The Washington times., 1895-02-19


that the Commissioners had the right tc
order the refund under the provisions of the
law creating the excise board, but the board
cited the ruling of the Comptroller of the
Treasury, that no money paid into the credit
of the United States can be refunded without
| special legislation in each particular case. In
other words, claim for money wrongfully OF
enormously paid must run the gauntlet in
| Congress before refund can be made
The cluD deposited the fee il November,
since which time it has been discovered that
the license for dispensing liquors is not re-
quired.
Meanwhile the excise board authorized the
license to be issued, and the attorney for the
District has ruled that money paid without
protest cannot be returned. The Commits
sioners seem TO have no discretion in the
matter, the decision of the Comptroller being
emphatic.
MUST ASK CONGRESS FOR RELIEF.
1t would, therefore, seem to be necessary
that each of the applicants for refund shall
have bill for relief passed by Congress.
The precedent for the ruling CT the Comp
troller was upon a case for repairs to the
paid So and dates back nearly year. The
| Comptroller then announced his opinion,
| which has been repeated once since in a case
under the assessment law.
The present law is deemed to be defective.
and 1t is understood steps will be taken to
have it amended SO that deposits may be pro-
| vis1onalIy made. and thus avoid the trouble
that results from the present situation Of af-
| fairs
Supt. Mckenzie, of the street and alley
| cleaning department, was at the District
! building yesterday with a suggestion in the
matter of prolonging the term of employ
ment under the relief fund. He informed the
! Commissioners that the sum at his disposal,
amounting originally TO $500, would be ex-
hausted by this evening, and he stated that If
| authority were given to Contractor DogGett
to furnish the carts and drivers TO remove
the snow from the streets, the Associated
! Charities would make another appropriation
| for the purpose of keeping its beneilciaries at
| work cleaning up after the carts. The neces-
! sary authority was given. and it is now as
/ sured that work can be continued until Satur-
| day.
SEWERS AND PAvEMENTs ORDERED.
| Ordered yesterday
| That the following work be done under the
| permit system:
Lay cement sidewalks and set new granite
| curb on Florida avenue. north side, between
/ Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets northwest;
/ also lay cement sidewalks iii Eighteenth
street, both sides, from Florida avenue to CO.
| luulbia road; lay new brick sidewalks and set
new curb in Seventh street extended north
west between Steuben street and Rock Greek
| Church road, east side; also in Seventh street
extended northwest between Wallach street
! and Rock Greek Church road. west side; lay
! new brick sidewalks and reset curbs in Z
street south. between Fourteenth street and
relay brick sidewalks in Seventh street ex-
tended northwest, in front OF 1927 to 204l, in
! elusive.
Lay board sidewalks in Concord street
Brookland, south side. between Twelfth and
Thirteenth streets; in Dover street, Brook
land. south side, between Eleventh and
Twelfth streets; in hTessmore street, both
sides, between Erie and Huron streets; in
Erie street, north side, between Central ave
nue. and Fifteenth street extended.
That sewer in Sixteenth street, between
Morris street and Florida avenue, be added
to the provisional schedule for 1896.
House bill No. s057, toineorporate the East
Washington Belt Line Railway Company
which is substantially the same as Senate
bill 1889, hitherto reported upon, was re-
turned to Congress yesterday by the Commits
sioners, with adverse recommendation. They
say the measure is highly Objectionable in
many important features. and urge that if
1 the cudTI6C D6 IL may DE III Il6
| form OF the substitute bill lately submitted.
In answer to the complaint of w. o. Miller,
! representing the Northeast Washington Citi-
zens' Association, that the Baltimore and
Ohio Railway Company has neglected tc COM
ply with the order requiring a lantern light
| or other luminary to be displayed on the ad-
vancing end OF trains when in motion, the
! Commissioners yesterday forwarded report
| of Inspector Beggs.
ORDER IS BEING oBEYED.
The inspector investigated the matter and
| in his report gives the statement of the Balti-
more and Ohio agent, who says the company
has not only complied with the order but has
effected arrangements whereby man STA
toned on the rear of a train can apply the
air brakes when necessary.
Chairman Williams. of The House sub-com-
! mittee on appropriations, was asked by the
Commissioners yesterday to have the item
| providing for school of Sixth Division A. on
| The conduit road increased to S14 900. The
original estimate was for $4,000, the inten-
tion being to erect the building on ground
| belonging TO the government, but the Senate
failed to give the requisite authority for the
use OF the ground. and site will have to be-
purchased. The building contemplated will
cost $4,000 without furnishings.
The Commissioners have reported adversely
upon House bill 2747, defining the quaIifca-
tions of chief inspector and deputy fnspec-
tors of plumbing in the District.
The United States marshal was requested
yesterday by the Commissioners to summon
jury of twelve men to assess and appraise
damages that may accrue by the opening of a
street and the closing of certain alleys in
Square No. So.
ICE DREAMING BEGUN.
Regular trips of Washington and Norfolk
steamers will be resumed to-day, the harbor
master reports, and it is his opinion there will
be but little interruption TO the running OF
the boats.
The tugs broke the ice about the wharf at
the foot of South Capitol street yesterday,
and also in the vicinity of Patsy Mann s
| cookery. four miles away.
A letter was yesterday addressed by the
Commissioners to Capt. Henry, of Baltimore,
TO hasten the preparations for putting his
boats into service, as it is very desirable that
the ice breaking be commenced without fur
ther delay.
The Commissioners returned to Congress
yesterday House bill No. $3.50, to authorize
the establishing OF a union street railway sta
tion on B street north. between Sixth and
Seventh streets, with their favorable recon-
mendation.
Two lnqueStS to Be Held.
Coroner Hammett viii to-day hold in
| quests on Thomas Cunningham, who died
suddenly at the corner OF Tenth and B
| streets northwest on Friday night, and