The morning times., 1896-09-23
POTATO nNs CONFLICT
Question Referred to Attorney
Thomas for Interpretation.
BY WEIGHT OR MEAsUREs
Uncertain What to Do.
Waste Paper Boxes to BE Placed.
on Electric Light Poles Providing
Permission Can BE Obtained-The
Flagler Place Sewer.

peculiar conflict in the laws pertain-
ing To sales of potatoes in the District has
caused a muddle in regulations whereby,
under one construction, man may be
arrested for selling by measure and upon
another phase OF law lie can secure Lis
release. In oruer to secure an interpreta-
tion Of the statutes the matter has been
referred To Attorney Thomas.
IN communication addressed to him
yesterday Mr. Thomas was asked to give
an opinion as TO whether or not dealers
III potatoes. white OF sweet, are bound to
dispose Of them by either OF two methode-
1t is explained that che act CT inccrpOra-
ti0n of the city of W WashingtOn, dated IAN
uar! II, 1857, prescribes that any per
son offering wheat. rye, sheiled corn, oats
or potatoes for sale within the city Shall
sell them by weight
| Congress, however, enacted another law.
unuer date Of May oU, 1855, which im-
plicdly permits sales Cf potatoes by meas
ure. The act says that when potatoes are
sold by weight 1.-The lawful weight OF
bushel shall be sixty pounds"
The WORD when" in Inc last sentence is
what has causeu all the trouble. IL gives
the oeaier the night 70 infer that Congress
acted upon the presumption that 1t was
optional whether sales Should be by weight
or meGsure,' ana Mr.. iiomas is expected
tu 1irst determine Just W hat Congress did
mean, ana then 10 decide which is the
more biuuing upon the people, the expliciC
original law or the statute which confers
privilege by inference only.
PLACING OF WASTE PAPER BOXES.
An examination of the gas lamp posts on
Penns ylvania avenue anu other thorough
fares, upon which IL was expected to
place the waste PAPER boxes, of which
mention has been made in The Times. has
convinced Mai. Mckensie, superintendent
Of street and alley cleaning, that tue num-
ber now available at the desirable points
Is too limited, and 1t is determined, If
possible, TO utilize the electric light poles
instead.
1t is the desire Of the superintendent to
locate one OF The boxes near each Of the
newspaper offices, each OF tile branch post
offices located within the territory, and
at such other points where IT may be ex-
pected that paper and other like material
will accumulate. Mai. McKensie finds that
the posts most adapted to his purpose are
already occupied by United States letter
boxes
\ communication was addressed yester-
day to President A; A. Thomas. Of the
United States Electric Lighting Company,
asking In behalf OF the District Commission
ers the privilege Of using the electric light
poles.
OF wnicu are alreaIy manufactured, Will
be at once placed in POSITION
The District government has received per-
mission from Col. John n. Wilson, sUperin-
tendent OF public buildings and grounds, to
MAKE connection with the pipe line which
supplies the Capitol with water.
The connection Is desired in order to
facilitate the construction Of a sewer in
Fla .ler place, and will be made north OF
tue proposed sewer. new line OF pres
sure pIpe will be laid. through Albany
street and down Flagler place, connecting
with the pipe line below w street, which
changes its location.
There Is Urgent need, the Commissioners
say, for the completion OF the Sc wer, and
changes were planned IN its con-
In an effort to obviate the trouble
OF diverting the pipe line, they were found |
TO be impracticable Tor that purpose. Col. |
Wilson is asked to have the work done, at |
The expense OF the District
LIQUOR LICENSES ACTED ON.
A transfer of retail liquor license was |
approved yesterday from R. L. Russell to /
WI!liam E. Cabell, No. 1888 E street north
west The proposed transfer of wholesale |
license from +. j. Murphy to G. NJ. Day, No.
433 Eleventh street northwest, was re-
ected.
building permits Issued yesterday as fol-
ows: j. ]. Quinn, for construction OF a
,rick dwelling, No. sos street southwest,
-. 900; c. F. Cost, private stable, rear OF
70. 222S Eleventh street north west, $500;
!. II. HUNT, for n addition to church build
ng, northwest corner OF Twelfth and
treets southeast, $500; Mrs. Dr. Baker,
to dwelling, No. 1904 Co.
umbia road $500.