Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-17
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.

Owing to the unusual number of COM
plants that have been received during the
past few weeks of a scarcity of water In
the higher parts of the city, the Commits
sioners have found it necessary to take
some positive action looking to a remedy
After a conference upon the matter it was
decided to appoint an inspection force
whose duty it will be to visit every water
taker in the city and inspect the water
pipes. If 1t Is found that there Is an un.
necessary waste the offending parties will
be taken into court.
The scarcity of water is due, the authori-
ties believe, to the fact that many house.
holders fearing the freezing of the water
pipes have turned on the faucets full
force and allowed the water to waste. This.
of course, is not allowed. and any person
found so offending will be punished.
For some time past the regular inspectors
have been at work with their patent water
scopes, listening at the mains and large
service pipes for running water, and have
reported a great waste all over the city.
Tomorrow the Commissioners will inaugu-
rate their system of inspection. and eight
temporary inspectors will commence a
thorough inspection of the city. The Dis
trict will be divided into districts, and
each inspector will have charge of one of
them. The reports will be made daily and
when case arises where summary action
is needed, the proper authorities will swear
out warrants, and the violators will be
taken before the Police Court. There Is
no regular appropriation out of which
these inspectors can be paid, so the Com
missioners will be Obliged to call upon the
emergency fund for their compensation,
believing that the eXigencies of the case
require such action.
short-Weight Coal Carts.
The Commissioners have instructed Mai.
Moore to instruct the officers of the police
force to keep a close watch on loaded coal
carts passing along the Streets especially
in the vicinity OF the railroad yards, as it
is suspected that many drivers purposely
drive over rough places In order to dislodge
small portions of their loads for the bene-
fit of the women. and boys who make a
practice of following the carts. In this
way many purchasers receive short weight,
but 1t is hoped that warning to the
drivers that the attention of the police has
been called to the matter may have the
effect of breaking up the practice.
The Donnelly Case.
The case of the Donnelly liquor license is
being fought in earnest. Donnelly is an
applicant for wholesale liquor license at
the corner of 18th and H streets northwest.
The neighoors, or at least number of
them, have Joined in a protest against the
place, and the excise board in Difference
thereto has held the license up pending an
inquiry into the rae Is. 1t Is claimed Dy the
opposition that Donnelly Is not entitled to
a license, being within 400 feet of a school,
namely, the Emerson Institute. On the
other hand, Mr.. Donnelly claims that he
was licensed prior to the passage of the
law prohibiting the licensing of saloons
within 400 feet of school. 1t Is here the
opposition bases it's case. The attorney,
in brief upon the case, states that while
1t is true that the applicant had a license at
the time of the passage of the law in ques-
tion the license was not properly issued.
The case is in the hands of. the attorney
for the District as to the legal questions
involved.
This morning Admiral Jcuett, who is i'll
terested in the case and believes that Don
nelly is being prosecuted, appeared Def Ore
the excise board and urged the granting of
the license.
To Regulate Medical Practice.
Chairman Babcock of the District COM
mittee called on the Commissioners this
morning and stated that the committee
would be ready to hear arguments on the
| bill to regulate the practice of medicine In
| the District OF Columbia next Wednesday
| at 10 o'clock. He said those Interested In
| the measure would also be, heard, and as
| he was leaving he requested The Star tt
issue an invitation to the public generally