The morning times., 1896-06-03
PATSY MANN UNDER FIRE
Congressman AhhO I Files Pro.
test Against the Refinery.
FROM VARIOUS CITIZENS
Health Officer and Attorney for the
District Discuss the Complaint
Amendment Proposed to Act Great
Ing Police Relief Fund-Comm
sioners Indorse Candy Bill.

Amendment Proposed to Act Great
Ing Police Relief Fund-Commis-
sioners Indorse Candy Bill.
Congressman Abbott of Texas, mem
Der of the House District Committee, has
Ia ..ena.! or numerous complaining cit-
zens entered protest against Patsy
Manns fertiliZing establishment, located
on the river, four miles south Of the city,
-. ,i>hs the District authorities whether
or not it should not be abated, considering
that it is regarded as a nuisance and
dangerous to lne health of the community.
An answer was returned TO him yeStef-
day, accompanied by a copy OF all opinion
rendered by the District counsellor, Mr.. -
T. Thomas that official akinS The ground
that the nuisance complained Oh is propa-
bly, a public one, and one which the health
ordinances do not reach, since they are
applicable only i'll the cities OF Washing
ana their more ueiisely
populated suburbs.
Mr.. Thomas concludes that the matter
should he called to the attention of the
attorney for the United States, with the
request that he take the necessary steps
to abate the nuisance.
The communication from the Congress
ficer, whose reply is in the hands of the
Commissioners. DR.. Woodward says:
MATTER OF COMMON REPORT.
This establishment has been III opera
tioH since 1881. While il is matter
OF common knowledge that I has III the
past given rise at times to more or less
dsagreeable odor, ii has not, for several
years prior 10 the receipt of Mr.. Abbotts
letter, been the cause Of any formal com
plaint to the department.
"Iu view OF this fact, and because or
the absence of any law Specifically cover
ing the case, no action has been taken
toward improving the condition OF the es-
tablishment.'
that the existing law is of
doubtful application against the processes
employed by Mann, but suggesting that
the case can be reached, in his Judgment,
.OTtnt... Nv
relating TO nusances, or by injunction,
DIR. Woodward adds:
"This department can. ii is believed,
procure the necessary witnesses to main
tain either of such actions as may be
view of the approach Of the excursion
season, il is desirable that some action
be taken"
The health officer turned over to the
Commissioners letter which he received
from II l.. HALEY. president of the South
May g, in which vigorous condemnation
oil the plant is INDUCED in.
MIR. HALLEY'S CRITICISM.
Mr.. Haley says. Many times piles OF
dead horses are left lying on the open
ground in a purified condition. ana the
country is not only invaded by the ter
tipt l. thrown out by re
establishment, hut when tie hot weather
sets in. by swarms Of green flies. Many
times the windows of private residences
nave to lie closed To keep them out
Attorney Thomas opinion contains the
statement that in order to convict Mr..
Mann of maintaining a nuisance, il will he
necessary to satisfy the jury or court by
a prcponderanCe of testimony that the
operation of his establishment creates
nuisance in fact as distinguished from
nuisance in law, and that the odors a rls-
ing from his place are obnoxious to
health and the comfortable enjoyment of
life and property
1t is of course not known what action
will be taken. or whe ther any, but the
refere nee OF the papers TO Attorney Birney
and the proffer of Health OFFICER Wood
ward to procure the witnesses needed to
sustain an indictment or an injunction, may
lead TO Il tussle in court.
The COmmissi onerS forwarded yester-
day TO both houses of Congress an amend
ment to the act of February 20, 1895, Great
ltlS Jiit Dpiitt TtlCl uitI anu ItlutSlth llS
adoption, the amendme mt consisting princi-
palIy of a clause limiting the application OF
the benefits.
WHAT IT PROVIDES.
The substitute measure, provides, as in
the old law. for the maintenance Of the
fund by the deduction of 81 per month
from the pay of each member Of the force,
surplus in bonds. and adds:
Hereafter said police fund shall be
used for the purposes of relief in the follow
| ing cases: First. for the relief of any pO-
liceman who after twenty years service
shall become so permanently disabled as
to be discharged from the force therefor:
second, in the case of any policeman who
shall be permanently so injured in the
actual discharge of his duty as to be dis
/ charged from the force therefor, and third,
for the benefit of the widow and the chill
| dreu under sixteen years of age of any
! policeman who may be killed i'll the dis
charge of duty. or who, after twenty years
service, dies while a member of the force
A proviso IS made that in no case Shall
a pension exceed $50 a month.
The bill now pending in Congress pro-
hibiting the adulteration OF candy in the
ni':f '~'. En"-vn EGlSe hiIl No $3.50
has the sanction of the Commissioners. the
attorney for the District and the health
, officer, and yesterday the first named Of
ficals, backed by the Endorsement Of the
other two, recommended Favorable action
by the House District Committee.
In his opinion upon tile ne~irS o. the meas
ure, A Attorney Thomas says:
WORD FOOD A FACTOR.
AS suggested by the health officer, the
legislation proposed will be unnecessary if
the word food in existing law includes
candy. In a scientific sense any sub
>; 'r, thnt is taik..r irt,I l. -. h, ~ nf ami
NAL or plant. which serves, through or
ganic action, to build up normal structure
or to supply the waste of tissue, is food"
Upon the supposition, however, hat
candy may not be regarded as food it
not being necessary for nourishment or
to build up the normal structure or to
S''r'' y 'vasra tissue. Mr. Thomas concludes
that, as a means Of removing all doubt,
the bill In question should be returned to
Congress with favorable recommended ton.
1t certainly has merit, he says, and is
intended as a protection to the public,
against an adulteration which as to little