Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-19
District Commissioners Will Clean
Out a Disreputable Locality.
NEIGHBORHOOD OF TIE new POST OFFICE
Looking for a Place Where Vice
Will Not Be So Obtrusive.
OTHER DISTRICT AFFAIRS

Hooker's Division, with all its bad his
tory, is going to be wiped out. For some
time past the Commissioners have been
considering the advsability of such move,
and it is understood that they have agreed
to obliterate all traces of vice in that Sec
ton of the city soon as a place can be
decided upon where the disreputable char
acters can live. Some time ago matters
came near reaching 4 focus, and the Com
mssioners went so far to send for Lieut..
Amiss, who has charge of that police pre-
cinct, Tor the purpose of getting some sug
gestons from him to where it would be
best to move these people. The lieutenant,
it is understood, made a careful investiga-
ton Of the city, and submitted several loca-
tons TO the authorities. Just what his sug-
gestions were, and the exact locations he
recommended, is a great secret, but it is
understood that the location considered
most desirable from all standpoints was
one back of the naval observatory.
The matter has been resting for some
time, and the facts as above set forth
We're Only developed today 1t is believed
that no action will be taken in the imme-
date future although it is certain that
by the time the new post Office is COM
pleted all traces of .the Division will have
been wiped out.
Some time ago, during the administration
of a former board of Commissioners, an
effort was made to reform the character of
18th street from Pennsylvania avenue to
the Agricultural grounds. They considered
18th street the principal thoroughfare he
tween South Washington and North Wash
ington, and believed it emineutly proper to
fl it from all bad influences. Nothing,
however, was done at the time, because, as
it was stated, the Commissioners learned
upon investigation that a number of the
disreputable houses were owned by the
people who kept them, and there was doubt
Ctm n
them. This argument will be of no avail,
however, to the proposed action of the
present board, for it has already decided
a parallel case against one OF this class
The case referred to was one of a woman
who owrcd and kept a disrepu;able house
on 10th street. When ordered to move she
argued that she owned the house and the
authorities had nothing to do with her.
But Lieut.. Amiss was instructed to give
her thirty days notice, and if after that
time she had not moved, to raid the house
every hight until the place was broken up.
in connection with the probable action of
the Commissioners much interest is center
ed upon The proceedings of the excise
board, especially regarding saloons in that
locality. If signs mean anything the eX-
else board will stand by it's original inten-
ton of cleaning out every saloon in the
Division Already the application of those
places located in that section of the city
have been considered by the excise board,
and every one of them has been held up
ton is in accordance with the determine
ton of the board not 10 reEcense saloons
in that locality. Considerable pressure
has been brought to bear on the board to
have some of these licenses issue. but up
to the present time none of them has been
favorably considered. The excise board
has decided to close within the week
saloon on 10th street between ID and Penn
syIVanla avenue, known as Bills Inn.
For Underground Wires.
gives the Commissioners authority to regu-
late the laying of conduts, or the erection
of poles. True, there is general authority
as to their erection and maintenance, but
the law is silent regarding the character
of either case. This being the case, and
the Importance of the subject demanCiin z
law upon it, the Commissioners are pre-
pairing bill to be presented to Congress
that will give them the authority neces-
sary to properly enforce suitable regula-
tons upon the subject. For some time
past replies to circular letters have been
coming in from the principal cities of the
United States. giving whatever data the
authorities have upon the subject, and
from these Capt. tiebeger who has been
given charge of the matter, is drafting a
set of regulations for the District. Per-
haps the most important of the regulate
will be the one giving the Commissioners
the right to reserve in every conduit laid
ore or more compartments for the use of
the District wires, free of charge, and upon
every pole erected the right reserved to the
District to use the same for the stringing
of its own wires Tree of charge.
The DoIIar-Gas Bill.
AS stated in The Star of Tuesday, the
Commissioners have decided to recommend
for enactment a DILL reducing the price of
gas to 81 per thousand cubic feet and stp-
ulating that it's quality shall be first-class
This morning President Tucker of the
Northeast Washington Citizens Assoca-
ton called upon Major Powell and said he
had seen the statements in The Star of
Tuesday that the Commissioners had de-
cided to rec ommend dollar gas, and added
that the association he represented was
heartily in favor of the project, and would
lend it's best efforts to have the bill en-
acted. Major Powell, in reply, stated that
it was true the bill had been considered, as
stated in The Star. and was now awaiting
action by the board. He had made a re-
port upon the same, recommending its
adoption. and the Commissioners We're
unanimous in their approval of the same.
1t is expected that the bill will be sent to
Congress this week.
The Divorce Laws.
bill recently submitted to the Commits
soners from Congress, having for it's OBJ
ject the prevention of fraudulent divorces
in the District of Columbia will not re-
ceive the approval OF the Commissioners,
it Is understood for the reason that the
law in force is ample to cover the subject.
Police Regulations.
The Commissioners in board session have
approved the amended police regulations
and ordered the same to be printed as an
advertisement for thirty days, after which
time they will go into effect. The import
ant changes have been referred to from
time to time in The Star.
Slack Order Signed.
Judge Hagner today signed a formal or
der enjoinng the institution or prosecution
of legal proceedings here or elsewhere re-
specting the custody of the children of the
late William Fl. Slack. The injunction is to
continue until the further order of the court
that is, until the contest over the will of the
father of the children shall have been de-
termined.