The Washington times., 1901-08-10
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
The Health Officer Complains of
Actions of Police Department.
A Claim That the MIX Prosecutions
Are Not Properly Mnnaged-Len-
icncy for n Fireman Recommended
a Sewer Contractor Suspended.


"A Sewer Contractor Suspended.
a few days ago the Health Officer re-
ported to the Commissioners that one of
its employees had procured a sample or
cream from Mrs. Elizabeth Wagner and
sample of milk from Samuel Thornton.
The sample of cream was declared TO be
below the standard and ii was also stated
that it contained formaldehyde to keep 1t
from Souring 1t was also stated that the
sample of milk contained formaldehyde
The Health officer further reported that
warrants Were issued for the arrest or
the parties, and that they were permitted
to forfeit so collateral at the police sta
ton. The Health officer requested that
the Attorney for the District might be re-
quested to take whatever action might be
necessary to secure the proper punish
ment of these offenders against the law.
He also asked that the attention of the
Police Department be invited to the fact
that these people failed to appear for
trial and that 1t would be desirable in
such cases to demand larger collateral.
The matter was referred to the Police
Department, and Lieut.. John Daley, of
the Ninth precinct has reported to the
Superintendent that on the evening when
| the arrests were made, to which the
Health Officer refers. that he was temper
arily absent from the station and that
| Sergeant w. +. Falvey was in charge.
| The lieutenant stated that application
was made to deposit collateral for the APP
| pcarance of those arrested in Police Court
| the next morning. Sergeant Falvey ac-
cepted the amount of SO in each case
| Lieutenant Daley stated that when the
| parties failed to appear in court as they
| had promised to do bench warrant was
! obtained and both We're rearrested. He
| says that Mrs. Wagner satisfied the court
| that she was not guilty. and her case was
I nolle pressed. The lieutenant stated that
| in the case of Thornton, who pleaded
| guilty to the charge of violating the food
| laws, fine of so was imposed.
| Lieutenant Daley made the following
statement relative to the complaint OF
! the Health officer: Il have examined
/ found that, In all cases recently triec
| for the violation of the food law. none of
/ the fines imposed was more than $40
The sergeant thought that coiiat-
! eral of $40 was sufficient In future in
cases Of that kind at least 500 will be re-
| CURED for the appearance OF the person
/ in Police Court to answer the charge.
| The matter was then referred back to
| the Health Department, and yesterday
/ DIR. Woodward submitted the following
report: In view of the apparent effort
| of Lieutenant Daley to prove this de-
\ partment in error in rs statement rela-
! tive to the amount of the fine imposed
| by the Police Court in certain milk cases,
| i have the honor to invite your attention
| to the fact that the statement of this
| department was that the lowest fine that
/ has ever been imposed under the present
| law for the sale of milk or cream adul-
! terated with formaIdehyde was greater
! than $40. Lieutenant Daley has confined
! his attention to the Police Court docket
| of a subsequent date or to cases in which
| there was reference to the presence
! OF formaldehyde in the milk sold. 1t is
/ impossible to conceive, as alleged by the
| lieutenant, that one of the defendants
| mentioned could have satisfied the court
! that she was not guilty, in view of the
| fact that the case has never yet been
/ called In the Police Court. far the
prosecuting witnesses of this department
! are informed, and in view of the FUR
1 Their fact that the collateral as forfeited
/ is still in the hands of the proper officer
and no application has been made for its
| return. Proceedings under a bench war
rant were discontinued, but. 1t is believed,
| not on the ground that she was not
| guilty.
The Health Department tries to be ac-
curate in such matters. and must object
| to its efforts in that direction being dis
| counted by such reports asthat submitted
| by Lieutenant Daley in the present in
| stance"
R. W. Dutton, Chief Engineer of the
Fire Department. forwarded to the Com
missioners yesterday reports from the as
sistant foreman of Chemical Engine Com
pany No. 2 and from Private George H.
Laleger. relative to certain acts of the
fireman. Chief Dutton gives the follow
ing statement of the matter:
Private Laleger. on June S, 1901, on
the recommendation or the department
was ordered to be deprived OF his days
off for period OF six months for taking
advantage of Foreman c. T.. Schrom, of
Truck Company +. as to the extent of
his annual leave He now asks that the
unexpired term of the order be RENTED.
His present foreman and Assistant
I'm Is
iency, stating that the young mans con-
duct has been excellent since the occur
renee in question. In view of these re-
ports, and believing that this is case
where the leniency asked for and recon-
fnended, If granted, would not be detri-
mental to the best interests of the depart
ment, ! have the honor to recommend that
Private Laleger's days off be restored to
him at the expiration of three months
from June 8. 1901, provided that in the
meantime he shall not be found guilty
of violating any rule or order of the de-
partment
The above recommendation has been ap-
proved by Commissioner Ross and has
been forwarded TO his associates.
0. L. Ingalls, Assistant Engineer of the
Sewer Division. has called the attention
CT the Commissioners to the delay that
has arisen In the completion of the con-
tract for the construction of sewer by
Adam McCandlish along Sixteenth Street
northwest, between X and l. Streets, and
along X Street between Fifteenth and
Sixteenth Streets. 1t appears that ac-
cording to the contract the work should
have been completed on June % last Mr..
Ingalls, states that no application has
been made for an extension of time and
that the work has not progressed TO any
appreciable extent since that date. In
view of these facts Mr.. ingalls, recon-
mends that the contractor be suspended
from the work and that the District gov
ernment complete the same, charging the
cost to any amounts found due to the
contractor Mr.. ingalls, states that at
present the sewer trench is open in part
and is believed to be in dangerous con-
ditiOn.
The above recommendation meets with
the approval of the Engineer Department
and 1t is understood that it will be APP
proved.
Samuel C. Thompson and others re
Gently entered complaint with the Com
missioners relative TO the smoke arising
from the defective chimney on the kitch
en- of premises 6i3 ID Street northwest.
The matter was referred 70 the Building
Department. and the Inspector of Build
ings has reported that upon examination
il was found that the chimney was not of
the right height and that notice had been
ha nor al