The Washington times., 1895-02-17
DO|NGs OF THE DISTRICT
Enactment of Bill for the Removal
of Ice and Snow in Doubt.
A SINGLE OBJECTION DEFEATS
Commissioners Disapprove Bill to Amend
lexington and Soldiers Home Railway
Charter-District Authorities Will Re-
move Garbage at the Contractors Ex-
pense-Measure for Protection of Gripmen

One of the most important local measures
before Congress, which can now be called up
only by unanimous consent, is the bill giving
the Commissioners the power to adopt and
enforce regulations for the removal OF snow
and ice from the sidewalks. While 1t is
general law the bill has special application to
the uuimproyed lots, where snow and ice re-
main sometimes for a week or more after the
owners and occupants of improved property
| have complied with the regulations.
| The Commissioners were very anxious TO
have the bill passed at the present session. but
| its success is now very much in doubt.
House bill No. 1927 '.lo amend the charter
| of the lexington and Soldiers Home Rail-
| way Company" was returned to Senator
| Harris yesterday with the adverse recommen-
| dation of the District Commissioners.
The explanation is made in justification OF
the position taken, that the company has
already charters for two parallel lines only
| four blocks apart, extending from the city to
| Michigan avenue The line it is authorized
10 construct on North Capitol street is not
yet in operation, the street not being yet
| opened through nor beyond Prospect Hill
| Cemetery nor is it likely to be.
| The Commissioners conclude: "As there
| are no residents along this route TO be ac-
| commodated by the proposed additional rail
| way facilities, and as the proposed extension
| would iniure what will ultimately become
| one OF the most important avenues III the
District we are of the opinion that it would
be unwIse TO mortgage this highway 10 rail-
| way company at this time, If ever.
The Commissioners ordered yesterday, in
view OF the complaints of neglect in the mat
ter of the collection and removal OF garbage
and dead animals that formal notice be
1 n rl
| that the Commissioners will on Monday. the
| 18th instant (to-morrow) proceed 10 collect
! all refuse found upon the wharyes and in
other places at the expense of the said con-
tractor, aud will continue the work as long as
may be necessary.
This amounts to a suspension OF the con-
| tract unless the principal shall take i'm
mediate steps 10 satisfactorily execute il.
1t was stated yesterday that an effort had
been made TO have neighboring farmers to
remove the garbage for use as fertilizer. with
out cost, and that the contractor was averse
! to re-employing the Richards Brick Company
TO do the work.
The vexatiouS delays consequent necessf-
tated the action taken by the Commissioners.
The attorney for the District mas returned
| TO the Commissioners report of the investl-
| cation he made as to the authority of an in
sritution known as the Vermont Medical
| College" to grant diplomas.
The attorney says: 1T appears from the
! letter OF DR.. Hamilton. secretary OF the State
| board of health OF Vermont, that the college
is without authority to grant diplomas.
He suggests. however, that before cancel
| ing licenses TO physicians holding diplomas
from the institution the health officer should
give an opportunity to each to show cause
| why order OF revocation should not be issued.
copy of Justice Bradley opinion in the
case of Martha w. Goddard against the Dis
| trict being petition of mandamus to COM
1 H..
water to her premises, was furnished to the
board yesterday. The case involved the right
| OF the authorities to cut off the supply of
water pending non-payment OF bill in
| Cured by tenant, Justice Bradley deciding
against the District.
An opinion filed yesterday by the attorney
| for the District relative to the water main as
sessments against Graceland Cemetery is TO
the effect that while on October IL. 1894, he
advised that the cemetery was liable TO as
sessment for laying the water main he as
| sumed that its land adjacent to the street or
road in which the main was laid was reserved.
| Under the law prohibiting further intermentS
the officers of the cemetery are empowered to
sell and convey their land in fee simple. to-
gether with the buildings thereon. and to re-
inter the dead elsewhere. He is therefore of
opinion that the cemetery land is not exempt
from the assessments made. though under
certain. conditions cited it could not be so
held.
DIR Robert Reyburn, president of the Dis
trict Suffrage Petition Association, has
written 10 the Commissioners asking that the
| association be given hearing upon the bill
| now before Congress, providing for special
election to decide the question OF restoring
the elective franchise in the District. The
measure is in the hands of the Commissioners
for report
Favorable report was transmitted by the
Commissioners to Congress yesterday upon
House bill 1881, to require street railways to
adopt measures for the protection of gripmen
and drivers. In connection with their report,
a copy of President Dunlop's objections to
the legislation was also filed.
An order entered by the Commissioners
| yesterday suspended the license of Harmon
| & Co.. as plumbers, for a period of three
months, and permits will be denied the firm
during the period of suspension. 1t was
shown that they had violated sections ten
and twenty-nine OF the plumbing regulations
/ Permit for the construction of three-story
! and basement brick dwelling at No. 1913 K
street northwest, was issued yesterday to
Sarah Virginia Geiselman. f. II. Knight is
named as architect and W. C. Morrison as
| builder.
an additional private on the Metropolitan
| police force, at the request of the BottIers'
! Protective Association.
Mount Pleasant is moving for the establish
ment of police station in .Brightwood ave-
nue., near Whitney avenue and the location
| of fire alarm boxes at Sixteenth street and
Howard avenue, and at Kennesaw avenue
and Fifteenth street.
House bill 1858, providing for reciprocal
| transfers on street railways is in the hands
OF the Commissioners for their consideration.
-d -
Court Notes.
John T. Power. of No. As z street north