The evening times., 1896-01-17

The conference between the District
Commissioners and the subcommittee on
appropriations at the Capitol last night
lasted until IL O'Clock. There were pres
ent, besides the committee members and
the Commissioners, Auditor Petty, Maj.
Moore, Chief Paris, supt. Powell of the
public schools, and Supt. Miles OF the tele-
graph ard telephone service.
The several heads of departments were
examined, each as to his particular branch
OF the service, and the strongest possi-
bic argument was made for the appropria-
tions as asked for in the estimates.
In his plea for an increase of the police
force Supt. Moore showed conclusively
the utter inadequacy of the present service.
He cited that precincts already covering
too much territory were ut times left
TO the care of One-hnlf the number of men
they were entitled to.
TO DO DOUBLE DUTY.
He called to the attention of the committee
in detail, as has already been demonstrated
in The Times, the fact that where n man
is necessarily off duty the officer on the
beat next TO his is required to do double
duty by covering the territory of both,
and this. often happens. Major Moore said,
in cases where the circuits OF the nen are
already too long.
Similar appeals were made for the cX-
tension of the fire alarm service and the in
crease of the fire department force. and the
educational needs were also carefully gone
over.
There is 10 indication whatever from
the committee as to its probable action on
any of these or any other one of the several
District items, but the feeling prevails,
nevertheless, that the economical rule is
to he applied as to the greater number, and
that no one of the District interests will
get what has been asked for it.
COMPLETED THE PLANT.
The building for the d 'sinfecting plant
on reservation 113 has been completed,
with the exception of one partition that
cannot be put in until the machinery,
which is now being delivered, can be put
in place. -
The building inspector has pronounced
the building as being up to the specifica-
tions, and the contractor will be paid the
balance still due, with the exception of n
small balance to guarantee the iniroduc-
ton of the partition.
BE-. The plant will be ready for use within
the next few weeks.
% The Commissioners today notified Hon.
James Mcmillan. chairman of the Senate
District Committee, OF their adverse action
upon Senate bill 335, introduced for the
lief of Esther A. Keyser.
This is an old tax case, involving re-
fundment, that has been previously passed
upon, and the Commissioners transmit
with their letter report from the assessor.
The latter official adheres To a report made
by himself March 10, 1892, i'll which it was
shown that the taxes, levied upon lot 3,
square S73, were properly paid
Mrs. Kcyser, the assessor says. assumed
ali tie responsibility for the payments,
knowing that the property was acquired
by her father under a tax title. aud he also
says the benefits of the property were en-
joyed for nineteen years under that tax
title. An opinion of Attorney Thomas
is quoted, in which he takes the position
that a purchaser at Il tax sale is bound to
know the regularity of the proceedings
leading up to Lis deed, and cannot recover
in case his tax title fails.