The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-09-01

HOS DtssleA DS AAS-
Other Matters of Local Interest.
Clarence 4. Brsndenbufg, the Assistant
Attorney for the District, today submitted
to the Commissioners his opinion on the
communication of Mrs. Ella l. Dorsey rel
at.ve to The removal of weeds from lots
adjoining her premises
The question presented by this COM
munication," says the Attorney, is what
cons titutes weeds in the meaning of the
act Of Congress approved March /, 1899,
requiring the removal thereof from land
in the city OF Wellington That act pro-
vides that ii shall be the duty of the OWN
g, occupant. or agent in charge of any
land IN the city or the more densely popu-.
lated suburbs, TO remove from such land
any weeds thereon, of four or more inches
IN height, within seven days after notice
from the Health Officer.
There is a rank growth upon the lots
in question, more than four inches in
height The report of the inspector shows
that this growth consists OF grass and
hcneysuckIe The question is. Are tall grass
and honeysuckle weeds within the meaning
Of that word as used in the act OF Con
gress? Grass and honeysuckie do not come
within the ordinary ano commonly accept
eG meaning of the term weeds, though
when permitted to grow unrestrained they
may become as in this case, equally OBJ
noxious as any ordinary weed In my
opinion, which l regret to say ! am unable
TO fOrtify by authority, the word weeds, as
used in the act OF Congress in question,
does not embrace grass and hOneysuckle.
The purpose of Congress- however, was
cant lots of rank growth of whatever ma
ture which should not be permitted to
! grow SO high as 10 be offensive or obJec-
tionable to sight and injurious TO health,
/ though the language, as stated, is not
/ bz DAD enough to effect this purpose Ii
/ there are some weeds cGmnin6lsd with the
rass and honeysuckle, the owner OF the
| lot may be required 10 remove such weeds.
This may afford a solution of the dill
/ Guilty. as in the removal Thereof, which may
/ be enforced by the act, the owner may
conclude TO remove the tall grass, which
is the basis of the complaint. instead OF
separating the grass from the weeds
VI F. Thompson, NJ. D., of 4S4 Maryland
! Avenue southwest, recently headed pc
titfon to the Commissioners asking for the
removal Of the patrol box now occupying
The corner Of Four and a-half Street and
Maryland Avenue and suggesting that il
he EIGced at the corner of -Four and half
/ Street and Maine Avenue southwest.
The Superintendent of Police, in report
ing upon the petition to the Commission
ers. stated that while the change is not
desirable from a police standpoint, the
residents CT the locality seem to be anX-
iou- TO have the change made. The Super
intendent further stated that if the change
could be made he had no objection and
would be pleased TO conform TO the wishes
80 4
( 10 the petition
The matter having been referred 10 The
Electrical Engineer Tor an opinion whether
the proposed change is practicable, re
ported that after q careful Investigation
he could not recommend the removal OF
the patrol box from its present position
IN order 10 locate il al The point Of the
public reservation he saws it would be
necessary TO erect a pole at that point and
10 string additional wire, increasing tht
span between the poles from - feet tC
over go
The Commissioners have approved tht
report of the Electrical Engineer and have
ordered that the petitioners be informed il
accordance Herewith
Mathew H Hunter, of BenEing, recently
! sent d communication 10 the Commission
ers complaining of the reckless mannel
! in v lich cars are run on the line of tht
: Columbia RaiIssay and asking whethe
p there is a law 10 restrain the same. Mr.
5 Hunter referred in his letter 10 specific
2 instance in which the mot0Tman ran {
e crowded car at full speed and much o
J the time turned and faced the passenger
| in the car, some Of whom we're engaged
/ in noisy demonstrations.
The complaint having been referred L
l. the Police Department for investigation
| and report, the Superintendent jnstructe'
| Lieutenant Daley TO have his bicycle mel
, | give the electric ears such attention d
| should secure safety 10 life and limb il
i the thickly populated portions OF his pre-
. | cinct.
d Lieutenant Daley in reporting upon tn
: / matter states that since the receipt of tn
complaint the bicycle men have closel.
| observed the running OF the cars on tn
= Columbia Railway. within the city limit
! | of his precinct, and he says the men nav
, | informed him that the cars are MT rul
: | within the city limits above the Lawful
= | speed Outside of the city limits IRON
: Fifteenth Street 10 East Deanwood nea
- the District line, Lieutenant Daley state
l. that the Columbia Railroad is built o,
J private right Of way. except the Deanwoo
- and AnacCstia Road crossings. Every pre-
. caution IS afforded by the company for tn
= protection of their passengers, the !ieuten
% ant thinks, as they have a fence snclosin
their property from the public road at Ben
ming so that vehicles or pedestrians cannu
come IN COLtdcT with the cars. A DaTGo'
= passage way. says the lieutenant, is tn
= only access from the road TO the Colunl
r bia Railroad station at Benning, which
IF entirely on private property.
J. With reference to that portion Of Ia
/ complaint relating to the actions of tn
r motorman. Lieutenant Daley says: I de
5 sire to state that I have consulted Wit
IS the officials of the railroad company an
Il they state that the motormen are require
II | to give their attention to the running
/ the cars. and when they violate that rul
D; they are discharged or suspended witnor
pay for several days. The officials hav
promised me that they will call the atteH
ton of the motormen to this complaint.
ie In transmitting the report of Lieutenar
T Daley to the Commissioners the Superir
ic tendent said that the police are doing a
lg | in their power to secure the public agains
ar violations of the regulations on the part
he the railroad company, and he calls attentio
re to the fact that the railway officials az
d cooperating TO that end.
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