The Washington times., 1895-01-25
DOINGs OF THE DISTRICT
Cosmos Club and Saengerbund
Want License Fees Refunded.

The oral hearings given the Commissioners
by the Senate Appropriations Committee upon
the estimates for District purposes ended yes
terday, unless the committee shall desire ad-
ditional information upon matters not yet
fully considered.
The members OF the board are greatly
gratiflad ut the display of courtesy and
patience upon the part OF the committee.
Every item in which the House bill does not
meet the estimates was carefully gone over
and the Commissioners were given ample
time to explain the necessity for the proposed
expenditure.
The District assessor notified the Board OF
Commissioners yesterday of the fact that on
the Ilth instant he received from the Cosmos
u, by William A. DeCaindry. treasurer.
letter Withdrawing its application Tor liquor
license, and including demand for The re-
fund of the deposit OF S400, made on the lst
day of November last.
The claim is based, the assessor says, upon
the police court decision in the National
Capital Press ub case, sin which, it would
seem. the decision of the court was in favor
OF the defendants"
Assessor Trimble notes. also. that the
Press Club and the Washington Saengerbund
have applied for a refund of their respective
license fees of last year, and says that in
view of the fact that his Office has no official
information as to the text of that decision
and the further fact that the question at issue
is OF such grave character. he submits that
the following points be referred TO the attor-
ney for the District for his opinion:
First Was the opinion of the court of
such a nature as 10 render the collection OF a
license fee from Incorporated clubs illegal;
and. second, if so, will the assessor be justi-
TF.~fra finn off I'm
amounts paid, not only for this year. but last
year?'
An objection has been formally made to the
Commissioners by citizen of the District TO
the payment OF tax assessed against him.
amounting to about 50. 400, for the laying of
o water main out of which a suit TO test the
legality OF the tax has been developed.
The attention of the Commissioners was
called yesterday evening to the statement
that they had gone 10 Congress for remedial
legislation. and President Ross said
''Such thing was never thought of by the
Commissioners, nor was the subject men
toned az The Capitol to-day. We have no
such intentions"
Capt. Powell acquiesced in what Mr.. Ross
said and added:
1--WE receive protests and objections from
! the public upon various matters almost every
I day. and this one was discussed in the board
as others are. The act is, though, that by
law the operations of the water department
J are under the control of the Engineer Gem
missioner already"
/ Col. Truesdell had not before heard OF the
proposition.
The Commissioners have addressed letter
10 the Attorney General asking that the status
OF Alexander Island he officially determined
in order that it may be shown who has iuris-
diction over the territory.
The Commissioners cite the several acts oi
States and the States Of Virginia and Mary
land. and say:
1T is important TO this community. not
4 only as matter of police, but otherwise, &c
know whether or not Alexander Island j:
rightfully within the jurisdiction OF the Dis
( trict. in order that. if proper TO DO so. the
local laws may be enforced therein"
The Commissioners Yesterday reported fa-
vorably upon the nomination of Judge Mills
for reappointment as justice of the peace.
They also returned with favorable recon-
mendation the amendment intended 10 b.
proposed by Senator PETER to II. r. bill 1888
the object OF which is to provide that th
wages and salaries of employees shall IN al
cases be equal TO $40 per month.
They approved also the amendment to b,
proposed 10y Senator Harris. to provide TO
the purchase OF a site and the erection OF
building for the use OF the Business Higl
School, the ite-l being in their original esti
mates, tlii omitted from the House bill.
Rriiding permits Issued yesterday: W.
Newton. ten dwellings. Nos. 1898 to 1875
Emerson street northeast, $4,000: d.
Gottwals, six dwellings, Nos. 624 TO 63
Seventh street northeast. $4,000.
Chief Paris received a communicated
yesterday from Mr. John r. Mclean, presi
dent o. the Washington Gaslight Company
inclosing check for G150. the proceeds c
which the donor desired to have distribute
equally among the firemen engaged at
recent fire. and expressing his thanks 70
their prompt action on the occasion.