The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-13

the easiest way ont of the difficulty.
The report of the committee was sub
mitted TO ]. W. Daniel. the Clerk OF the
Special Assessment Division, in answer Il
which he filed with the Commissioners {
protest against the proposed consolidation
OF the two offices. stating that in his opin-
ion the hes; interests OF the municipal gov
efnmeGt would be best subserved by leav-
ing the offices separate as they have been
since the creation CT the Special Assess
ment Division in 1878.
The Commissioners are convinced that
they have done a wise thing in consoli-
dating the two offices and il is expected b.
them that enc fruitful source of mistakes
in The tax department and Of just COM
plant on the part of citizens will be re-
moved.
Commissioner H. B. +. Mcfarland yes
terday received the report from the
special committee appointed to inspect
the the various companies of the Fire de-
partment. with a view TO deciding viii III
organization should receive the flag on
the OCCASION of the annual parade TIL
report is:
The undersigned at your requ s., have
made a personal inspection of all the
engine and truck houses in the District of
Columbia. giving special attention to ths
appearance of property. apparatus, har-
ness. etc. and witnessed eft each house
drill of the men. thereby gaining an
idea of the efficiency with which each
company is able to respond to an alarm
of fire.
We also examined the records for the
past year of the various companies as to
the matter of discipline, taking into con-
sideration men who have been dismissed
fined cni nf tho On:ninn that
in connection with these Investigations
the company having the best record for
appearance of quarters, efficiency, and
discipline is Company No. ..
I'VE take pleasure in saying in this con-
ncction that all the houses presented an
appearance highly creditable to the de-
rartment. with but slight exceptions.
Some of the houses are very old. and
could not possibly be made to compare
with the new houses. The degree Of cf-
ficiency evidenced in the drills and the
readiness 10 leave quarters, allowance be-
ing made for the natural embarrassment
of men working under the knowledge that
they are being watched and timed, was al
so generally crcditable.
Your committee beg also to say that
they could not avoid the thought that
among these men who were perhaps not
the most neat in appearance or the most
active in getting ready to leave quarters.
there were many brave fellows who in
time OF actual danger have already in the
past and are ready again to sacrifice even
their lives, If necessry. in the discharge
of their duties.
Although not strictly in the line Of your
request for the performance of a certain
duty, We should like to add that after max
ing the inspection of the various houses
we were impressed with the utter made
quacy of the building occupied by engine
company No. 4. Virginia Avenue. between
Four da-half and Sixth streets SOUTH
west. In our opinion, II is absolutely es-
sential for the best interests and protec-
ton OF South Washington. this being the
only engine company in that portion of the
city, that new building should be provid-
ed for them"
The presentation of the flag by Commits
sioner Mcfarland will take place at the
beginning OF the parade next Thursday.
The following are the names and posi-
tons of the members of No. engine COM
pany Of this department: Foreman c. A.
Kreamer, Assistant Foreman a. Buscher.
Engineer j. T. Reynolds. Fireman Mosby
Brown, Hostler J. H. Oliver J. II. Ward.
o. B. Reed, F. J. Lochboehler. J. J. Nc
Keever, John DAILY, and A. Elliott
". J. Frizzell. Secretary of the Ameri-
can Building and Loan Association, called
on the Commissioners yesterday to pro-
test against the further use of open cars
on the street railroads of the city, more
particularly on the Columbia line down
H Street. Mr.. FriZzell stated to the Com
missioners that the use of open carr on
II Street and New York Avenue Is gtii;
very common at least one-thirl OF the
cars being of that description. He
thought it was entirely out of place 20
expect passengers on the street railways
to ride in open cars with the wenther as
cold as it has been for the past wees. If
the company is cot ready TO gu. on he
requisite number of cars TO accommodate
the traffic. Mr.. Frizzell thought they
ought to be ready, for they have had al
summer to get ready in.
Mr.. Frizzell stated to the Commission
ers that his main purpose in coming had
been to complain of the open cars. but he
said that while he had come there were
other things relative to the operation of
the street cars that ought to be spoken
of One of these was the matter of fare
to the various parts of the city. Six
months ago he said . passenger on the
II Street line of cars could ride 20 the
District Building, 10 the Capitol or to
TIE aI.u OHlO lET OHt
fare, and now two are eXacted. Mr.. FriZ-
zell stated MS belief that the street rail
way companies ought certainly to carry
a passenger to any part of the city OF
Washington for one scent fare. if not 10
any part OF the District where their lines
run. He regarded it in the light OF an i'm
position and a.. outrage fer the company
operating the Columbia line not to take
its passengers to the Capitol, the Library,
the Baltimore and Ohio station, or the
Sixth Street station for one fare. and
that too. by the nearest and most direct
route. Mr.. FriZzell stated his belief that
this was the intention of the legislation
by Congress and that the railway com
pany is virtually violating he law.
Mr. Frizzell also complained to the Com
missioners of the lack OF courtesy on the
part of conductors in the matter of allow
ing time for people TO board and alight
from the cars. Very frequently the car
starts so as TO almost throw down the pas
senger getting on or TO imperil their lives
when alighting. He stated that this is a
serious matter to old people. those who
are stout or are in any enfeebled or Grip
pied condition. Mr.. Frizzell stated that
the conductors are under strict orders 10
make time. The time allowed on the CO.
lumbia. he said for making the round trip
was thirty four minutes. This time must
be made even il the cars are held up at
the railway crossings and Notwithstanding
the stops TO take on or TO let OIL passen-
gers. II the time is not made the motor
man or the conductor or both arc repri-
manded or fined. AS consequence said
MIR. Frizzell. the conductors are working
constantly for themselves. They do not
stop often to take on passengers. and al
ways give only the briefest time for them
to get off. Mr.. Frizzell intimated that
some one would be killed sometime and
then perhaps the company would come to
realize what ii owes to the community.
Andrew b. Duvall. the District Attor-
neN Yesterday Suhnnitiad IN tho Cnr,taic-