The evening times., 1896-04-06
SPlRKSfR0MPEhlND INK
President Thomas Letter to the
District Commissioners.
OVER JEALOUS INSPECTORS
His Candid Admission Coated with
Irony-Their Profound Considern-
tion OF II Question Is Asked-The
Appeal Case.s to he Considered by
the AssessOrs.

| Capt. A. A. Thomas, president of the
| United States Electric Lighting Company.
! sent the following letter TO the Commission
ers this morning in response to the letter
| from them under date of April l. referring
10 the withholding of payment for lighting
| ione on the Georgetown circuit. until GER
| tain overhead connections had been re-
| moved The letter is as follows:
.Gentlemcn: l am in receipt of your let
| ter from W. Tindall, secretary of your
board, informing me that the Commissioners
| are Officially informed that your company
has strung additional wires and erected
| new poles for the purpose OF lighting the
| building at the southwest corner or Iwen-
| ty-second and z streets northwest. and 1
am directed to inform you that all amounts
due for maintaining lamps on this circuit
| which is partially maintained by over
| head wires, will be withheld. and no pay
| ment made for lamps on this circuit until
the law requiring all public lights to be
| maintained by underground wires be COM
Piled with.
THE REASON PERCEIVED.
| II am AT loss to account for the movinS
| cause OF this letter. except by glancing at
The date, which is. very appropriately.
| April l. The Commissioners were advised
| by me on March 5 that on February 16 all
| arc lamps on the Georgetown circuit had
| been changed, and no ioup was running
! from the heGcorgctowncircutt G
, While | have never believed myself
nor can IL be Successfully maintained. that
| the running of a loop from an underground
! cable is a maintenance of the lights there
| on by overhead wires. still rather than
| have any further trouble with the Com
| nlissioners on the subject. and entirely with
| a view to peace and harmony made the
| change as above stated and at the time
| stated.
| What possible connection there can be
! bet wcen our lighting the bicycle academy
! at the corner OF Twenty second AMI Pstreets
! and the maintaining of public lamps on the
/ Georgetown circuit, or what possible bust
| ness it could bc of the Commissioners
whether we are lighting the riding academy
| or are neglectins the Lighting or the riding
| academy. is a question which l have to
cave TO the profound consideration OF the
| Commissioners.
| Briefly, the riding academy al the corner
| of Twenty and i streets, is, and has
| been since the change above noted. lighted
| entirely by a private system. and If the So
| called inspectors had been half so eager to
| ascertain the truth as they are to mislnform
the Commissioners, it could have been read
| iiy ascertained at any time.
Il am, very respectfully,
tSigned.) "A. A. THOMAS"
The board OF assistant assessors. now
| sitting as Il board Of equalization and re-
| view. has had L so appeals on city property
| for consideration in the matter of assess
| ments. These come from no particular
| section of the city, I'll points of the compass
being represented.
The work of revision i.ill Continue until
| May 81. when the reasscSsments vii! be re-
Suned the county being still uncompleted.
Equalization and review of county as
sesSments will he taken up September and
| will close November / when the work OF
| the board win bc completed sothatthc books
may he turned over to the assessor on or be-
! fore the first Monday in January. 1887.
! The entire tax lcyiel under this assess
ment for that portion of the District out
| side the present limits of Washington is
| made pa ya bic on the first day of Ma y, s9T,
! instead Of onc-half on the first day of No
| vembcr. 500, ana half i'll May. This
| change in the rilc is made because the as
| sistant assessors were unable to complete
| the assessment in the time originally given.
| The excise board today ordered bar
| license to he issued TO Peter Clos, at No.
| 90 Pepns ylvania avenue northwest.
The report of the municipal lodging
| house for the week ending April 1 shows
| decrease in the number Of dodgers as
| compared with the previous week. Total
| meals furnished, 6S5: decrease. 81. Total
| Of persons cared for. 396; decrease. 9.
| Free meals furnished. .: free lodging. 3.
Capt. SymOns Promoted.