The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-28
AFFAIRS CT THE DISTRICT
Efforts to Have Places of Amuse-
ment Closed Sunday Night.

! The Commissioners and Manager
| IucI<ctt Confer About the Matter
Authorities PowerIess to Use Com
pulsion-A Fire Engine Assigned.
The Commissioners after their consid-
Grafton of the question in board meeting
on Tuesday, invited several of the man
ayers OF the local theatres to come to
their office yesterday afternoon to discuss
the subject of keeping the play houses
closed next sunday night. p. &. Chase
wrote to the Commissioners that it would
be impossible for him to attend the meet
ing owing to a previous engagement.
Manager Luckett, of the Columbia Thea
tire, alone responded, and the matter was
gone over again with him.
The managers have expressed Il desire
upon their part to keep the houses closed
on Sunday night, provided all would
make n compact to do and keep it.
But those who have conferred with the
Commissioners have said that there was
one manager who did not intend to enter
into any such agreement. On the con-
trary, they have said that the manager in
question has gone oE with his prepara-
tlons. has sold out part of his house, and
expects to have the show as advertised.
ayers have told the Commissioners that
they could not be expected to keep their
houses closed when the privilege was ac-
corded to this manager
Yesterday it was decided between the
Commissioners and Manager Luckett to
make a final effort to induce the recall
citrant manager to keep his house closed
on Sunday night. If this can be accom-
plished it is said that the other managers
will fall in line and suspend their pro-
posed entertainments.
The Commissioners, from their stand
point, think they have done their duty
under the circumstances. In the first
place, they have called the attention OF
the public to the matter and have filed
the protest of the authorities of the Dis
trict against the Sunday stage. They are
without a law to compel the theatres to
close. yet they feel that the managers can
i'll afford to disregard their wishes in the
matter. They feel that they have con-
ditioned the character of the entertain
ments to be given even If the managers
persist in opening their houses on Sunday.
The Commissioners have received a let
ter from j. b. Larner, Chairman of the
Committee on Reviewing Stands, inform
ing the board that the committee will sell
seats in the Court OF Honor for the even
ings of March 4, 5, and for the nominal
sum of Is cents each. Mr.. Larner states
that the purpose of the committee is to
relieve the crowding upon the street and
to give people who desire to do so a
chance to sit down. He asks that de-
tail OF flremen be assigned to the court
for that time.
The matter having been referred to the
Chief Engineer of the Fire Department.
he has reported that he Will assign chem
zeal engine No i, to be stationed within
the Court of Honor on the ey enings men
toned from the time the illumination be-
gins to remain until it is over.
1t is understood that the Commissioners
viii approve the arrangements suggested
by the Chief Engineer of the Fire Depart
ment.
Halam & Hallam attorneys for Mrs
Harriet Wright, have written to the Com
miss;oners requesting the privilege of
paying a water rain tax on sub-lot IL.
square y71, without interest, penalties,
and costs.
The Assistant Assessor, in reporting
upon the case at the request of the Com
misSfoners, states that the tax in ques-
tion was for the main laid on South Car
DINA Avenue, between Tenth and Eiev-
enth Streets. dated March 2. 1881 He
the ruling Of the Burgdorf case. and in
view OF that fact he recommends that the
tax in the amount Of Sl0.44 be received
without penalties and interest.
The Commissioners yesterday forward
ed 10 the House Committee favorable
report upon House resolution 1886. relat-
ing to the Police Department of the Dis
trict of Columbia. They inform the COM
mittee that they would recommend that
the resolution be passed.
C. H Maisak, of III Thirteenth Street
northeast, has written TO the Commits
sioners requesting that sewer be placed
so as to drain the premises 1926 Bladens-
burg Road
Charles b. Ball, the Inspector of Plumb
ing, in reporting upon the application, IN
forms the Commission ers that the house
IN question is the only Improvement on "A
ten-acre lot, and that II cannot be conSid-
cred permanent improvement on ac-
count Of its location with reference to the
street system. But he says the case, not
wtthstanding its temporary nature, viii
justify exception to the regulations. and
MIR. Ball recommends that the use of one
house sewer for the entire Improvement
be approved.
Depue & Church. of $50 Four-and-a-
Half Street southwest, have written to
the Commissioners, requesting permission
to place set of wagon scales in alley of
square 81.
In forwarding the application to his col
leagues for consideration the Engineer
Commissioner recommends that the
writer's be Informed that IL is contrary to
law to permit the occupation of public
space for private purposes, and that the
Commissioners cannot permit them to
requests having been refused. This rec
concentration the Commissioners have APP
proved.
The Commissioners yesterday received
from Judges Scott and Kimbail of the
Police Court. reply to the complaint of
| Robert E Mattingly, recently forwarded
IN har, hair