The Washington times., 1895-03-06
his Claim Of Injustice in the Matter of Lease
Residents and Property Owners Inquir-
ing the Status of Briehtwood Railway
Bill-Applications on File for the New
Positions as School Trustees.

]
| two stories to be fire-proof, ana also to
put in an elevator at any desired location,
and after putting it in thorough repair with
| all needed improvements 10 lease the entire
building With 81, eco feet of floor space
to the District for 6,Go0 per year, which
he says is 50, ace less per anrum than the
lease on the Walker building calls for.
ALLEGES UNJUST TREATMENT.
Mr. Smith is of the opinion that he has
not been justly treated in the matter He
says when his property was first leased
| to the District eight years ago at figure
| So, 900 per annum- which he then thought
and stil believes. TO be much less than that
| for which similar quarters can be obtained
/ anywhere else in the city, il was with the
distinct verbal understanding that the board
would endeavor To Lave the appropriation
/ Increased in the following year, and there
I after. 10 S4,5C0. TIL promise was made,
of course, before the present Commissioners
were appointed.
II has never been complied with. Mr..
Smith also stated that he has always had
1 the assurance that there would be 10 trans
fer of the Offices from his building until
removal should be made to a new municipal
building constructed by means of appro-
priation especially for the District
He thinks that under the circumstances
he has a perfect right to protest against
the present contemplated abandonment OF
his property. He asserts that the lease or
the Walker Building is not yet consum-
mated. The Commissioners say that the
other contract is practically made, and
they declined ms proposition.
Residents and property owners on Blair
road, on the line of the proposed extension
OF the Brightwood Electric Railway, are
very much interested just now in the effort
to ascertain whether or not the bill granting
the company the right of way has been
signed by the President.
The proposed extension of the railway
in the direction OF Takoma Park necessi-
tates the use OF Blair road for as much as
one-fourth of mile. The thoroughfare
is but thirty feet wide, with numerous
Improvements on the west SIDE, and property
owners, whose aggregate holdings amount
10 upwards Of 100000, protested against
the granting of the right of way to the
railway, upon the grounds that il would
reduce the roadway to such a degree that
their property would be materially de
preciated in value.
BELIEVED IN PROMISES.
This was done several months ago, when
the bill was first introduced. Receiving
the assurance that their rights should be
respected, the citizens gradually lost sight
Of the measure until upon Senator Nc
Millan's motion the bill came up in the
Senate for consideration. The Senator
was called upon in the matter, and the
assurance was again given that the property
owners should be protected.
Later, however, Senator Mcmillan an
nCunced in behalf of the measure that he
held a letter from one Of tie protestants
Withdrawing his objections. and that there
was now no protest. The bill went through
and was sent TO the President before the
interested citizens realized the situation
They were OF the opinion that the bill had
been amended. with the objectionab BILE
provision omitted but learning of their
mistake when il was too late to appear
before either the Commissioners or Con-
gress, they called at the executive man.
sion last Friday and filed n protest with
the President. The pressing business in
cident 20 the closing up OF Congress pre-
vented them from seeing the chief execu-
tive, hut the protest was left with secre-
tary Ihurber.
Meanwhilethe bill had been sent TO the
Commissioners from the executive mansion,
as is customary. TO ascertain il there were
any objections to the measure. Uncon-
sciGus OF the true state of affairs, and no
protest having been received from any
source. the board on Friday last reported
should not become law.
WHO FORGED THE LETTER?
Whether or not the President has given
it his approval is one fruitful subject OF
anxious inquiry, and another phase Of the
question is as to the identity of the man
or men who filed that letter withdrawing
objections. 1t is declared emphatically
that if such letter is in Senator McMil-
lan's possession 1t is a rank forgery, and
the Senator has been asked for copy of it.
SO far no reply to the request has been re-
ceived
supt Mckenzie, of the street and alley
cleaning department., has recommended,
and the Commissioners approve the ap-
pointment of W. Stutler, now i'll charge of
one OF the public dumps, to take
charge OF an extra force of laborerS to be
employed in the work of cleaning the
unimproved alleys. HIS compensation is
fixed at the rate of 50 per day.
W. b. Peasants was appointed to succeed
Stutler at the public dump, his compensa-
ton being at the rate of 81. per day.
The District Commissioners are not yet
ready to consider applications for the two
places in the board of school trustees, " hich
Congress specially provided for the ladies'
Indeed, they are as yet unimformed as TO
the date when, under the bill recently
passed, such appointments can be made,
for they do not recall the date when the law
goes into operation.
FILING THEIR PAPERS.
Applicants are filing their papers, how
ever. and they are being deftly slowed away
at the executive office for future refer
ence. Three names are now before the
board. as follows: Miss Edith NJ Collins,
Sc hool teacher, who resides at No. 2234
r+~ AfrS A NJ o1
man. and Mrs. Helen A Cook, the wife of
John F. Cook. of 1922 Sixth hstreetnorthwes
the coloIed member of the special COM
mittee OF fifteen that superintends the ex-
pcnditures under the board OF Assoc lated
Charities.
A prospective candidate for the place,
also, is Mrs Miranda Tulloch, who was
strongly recommended for appointment
when President Whelpley's term expired.
This was prior TO the adoption Of the law
formally comforting the honor upon her sex.
Mrs. Tulloch resides at No. 121 B street
southeast.
Orders issued yesterday:
That catch-basin be constructed at the
intersection of alleys in square 275, and the
catch-basin in the center of said square be
removed, to make way for the paving of
the alleys.
That sewers be constructed in Eleventh
street northeast, between East Capitol
and Maryland avenue, under the provisions
ofthe permit system.
That upon the recommendation of the
Master Plumbers Association of the Dis
trict William Koch be appointed a member
of the plumbing board, and the secretary to
the Commissioners is directed to notify Mr..
Koch and the association of the action
taken.
Building permits issued yesterday:
z. A. Taylor, two frame dwellings, block
%. Seatnn street extended. So 600 Mrs