The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-02


The Commissioners today granted
hearing to Thomas ". Gilrner of 5e5 Flor
lda Avenue northwest, relative to his
rlaim against the District for the payment
Tor sidewalk laid in front of his premises
g43 ana 545 Florida Avenue
Nr. Gilmer called attention to the orig
inal petition for the laying Of the side
walk. which asked that the entire space
between the houses and the curb be Gov
cred with cement. Mr.. GiImer then made
q statement to the Commissioners TO the
effect that during his absence in Europe
last summer the sidewalk was IaiG. The
cement, he said. was laid ten feet wide,
leaving some three feet and a half bare.
He stated that the grade OF this walk was
changed, and that many bricks were left
about, making the whole place unsightly.
He said he could not and would not leave
the front in such condition. He accord
IngIy sent for the Crawford Paving Com
pany to come and lay rev cement upon
the bare part or parking MT- Giimer
claimed that the District should pay for
this extra paving and assess one-half OF
| the cost against the property in the usual
way.
Commissioner Macfarland, in asking fer
| specific information upon the matter,
/ used the word parking, which led TO a
| long discussion between him and MI Ill
mer, the latter not wishing TO admit that
| the three feet of space referred tc should
/ be dignified with the term parking Fin
/ ally it was agreed that the order OF the
I Commissioners directing the laying Of he
| sidewalk had been in accordance with the
/ regulations, ana that the remaining space,
/ be ii much or little, was parking within
| the meaning Of the regulations
This point settled, Mr. Macfariand ask
! ed Mr.. Gilmer if it was true that he wish
| ed the District TO pay for the paving
| Of the parking IN front Of private prop
! erty On private contract Mr. GilmeT
| did not wish 10 admit the implication put
/ IN that form. He turned TO the discus
sion OF the question of the Commissioners
/ assuming the cost of the paving by
amendment Of the original order.
At this point Commissioner Ross asked
| Mr.. CiImer whether he did not think that
| the Commissioners in assuming the cost
in this case would lay themselves liable
TO pay for the paving or laying OF SIDE
| walk OF parking in all parts OF the city
where the owners becoming dissatisfied
with present conditions might order the
space paved Mr. GiImer admitted IN the
discussion of this proposition that the
District was not legally liable for the
cost OF pavement on parking
Commissioner Beach asked Mr. GlUer
If he was rot acquainted with the law
which said that the whole cost Of the
laying of sidewalks under tie assessmenr
system is charged against and proper
toned PRO rata among the lots Mr. Gil
ner said he believed there was such a
| Law. though he vas not very familiar
with IT at the present time
| Mr. GiImer. seeing the objections Of
| the Commissioners TO his proposition
withdrew II. re asked that the Comrnis-
sfouers should draft an amendment 10
the regulations which wOald enable
! property holders in the future by their
| expressed wish 10 have the entire space
in front Of their premises paved
/ The Commissioners have communicated
with Anson s. Taylor, President of the
| Security and Marine Assurance Com
pany, relative 20 his application for a
/ license. The Commissioners say that in
| an opinion upon the subject rendered By
Clareace a Brandenburg. Assistant At
| torney Of the District. there is contained
! the following
This company, therefore. seems to be
entitled 10 a permit 10 do business in The
District Of Columbia provided, as re-
! Quired by sections and Of the act Of
/ January 26 1887. before issuing any writ
! ten authority TO transact business in ihe
District. the Commissioners or a ma
jority OF them. shall satisfy themselves
/ that such company has complied with he
| law. which among other things. requires
that the company, in order 10 do an in
/ land business shall have assets equal to
its liabilities, including q reinsurance
! reserve liability equal to 90 per cent
Of the premiums on one year risks. and
/ an amount pTOpOrtiOned 10 the uneXpired
term Of all other fire risks. and to do a
marine business, that its assets are equal
to its liabilities, including a reinsurance
j reserve liability equal to the total pre-
! niums charged upon all uneXpired inland
marine risks.
The only liabilities shown by the
| statement transmitted amount 20 $780,
! 0GO. represented by the outstanding stock
The papers are silent as to reinsurance
| reserve liabilities. and Il is. therefore.
| impossible to say whether the schedule
| assets are in fact equal 10 its liabilities
| including such reinsurance reserve uabIIi-
| ties
The Commissioners assuming that this
opinion properly represents the require
| ments of the law ,othev inform Mr. Taylor
that they have not yet been satisfied that
| compliance has been made with these re-
quirementS-
The Office Of the Attorney for the Com
| missioners Of the District has been re-
! moved from the Gunton Building 10 the
| Columbia Building. 41G-4l8 Fifth Street.
| Attorney Andrew B. Duvall. and one of
I his assistants A LefUWiCh Sinclair moved
| 10 their new quarters today, and viii oc-
! cuDy rooms 313. 3I5. and 316
| Assistant Attorney for the Commits
! siOners Clarence A BraHdenb burg. viii
continue TO occupy his Office in the Fen
| dali PufTFfug AT tho cCrner of EN0rr-f h
| Street and Louisiana Avenue
LOCAL VITAL STATISTICS.