Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-06
D S RIOT AFT FAIRS.
Opinions on q Number Of the Senate Dis
trict Bills
Last Weeks House-to-House Inspec-
uon-The Garbage Factory Again.
Other City Items of Interest.

Attorney Thomas has forwarded to the
Commissioners several bills which were
referred to him for his investigation and
report
The hrst bill reported upon was House
plu NO se5. to prevent fraufulent di-
'orces In the District Of Columbia.
attorney Thomas says that IL this bill
became law II would seem impossible to
get divorce unless both parties were
oomlciled In the District at the time of
ming, the bill thus putting IL within the
power Of one or the other OF the parties to
qeleat the Jurisdiction by going out OF the
pistr1ct before the bill was hled. lie as
ssrs also that there are Inconsistencies in
,he OH, and In conclusion says that the
Jaw or divorce in this District is quite Sc
we're enough now; our courts are vigilant
anu II Is very seldom. IL ever, a divorce is
granted where II ought not to be. He
recommends that the Commissioners re-
urn the Dill with their disapproval.
senate Dill $50 to punish the carrying or
sd OF deadly or dangerous weapons within
the District OF Columbia Is returned with
tne recommendation that there appears to
De no necessity for making any modifica-
tion or change in the existing law. The
act or Congress at the first session of the
Flrty-second Congress. he says. is a most
comprehensive law on the subject and was
passed, he understands. as substitute for
the one under consideration.
The bill relating to the acknowledge
ments of instruments affecting real estate
within the District Of Columbia was also
returned by Attorney Thomas, who recon-
mends several minor amendments. 1t
would be well for Congress. he says. to
confer the power to convey land by an at
toruey before providing that deed may be
ackla wledged by an attorney.
To Repair school Houses.
The building Inspector has urged the
Commissioners to include in their estimates
for the support Of the government during
the next fiscal year an item of $4,000 to
keep in repair the 100 public school houses
in the District He says that the $4,000
annually appropriated for this work Is In
adequate
Fires During August.
The monthly report Of Chief Paris Of the
fire department for August shows during
that period a record of twenty-four alarms
for fire. and entailing an estimated loss OF
s17,046, covered by an insurance OF $S'oio-
Not Allowable.
The Commissioners have notified Mr..
George Wood that 1t is not within the power
or jurisdiction OF the board to grant per-
mission 70 transfer his bar from its pres
ent position TO Ross Park during the tour
nament to be given at that place on the
18th inst.
House-to-House Inspection.
The Commissioners have received re-
port from DIR. Hammett Of the work done
in his department under the house to house
Of the inspectors for the week ending Sep
TENDER 2, 1s93: The number of squares in
spected was So; number of houses and
premises inspected. 1906: number of fami-
lies occupying houses. 1858: number OF
persons residing in houses, S,2l3.
The total inspections in this service TO
date Is as follows: Squares, liza; houses
and premises. Al go; families, H,4sV; per-
sons. 19s,9S1; lawful garbage receptacles.
116S9; unlawful garbage receptacles, 21,Z9l;
nuisances. 13.623; premises severed. 3o.o9o;
premises without sewers. 1855
There were but $40 nuisances reported
during the week, being decrease OF 1so
found the previous week
The number Of houses Inspected in the
county outside OF the city limits was S4I
Eight hundred and thirty-seven water
closets were found without modern plumb
ing.
Hammett says. the service OF house-to-
house inspection for the season IS drawing
TO a close, as there are now but about 20
squares and 1000 houses to be inspected
An important matter connected with
this work should not be overlooked. BY
references to the reports made weekly of the
vital statistics OF the District IL Will De per-
ceived that there has been lately gradual
decline' In the number OF deaths. as COM
pared with corresponding months in prevf-
Gus years. and the enormous decline for
July Of this year points to the fact that by
some reason the health of its inhabitants
has phenomenally become better. Cleanh-
ness Induced by this house-to-houSe inspec-
ton Is clearly one of the factors that has
produced this happy result. and has proved
the wisdom of instituting the service
School House Bids.
The Commissioners have opened bids for
furnishing the Central High School with
steam plant The bidders were Forsburg &
Murray. N.i79; r. ]. Shepherd. s2.175: Smith
Petit, N.575, and G. r. Her5ert N.s.14O.
A License Protest.
The Commissioners have received a pro-
test from property owners on X street, Pc
titioning that no liquor license be issued to
any place in the above named square. They
say that there has been no retail or whole
sale liquor places In the above square for
two or three years and pray that there will
be none allowed.
Further Legislation.
Relative to the communication Of T. W.
Tvrer. superintendent of the American
Electrical and Manufacturing Company. re-
Gently received by the Commissioners ask
ing whether his company could obtain per-
mits to lay the necessary conduits to car
~ wires throughout the city for telephone
and electric light purposes. or whether such
privileges must be secured from Congress.
He also desired to be informed whether
the Commissioners could grant the company
a permit 10 erect iron towers In the center
OF the square OF the city of sufficient
heighth to carry a system Of wires over and
above all buildings and towers. These
communications were referred to Attorney
iOE an OPINION, WHO, IN
all the papers, recites the acts OF Con-
gress on the subject and says: My opinion
Is that before the American Electrical and
Manufacturing Company can obtain permis-
sion to lay its wires In the streets. avenues
and alleys In this city. or to erect electric
light towers In the parks or squares Of the
city, II Will be necessary to obtain further
legislation from Congress-
The Wharf Question.
Some time ago II will be recalled the
acting secretary of the treasury requested
the Commissioners to take the necessary
steps to transfer to the United States gov
eminent for the use of the vessels belong
ing to the Treasury Department the wharf
property at the foot Of H street southwest
The matter rested for a few days. and was
finally sent to the attorney for the District
with instructions to report on the proper
method of procedure. Accordingly, he adj
yised the Commissioners that IL would be
necessary in event the occupant of the
wharf IN question declined to surrender 1t
10 give him nine days notice to quit before
taking proceedings to eject.
In a supplementary opinion which has
been given the Commissioners on this sub
iect Mr. Thomas said he was not aware
that the wharf had been leased to Richard
Rich and by him to James Lee Archer. No
T~h haa hna an mi