Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-21
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
New School House.

The Commissioners have about decided to
locate the new eight-room school house at
the corner of 9Th and X street northeast.
There is an appropriation of $4,000 for the
purchase Of a site and the erection Of q
school building In the northeast. The site
above mentioned was offered by ex-Gov.
VIM Pitt Kellogg at 50 cents per square
foot. There is slight hitch in the con-
summation of the deal. and release of
Cardinal Gibbons will have 10 be obtained
for narrow strip of land before the title
passes.
Delinquent Taxes.
The Commissioners are very much in
earnest over their endeavor to collect from
the street railway companies the des:i-
quent taxes due on their cars when horses
were used as motive power
AS stated several days ago in The Star
ne matter was called to the attention of
tilc commissioners by Major Powell, who
approved the recommendation of the as
SCISSOR that these taxes be collected The
commissioners, after some discussion of
the subject. decided to submit the matter
TO their attorney for his opinion as to the
proper course to pursue. 1t is understood
attorney Thomas has notified the Commis-
slone.s that the tax cannot he coilecte,
without special act of Congress against
some OF the roads, while those now using
horses as motive powcp ~S be made TO
p"S up. Inc matter will be pushed.
convention Hall.
Inc prospects are that before long tho
Dlstrict VIII cancel its lease for the use
oi convention Hall as drill room There
mas peeh great deal OF contention over
me use Of the hall ever since it was trans
formed into skating rink The Ma
uonal Guard claimed that 1t had heon de-
pflVed OF the use of the hal. for the mr.
poses specified in the lease and thai /,
, idu been put to the Inconvenience of drill
ing uii d temporary floor over the ice inn
Perihns their health. The auditor for The
District when the time came for nayino
Tor the use Of the hall withheld the amount
uue' ana since then the matter has been
peiore the Commissioners
Lighting the Bridge,
ihe Commissioners have decided to light
the AQueduct bridge by incandescen1 cleo
'ric hShts, provided they have authority
10 20 so. The only question involved is
"hether they have the right to give the
fotomac Light and Power Comnanv a
contract to do the work If it is found
that there is no obstacle in ,ba ~, -
contract Will be let 'e
For Heating.
The Commissioners gave a hearing ,bis
morning to F. H. Smith, chairman of tho
committee of Howard University. and pr
H. v" Williams, the surgeon in chare.
concerning the ACCESSIBILITY of inserting in
the lease OF the hospital a requirement thai
the hospital shall pay the expense of light
ara heat for the building occupied Jointly
10y ,ne hospital and by the medical colleg,.
OF Howard University Or Williams "a
ASSISTANT Attorney General Ross OF the In
terror department argued that there. was
no authority Of law to divert an appropria-
t .Ioh Tor the hospital TO the purpose Of heat
ing the college. Mr.. Smith contendAed M,
ttat mad always been the actual practic.
ana The lease under consideration only pro-
posed to embody it in writing.
The Commissioners directed the auditor
to make statement of the case in writing
and submit 1t &c the auditor for the State
ana other departments, together with a
Ike statement Of the inquiry presented by
MIR. Smith, whether the directors of Co
lumbia Hospital for Women could have re-
pairs TO that institution done by persons
or their own selection, or whether they
should be made under the supervision of
the current appI opriatiou bill.