The times., 1901-03-24

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The privilege to receive and land fish in
the District of Columbia was sold yester-
day to ". W. Riley. who for some time
has operated the fish wharf at the
foot OF Eleventh Street southwest. 1t IS
the custom to sell this privilege annually
by auction, and the law provides that
the sale shall take place at The Fish Mar
ket. between Seventh ana Ninth Streets
northwest.
Yesterday at p. m, pursuant To public
notice given by the District authorities
there appeared at the south entrance OF
Centre Market the persons interested.
Daniel Curry was there representing the
District: the auCtioneeT, Frank Downing
was on hand, as was Commodore John
r. Sutton. she genial commander of the
harbor boat
After waiting a few minutes W. W
Riley drove UP leisurely and the sale
was duly announced The aucuoneer
stated that he had received an ofieF OF
5000 for the privilege. Riley raised 1t $40
and received the plum. Contrary TO ms
usual custom, Mr.. Riley did not pay the
first installment by check, but handed TO
the auctioneer five crisp gold certificates
of the so denomination.
II had been rumored that there would
be a competitor to Nlr. Riley in bidding
for the privilege, but no such person APP
peared The sale was tame. as usual
and lasted exactly three minutes.
Charles A Corant, Washington cor
respondent of the New York Journal of
Commerce and Commercial Bulletin has
written Commissioner Macfarland with
reference to a reform in the summer
clothing worn by the members of the Fire
Department. Mr.. COnant says that at
present the freIen are required to wear
heavy WOODEN coats with Innings ana
pockets on the inside This. Mr.. Conant
thinks. is not only uncomfortable and IN
convenient, but it cOmpels the men to sit
much of the time in public view in shirt
sleeves. where the more fasudiOus NouIb
wear A proper summer coat, whlch "es
not unbearabiy hot. Nlr. S".'oLL i5 - ~, oi
the opinion that such a coat Woulu Ds
appreciated by most of the men, ana that
il would make them more pTesentaDle.
Mr Macfarland in speaking OF the mat
ter YESTERDAY said that the views OF MT
Conant met with a ready response IN ms
own mind, but he thought the pracucdl
difficulty in the way OF IT'S feallzaI39
would be the fact that the Eremen would
be compelled to provide themselves with
an extra or fatigue coat TO be worn
around quarters. Mir. MacfaranG thought
the firerneu, some of them, might think
rightly that their salaries would not per
nit OF having the regulation coat ana q
fatigue coat in addition. Mr.. Maciarland
stated that he was ready to DO anything
for the comfort or good appearance OF
The men but he thought the question
raised was one that should be settled by
The men without Official recommendation.
John r. Shields, Of $50 Fourth Street
northwest, has asked the Commissioners
that bills be rendered on lots 2il and 245,
square 675, in accordance with the new
assessment OF said lots, and requests
that interest be added from date Of said
new assessment.
+. W w Griffin, the Assistant Asses 4
sor, in reporting upon the application
advised the Commissioners as follows:
Mr.. Shields. under date of December
-, 1855, called for the bills on this prop
erty for the years 1856 10 1903, inclusive,
accompanying his request with the state
mont that good title had passed to him,
and alleged as this property had been
wrongly assessed the District 'had no
lien on the lots in question as 10 any ad-
ditIOnal interest. penalty, or costs.
a report was submitted from this Of
fee and referred by the Commissioners to
the Attorney for the District Of Colum-
bia, for his opinion, and under date Of
February y. 1871, he gave an adverse re- /
port. quoting an opinion Of the court dn
Burglorf VS.. District of Columbia, etc.1
that the penalties and costs are a part
OF the delinquent tax regardless Of the
form OF assessment
''On February 2s Mr. Shields furnished
this Office with a certificate OF title upon
these lots, and under an order OF the
Commissioners dated March i, 1891 (see
\. o, l4l5D the east sixteen feet Of lot
I4l and the west eight feet four inches Of
lot 232 is now assessed in the name of
George T. Appleby, trustee, and Benja-
min .. West, and the east nine feet eight
inches OF lot 2i2, all Of lots 243. pa, the
west FIVE feet eight inches of 245, in the
name Of George f. Appleby, trustee, and
Samuel Cross and others trustees for
the respective years.
Under the date Of March %. 1901 Mr.
Shields states that the property now hay
ing been placed on our records in the
name Of the rightful owners. requests
that the bills for the years 1880 to 1889.
inclusive. be rendered him with the in
tcrest added only from the date OF the
new assessment
In the correction Of our records the
"fiice assumes that THIS property was
wrongly assessed TO Alexander y. Shep-
herd during those years, and until said
property was placed in the proper names,
under the order OF March 10. 1901 il would
seem the District had no status as TO the
collection of interest. penalty, and costs,
but As this is a question involving the
real owners liability as 10 interest
charges on TINS prOpery, II is deemed
proper to submit the matter with the
suggestion that the opinion Of the At
1orney Tor the District of Columbia should
Proposals were received By the Com
missioners yesterday for the erection OF
au eight-room school building I'm Half
Street northwest The bidders We're: John
N. Dunn. $59.2oo with $500 deducted If
the plumbing be omitted D. J. Mocabee,
Sss.1s5. or if the plumbing be omitted S35.-
s93; GieesOu < Humphries, go 500 or
wnithoUt the plumbing $36.Se3. GIeeson &
IIumphries also submitted Il supplemental
bid on specified conditions for So $40, or
$S49oo without the plumbing. They also
submitted bid for the plumbing for
5000 The bid of George w. Corbet was
Sl33 or $9.27S without The plumbing:
supplemental bid so 100. or 81 100 without
the plumbing. The bid Of Payarlni &
Greer was $500 with $500 deducted for
the plumbing, supplemental bid, 81 800
with $3.50 deducted for the plumbing
Noble n. Thomas bid $iG3lG. with s.. .Dl0
deducted for the plumbing. W. r. Spiers
bid was $1,000 with S1&5J deducted for
the plumbing, supplemental bid So g9y.
and plumbing $50. Separate bids were
received for the plumbing as follows. NJ
r. Casey, S5,1s8. John Nolan * Son s3Z3l
aud I'D J. Harmon, s. $50
Proposals were also received for grad
lHG Connecticut Avenue west OF Rock
Creek @S follows. John JarOby. 80 cents a
cubic yard John q. Rcgau d Co ~ cents
cubic yard. J.. II. Hawkins, s. cents a
cubic yard. and Carmody & HOugh l3
cents cubic yard
> T. I.egge, terminal agent Of the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad, has request ed
permission Of the Commissioners TO run
siding To the platform proposed to be
erected on the ground Of the railroad
company on Delaware Avenue, between