The morning times., 1895-11-07

The Western Union Telegraph Company
recently asked permission of the Commits
sioners to erect number ofpoles on Prince
ton street north west, beyond the city
limits, for the purpose of stringing wires
for it's use, and on yesterday received
| reply in which the request was refused. The
Commissioners objected to the company
| making its connections by that route, and
directed that 1t be by Kenyon street, and
that the wires be strung on the poles of
the Brightwood Railway Company.
| This raises question that has often
been debated and which was under dis
cussion short time ago, as noted In The
| Times. The company claims that under
| section 5263, of the revised statutes, and
also under a decision of the supreme court
| OF the District, law and decision, as
ia claimed, neither of which has been re-
| pealed nor overruled, It's right to string
wires on any government or public thor
| ouRhfare, cannot be abridged by the Dis
| trict Commissioners or any other authority
| anywhere.
Congress passed law forbidding further
accumulation of overhead wires in tn city,
but the privilege asked for, the company
claims, is TO erect poles for its purpose
beyond the city limits.
hESlf RotAL Gun
1t is also shown, from the company's
standpoint, and the supreme court r. under
stood to have also had the point in view,
that under section 1896 of the act previ-
ously quoted from, the reason for the ex-
tension OF telegraph company privileges
Is given. Under that section the com
panies are required to give precedence TO
government messages, and to forward them
at such rates as may be fixed by the
Postmaster General, thus establishing a
reciprocity of courtesies.
The company will make a claim for its
vested rights under the law, it is under
stood, in the present instance, and hear
ing Will be given on Friday.
The privilege under dispute is for an
accommodation of the company system by
Princeton street, between Sherman avenue
aud Fourteenth street.
Hotel proprietors and others whose con-
tinuance in business depends upon the pro-
curing of a license from the District Asses
sor, have this year had to back up their
applications with a certificate showing COM
pliance with the fire escape law, have
had their attention called TO sundry pro-
visions of the enactment that have seemingly
been overlooked.
The la was enactedin sS7 and amended
by the last Congress, and provides, in ad-
dition to requiring the erection Of fire
escapes that the halls and corridors shall
be properly lighted at night, when oc-
cupied. that fife alarms or Eongs shall be
placed in each for notifying occupants in
case of fire, and that rooms of hctels
shall each contain notice descriptive OF
the means OF escape.
OPERATIVE FOR FIRST TINE.
Before securing license this year all
these requirements had TO be met and
nearly every hotel and other building. com-
h.lI
the matter until reminded by a notice
which the amended enactment made nee
essary, and which rendered the law Cper
alive for the first time since its adoption.
The country market dealers have an ap-
poiutment for conference with the Com |
missioners to-day at II O'Clock, when
matters of interest TO the dealers and tire |
rules for government of the wholesale |
market viii be under consideration.
Citizens OF the northeast section of the |
city whose residences are in the vicinity |
OF Fourth and streets are somewhat |
disturbed over the removal Of the handle |
of the pump in their neighborhood Wei. |
They have been informed that the re-
moval has been made and that the pump
rendered imperative by direction of the
engineer department and an inquiry is
to be set afoot to discover the why's aud
wherefores.
The police department has been In
structed to see that steam engineers keep
their commissions properly displayed in
their places of employment.
Two hundred applications for liquor
licenses have been placed in the hands of
the police for investigation. and OF this
number thirty have been returned COM
pleted.
WHAT COMPARISON SHOWS
A comparison of the receipts for taxes
shows that the payments this year ag-
gregate about what had been paid in at the
same date in November, 1894. the last
preceding semi-annual payment The |
applications for licenses this year are
slightly in excess of the number recorded
on the 9Th of November last
Fire escapes are to be placed on the
National Homeopathic Hospital building
by Alexander r. Burns, whose bid for the
work was $3.50. The contractor is to
accept a lien certificate in lieu of the cash
in liquidation. the certificate beng sub
Ject to future collection.
George c. Moxley has been appointed
an additional private on the police force
for duty at the New National Theater
The resignation of Frank C. Graves, as
an additional private, was accepted yes
terday.
GRAND JURY PUZZLED.