Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-19
DIS RIOT AFFAIRS
Investigating q Little Natter Of Street
Sweeping.
Some Conflict Between Two Well
known Omcials-- Prosecuting
Cases of Wasting Water.

Trouble is brewing between the assistant
to the Engineer Commissioner. Capt. Ed
ward Burr. and the prosecuting attorney
for the District Mr.. James L. Pugh. 1t
is all about an alleged dissemination on the
part Of the prosecuting officer to prosecute
cases taken into the Police Court for vio-
lation Of the law and regulations relating
to the water service.
As far back last April Capt. Burr
called attention to this matter, and since
then the correspondence on the subject has
been quite voluminous But the explana-
lions on the part of the prosecuting at
torney do not seem to have satisfied Capt.
Burr, and recently he wrote a letter to the
Engineer Commissioner which was brief,
but. it is understood. very expressive COM
menting upon the matter. and citing a case
In point. where violator of the law who
plead guilty was allowed to go simply upon
the arguments of his attorney, without
placing in evidence the facts in the case
The case after being referred to the at
torney for the District for report was sub
mitted to Judge Kimball, and the latter
wrote letter to the Commissioners on the
subject in which he took the ground that
ne did not recognize the right of Capt. Burr
to critfcise his action, but that he had no
obJec ton to stating that the cases were
all thoroughly prosecuted by Attorney
Pugh, and that convictions were had in q
large majority of the cases. 1t was true
that the personal bonds of offenders had
been taken in a number of instances for
wasting Potomac water. but 1t was shown
tnat the Offenders were not willful violators
OF the law. but had transg because
OF lack of knowledge Of the law.
prosecuting Attorney Pugh also wrote a
letter TO the Commissioners explaining his
action in the case He denied that he had
SHOWN any disinclination to prosecute the
cases that were presented to him, and
pointed out in substantiation thereof the
record OF cases upon which conviction had
Deen secured. He maintained, however
that he had nothing to do with the imposi-
tlon OF the sentence of the court and if the
Judge saw proper to accept the personal
in the matter.
1t appears. according to a statement of
oapt. Burr that the reason ne called this
matter to the attention of the Commission
ers was TO protect. if possible, the interests
OF the people. The inspectors of his de-
partment were continually on the loakou,
LOT people who wasted Potomac wafer and
Wheh II was possible to make out a case
II was done. and the offender taken into
the Police Court. 1t was necessary he
Thought, 10 impose substantial fine on
these violators of the law, i'll order to nut
an end to the enormous waste of water
ne ulu not care to discuss the alleged dis
Inclination on the part of the prosecutor +,
hrlns Offenders to justice, but said the mat
ter had been laid before the Commissioners
Just what action the Commissioners will
take is not known. 1t is understood thev
Will look into the matter further, and if
possible adjust whatever differences exist
An InvestiEnt ton.
1t cost the District s179.17 to remove
1orty-e1ght loads of street sweepings OF the
night of June . last. Usually something
over hundred loads Of sweepings are re-
moved. and the great disparity coupled
with the fact that on the night in question
there was a heavy fall of rain, brought
about an Investigation. Superintendent
mckenzie Of the street sweeping deoart-
ment brought the matter to the attention
OF the Commissioners, and urged that the
matter be inquired into because the night
was certainly not one suited for street
sweeping. ard his orders were to remain
in If rain was falling
The weather reports were first obtained
and they showed that on the night of June
y sixty-nine hundredths of an inch of rain
had fallen. This is considered a big rain
fall. There are four inspectors in charge
OF this branch of the service and they are
held responsible for the condition of the
streets IN their respective districts. Their
names are Quantrell. Beemer, Barnes and
Forester
After discussing the matter among them
selves the Commissioners ordered that the
Fay or these inspectors be withheld for the
day in question, ard that they appear be-
fore them to answer certain questions re-
gardinS the situation. These inspectors
accordingly appeared and their defense if
is understood for teh hearing was a pri-
vate one) was that when the sweepers were
ordered out it was not raining The great
falling off in the number of loads of sweep
lESs removed was due to the fact that dur
ing the showers. which fell internationally,
great quantity. of dirt was washed into
the sewers The hearing was a complete
one. but no action has as yet been taken
regarding the inspectors pay and unless
the Commissioners revoke their former or
der they will receive pay for the 9th in
slant.
Cannl Taxes.
According to the belief of the assessor,
the District has been losing for some years
the taxes some $125 900 worth of taxa
BILE property belonging to the Chesapeake
and Ohio Caral Company. 1t seems that
the law chartering the canal company
provided that the canal and appurtenances
thereto should be exempt from taxation
FOR all time. The assessor, however, thinks
that the other property owned by the COM
pany. that is, the real estate not directly
used by the canal company. is subject to
taxation The matter has been investi-
gated. and it is understood an effort will be
made to collect the taxes.
Mr.. Sites Fight.
The fight of Principal Sites and his friends
for reinstatement has been transferred
from the school board to the Commission
ers. and all day long a number of people
have visited the District building to say a
goou word for the principal of the Eastern
High School. Late this afternoon Mr. Sites
accompanied by ex-Mayor Matthew G. EN-
ory. called upon the Commissioners and had
a long talk with them over the merits of his
case. 1t is very likely that the Commission
ers will consider the matter somewhat al
Though it Is understood that they will not
interfere with the action of the board of
trustees.
A Circle Gone.
Hancock Circle, at the intersection of
18th, and New Hampshire avenue will
be thing of the past before the present
week rolls by. Workmen of the District are
now engaged projecting the streets through
the circle. and the remainder of the street
will be paved There is all available appro-
proatfon of $500 to do this work, ard the
authorities are doing every thing possible
to prevent delays.
They Protest.
Messrs. Carl Mueller and B. W. Guy. rep
resenting the largest dealers in fireworks
in the city. appeared before the Commits
sioners this morning to protest against the
enforcement of their recent order against
the discharge OF fireworks in the streets on
the Fourth of July.
WAR REPORTS DISCREDITED.