The Washington times., 1894-09-06
Collector Of Taxes Davis Submits His
Annual Report.
NECESSITY FOR A NEW TAX LAW
Policeman Gelabert Again the Subject Of
charges-seventeen Fire Alarms During
the Month of August-Rigid Regulations
Made Concerning Graceland Cemetery.

total receipts OF his office, from all sources,
for the past year was 4,O67, ,696-from realty,
S2,645, ,778.12, and from personal taxes, s161,
4OSS4; water fund, s337, ,267.6O; penalties,
S72, 1885, "a; miscellaneous, S512, $3.50.
The collector again calls attention to the
necessity for a new tax law; to the demand
for an increase of the clerical force of his Of
fee, to avoid the embarrassment in the trans
action of business; s. ays that u true balance
of the unpaid taxes, real and personal, should
be obtained, the present accounts being mis-
leading, discreditable, and inimical TO the in
terests of the District, suggesting the el1m1na-
tion Of charges against tho District and the
United States, and against property exempt
by law; that legislation under which the le-
gitimate revenues are diverted, should be re-
pealed. and that taxes should be receivable
in one payment.
Mr. Davis says he has mado these and SINH
lar suggestions so often only TO have them
ignored by Congress. that il seems useless to
repeat them, but he feels impelled to again
embody them in his report. He thinks the
clause OF the act of April %. 1892, which re-
quires half of the fees for water and other
permits to be credited to the United States
should be repealed. the division of the re-
celpts from that source causing loss TO the
District He recommends the resubmission
to Congress OF II. Il. bill No. 1898, relating TO
tax sales and insists strongly upon an in
crease of the force of his office. detailing the
large business transacted at some length.
MORE CHARGES AGAINST GELABERT.
The charges preferred by Milton Z. Simms
against Henry W. GeIabert, Of the Eighth
precinct police station, are to be pushed to
thorough investigation if Mr.. Simms can ac.
complish it. He alleges in his letter to the
Commissioners that the policeman came TO
his barber shop at No. 1888 Fourteenth street
northwest on August 26 and arrested the COM
plainant upon the accusation of having kept
the shop open on Sunday. The officer de-
clined to permit his prisoner TO walk 10 the
station house. but added the indignity OF con-
veying him there in the patrol wagon.
The charges were disproved at the trial
Notwithstanding Gelabert's statement on
oath that Simms had confessed the Offense TO
Lieut.. GessfOrd. and the further statement
that the policeman found five chairs in the
shop. two of which were in readiness for Gus
toners Simms says he has but three chairs
in his shop and that ha made no such con-
fesson
He demands rigid scrutiny Of the affair,
and cites as his witnesses Lieut.. GessfOrd
Joseph Potts, clerk OF the police court; Jesse
Cook, of No. 1886 Fourteenth street north
west, and James H. Smith, No. 404 Fifth
street northwest.
Chief Paris. OF the fire department. re-
ports seventeen fire alarms for the month OF
August, seven less than were reported for the
preceding month. and seven less than for the
month of August, 1898. The estimated losses
Tor the month OF August. 1894. were sl.605,
and an insurance of S775. against loss of
1851 1876. and insurance of SI79, ,g05 for July,
and S17 046 loss and S15. .646 insurance for
August. 1898. There were fourteen still alarms
Int month, the losses amounting 10 $3.50;
insurance, SO The sum of S75 each, pay
able out of the relief fund, was allowed the
families of d. O'DonnOghue and NJ. r. Fen
ton to defray funeral expenses. A donation
ceived in August.
GRACELAND CEMETERY INTERVIEWS.
The District Commissioners have decided,
and have so declared, that hereafter no body
or part of body shall be exhumed or rein
tered in GraceIand Cemetery without a per-
NIT from the health officer. issued only on
application in writing; that no grave shall be
opened for the disinterment OF bodies during
June July, August, and September, and no
body of a person under twelve years of age
shall be disinterred within a less period than
one year from the date Of interment and
upon being taken from the grave, all bodies
and all the articles found in the graves must
be incosed in an air-tight box and trans
ferred directly from the grave to the place OF
reinterment within twenty-iour hours from
the time the graves are opened. Bodies OF
persons who died from diphtheria shall be
thoroughly wetted with a solution of chloride
OF lime before being removed from the grave,
and each grave shall remain open for twenty
four hours after the remains are removed.
Orders were issued by the Commissioners
yesterday as follows: That A Chapman. sub
inspector in the sewer department be ap-
Tod ipdn NJ A hot gha
public wells at the following named points be
closed and abandoned: At the corner of Sixth
and o streets northwest; on Second street,
between East Capitol and streets southeast;
at First and Q streets northwest; on h street,
between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets
southeast and that q public hydrant be put
in at northwest corner Of Fourteenth and K
streets southeast
public well az the corner OF Seventh street
and Virginia avenue southwest after three
separate tests has been shown to contain
water totally unfit for use. and will be closed.
A sewer on o street, between Thirty-third
and Thirty-fourth streets. in Georgetown, is
ordered to be added to the provisional sched-
ule of sewers to be built in 1896, dependent
upon the appropriation.
ALL on ACCOUNT OF GASOLINE.
The storing of gasoline and kerosene oil In
a stable in the rear of premises No. 42s Sew
enth street southwest caused the cancellation
Of the owners insurance. The occupant. W.
E. Burnett, was notified by Fire Marshal
Drew to remove it, but has failed to do so
and further proceedings will be taken.
Kennedy and Davis obtained permit ves-
terday for the erection of five brick dwellings
on lots Nos. 2102 to 210S inclusive, on
| o street and No. 1910 Twenty-first street
! northwest, the whole to cost S25 000 The
| buildings are to be three stories above the
cellar, with pressed brick fronts and will be
| supplied with hot water heating facilities.
| Charles A. Devens was also granted per-
nit yesterday for the erection of dwelling
on Seventh street extended, Brightwood Park,
$1,000.
Permits for repairs have been issued by
the building inspector to the following per-
| sons:
L. V. Murphy. for improvements to his
! dwelling at No. 419 Second street northwest;
! $1,000. B. J. 0'Brien for two-story addition
to brick dwelling No. 504 L street northeast;
$500. Mr.. Nichols. for repairs and addition
to private stable at the rear of No. 21S Four
| and-a-half street northwest; $500. J. A.
| Wbelon. for repairs to dwelling at No. 1882 p
street northwest; 5000.
Private J. B. Ais, of the Metropolitan police
force, found guilty of neglect OF duty, was
fined SO, and informed that his previous
good record alone saved him from dismissal.
Wade Smith and Stephen Thornbacky were
| yesterday granted licenses, respectfully, as
steam engineers of the second class. James
Sullivan has been appointed watchman at the
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