The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-25

one OF inG uISJ SUBJECTS NpESiuSiSi ny
the Commissioners this morning was the
case of Private Claude d. Clements, of the
Metropolitan Police Force, who was found
guilty before the Trial Officer on the
charge of neglect of duty and of conduct
unbeeoming policeman.
The papers in the case forwerdet, to the
Commissioners include the report of the
trial, showing that Clements entered the
pemises 2023 L Street northwest, while on
duty, and that while there did aecest
woman with whom he was not acquainted,
and attempted to put live crab upon her
back.
In forwarding the papers, Richard Syl-
vester. Major and Superintendent of Po-
lice, informed the Commissioners as fol-
lows: 1T is clearly proven that this Off
Ger made effort TO place a live crab
on the be tx OF a person who had neither
spoken to him nor accosted him in any
WISE in defiance of the rules and regula-
lions requiring that an officer shall be
respectful and orderly in his words and ac-
tions. Such uncalied for conduct on the
part OF officer, without the slightest ex-
cuse calls for the severest penalty that
can be imposed by the Superintendent.
1T is fortunate fer the officer, perhaps.
that this woman did not assault him, for
tion might have resulted in serious con-
sequences to a mother or child, and 1t Is
clearly case of violation of the police or
ders and several rules of manual as well
as of decency. and recommend that Pri-
vate Clements be removed from the force.
He has been called TO account several
times by his lieutenant But a week or SO
ago the Superintendent had occasion TO
reprimand him for loafng, and. further,
his lieutenant reports to me that he is
very ordinary member of the force.
Major Sylvester also called the attention
of the Commissioners to the case OF Phi
yate G. W. Morgan. who was removed
from the force in 1894 for similar Of
Tense.
The recommendation of the superin-
tendent was this morning approved by the
Commissioners.
Ella Lorraine Dorsey. residing at zig
California Avenue northwest, recently
wrote TO the Commissioners requesting
| that the grass a vacant lot near her
home be cut and removed for sanitary
| reasons.
| To this request Dr. William C. Wood
ward, the District Health officer. replied,
stating that the act governing the cutting
/ OF weeds and grass on vacant lots was
| passed March l. 1899 For that reason
| he states the complaints for seyeral years
/ prior to the passage OF the law were nee
!
| the act refers only to weeds, while the
j growth complained of consists of grass
| and honeysuckle. Under the circums tances
| the Health Officer was OF the opinion that
| the law did not apply 10 the case OF Miss
! Dorsey.
! Miss Dorsey replied to the letter OF the
! Health officer, thanking him for his oour-
| tesy and calling on the Commissioners to
| give attention to her complaint on the
| ground that she could not comprehend the
distinction drawn by Dr.. Woodward.
] The grass being knee high" she says.
| ''iutsrspersed with bushes. holds the damp
| ness even more closely than weeds would
| do, and from a sanitary standpoint must
be unwhoIesome under such heat as We
| have had AS the Commissioners have had
| TIE law passed for the relief of the citi-
| zens may l beg them for their interpre-
| ,ation of it? 1t will surely be almost i'm
| possible to separate the weeds from the
| grass in over-run lots. and if only weeds
| are to be cut the wise ordinance is paral-
! yzed by the Interpretation and the NUS
! ance is left undated,
At the request of the Commissioners,
| Dr. Woodward has forwarded a statement
to them with reference to the second let
ter of Miss Dorsey
The authority of the Health Depart
| ment to cause the removal of weeds. ne
| says. lis derived from act passed for
| that purpose March / 1899. The presence
| of supposed unsanitary condition result
! ing from growing vegetation does not per
| Sc give th5 Health Department the right
| to order the removal of such vegetation
The fact that weeds may be interspeTsed
| among grass does not limit the authority
| to cause the removal of such weeds, and
| does not extend the authority so as TO re-
| quire the removal of grass.
| The statute is silent as to what con-
stitutes weed. That grass is not oIdi
nariIy recognized as such is shown by
| Miss Dorsey's communications, in the
| former of which reference is made to
| weeds and grass, and in the latter to
| separation of the weeds and the grass.
| In my judgment, the Health Depart
| ment is without authority TO order the re
novel Of grass. The question is, however.
| essentially one of law, and l would sug
| gest that the matter be referred to the
| Attorney for consideration and report"
! The last suggestion of the Health Off
| Ger was approved by the Commissioners.
| II. :. Howes, custodian of the Volta Blu
| reau, wrote to the Commissioners recently
| renewing his request for a fre-alarm box
| TO be erected in front of The above prem
| Uses, corner of Thirty-fifth and Q Streets
| In a communication, he writes, ito
| you on the ed OF last March, requesting
! that fire-aIarm box be placed on the
pole in front OF the Volta Bureau, woule
| respectfully ask that the matter be given
your favorable consideration. as you stat
/ ed in your answer, dated April 3 of the
present year, if the appropriation for the
| next fiscal year is sufficient the Commits
| sioners will be glad to take favorable ae-
| ton upon your application
| Z sincerely hope that favorable action
may be taken in this matter as only two
weeks ago l was requested to use my tele-
| phone for the second time for a fire in the
| frame building next door, which promised
| to assume very destructive proportions
| but for the prompt action of the fire de-
partmept, which was on the ground in less
| than five minutes after being notified, first
i through headquarters, and through them
| to the engine house.
| Walter C. Allen, the Electrical Engineer.
| in reporting upon the application states to
| the Commiss Iners that no appropriation
was made by Congress for the purchase of
| additional alarm boxes. and that there can
| be no extension of the service until such
| appropriation is made.
| 1t is understood that the applicant will
| be informed in accordance with the re
! port of the Electrical Engineer.
Another Street Car Fire
| a local alarm called cut No. u Engine
| Company last night for a blaze in car