas. A. Nc
Euen. E. NJ. Conner, II. ]. Gray. ]. H.
Gowan. NJ /. Weller, T. IL Y. McPhcrson
H H. Rand. ]. Clifton Roberts. j. w.
Deane. George j. Johnson, Thomas E.
~
H. Tine and George q. Sheriff.
Mr.. MCGOWAN was the first to speak. He
made a statement setting forth the object
of the bill. The proposition was not a new
one. and the bill under discussion is SINH
lar to the one which received favorable re-
port by the Commissioners and the House
committee on the District last year. The
bill. however. died in the Senate committee
where objection was made ~ the width of
the Benning road. The 'escnt bill gave
the Commissioners power 10 widen this
road. The motive power was not specihcal-
ly stated, being any power except steam.
Another change was the reduction in the
tax from to 2 per cent. He pointed out
the advantages Of the proposed road, and
closed by urging the Commissioners to ia
vorably report the bill.
There being no objection to the bill, the
hearing ended.
Bids Opened.
Bids have been opened for furnishing the
District with cast iron pipe. The bidders
were: NJ. j. Diumont, Radford Pipe and
Founding Company. National Foundry and
Pipe Works, Chattanooga Pipe and Foun-
dry Works. The Mellert foundry and Ma
chine Company, McNeal Pipe ard Foundry
Company, r. d. Wood & Co., and Howard
Harrison Iron Company.