The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-09

| Commissioner Macfarland. who has i'm
mediate charge of the Fire Department.
! spent long time yesterday considering
the question of granting pension to the
/ widow of the late Fireman c. 4, Keefe.
The latter was fatally injured Thursday
morning in the collision between Truck B
and car on the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way at Connecticut Avenue and NJ Street.
II appears that Keefe had not been in
the Fire Department quite one year, the
period prescribed by law for making a
private eligible to a pension. Finding that
the period of service had been little short
of the required twelve months, Commits
sioner Mcfarland instituted a search
among the records of the department to
learn what had been done in similar cases
in the past. The search and long con-
ference with Chief Paris failed to reveal
a case similar to the one under considera-
ton, and the Commissioner discovered
that it would be necessary to act with
special reference to the case of Keefe.
The section OF the law relating to fire.
mems pensions provides that certain sums
per month shall be paid to injured fire.
men, and in case of death to their widows
or children, in the discretion of the Com
missioners. 1t also stipulates that the
fireman must have served twelve months
in the department and that his injuries
must be such as to permanently inca
pacitate him for duty.
After tull Investigation of the matter
it was found that the present act will
not allow of granting pension to the
widow of the late fireman. But Mr.. Mac
farland decided to lay the matter before
the Board of Commissioners and will
recommend that the board ask Congress
to so amend the present act that in the
future, at the discretion of the Commits
sioners. pension may be granted to the
family of deceased fireman, though his
term OF service be less than twelve
months. Commissioner mcfarland will
also ask the board to recommend to Com
sress that it give the board discretion TO
act in the particular case of Fireman
Keefe.
1t is understood that Commissioner
mcfarland has instructed the Coroner to
make the investigation into the death OF
Fireman Keefe as searching as possible
with a view TO bringing out all the facts,
and fixing the blame for the collision. The
inquest will be held this morning at
II o'clock at No. station house.
In order to have the findings of the
Coroner's jury in the case before them,
the Commissioners have delayed action
with reference to the speed of the street
cars. The question will be taken up as
soon as the official report from the Coro-
ner reaches the board. particularly il it
is shown tnat the collision was due to the
high speed of the car.
Edward T. Semans yesterday addressed
has fCE innn ~ +s,.,,
relative to the collision between the truck
and the street car at NJ Street and Con-
necticut Avenue last Thursday morning
In his letter to the Commissioners Mr.
Semans says:
1T seems 10 me to be a practical plan
easy OF accomplishment to connect every
power house in the District which sup
plies current to the electric car lines with
the fire alarm system. It will be an easy
matter to attach such alarm signals with
an automatic shut-of of the current and
in this manner stop every car in the whole
District. The power stations could be
readily communicated with as soon as the
location of the fire was made known and
such lines as were too remote to be in
danger of collision with engines or other
apparatus en- route to fire could be al
lowed TO proceed. Others within the zone
of danger could be held until all danger
from passing engines was past.
This plan may need some modification
or change to suit all the conditions. but
in the broad sense believe 1t is the only
safe system with our present means of
propulsion for street cars"
IL J. Tippett and others residing In the
vicinity OF Thirteen-and- a-half and d
Streets northwest recently sent petition
10 the Commissioners, asking that the pa
troll box at the corner mentioned be re-
that II was a hindrance to the free en-
trance OF customers to Mr.. Tippett's
place of business.
The application was first referred to
the Electrical Engineef, who reported that
the location for this box was chosen after
due consideration Of all the circuIn
stances. and, in his opinion, it was the
most feasible place.
Then the matter was referred to The
Police Department for an investigation
there. Lieutenant Amiss of the First
precinct has informed his superior officers
that after examining the premises and the
location of the patrol box IL was found to
be directly in front of the only entrance
to Mr.. Tippetts place of business. and
that 1t was a detriment to him. The lieu
tenant recommended that the box be re-
moved to the opposite corner of the street,
where It would cease to be a nuisance as
complained Of.
The Superintendent has recommended
and the Commissioners have voted that
this be done.
The Commissioners have ordered that
James p Barrett and David Lynn. tr.. be
appointed additional privates for duty with
the Philadelphia. Wilmington and Baiti-
more Railway.
Mrs. Margaret BUTLER, OF s27 f Street
northeast, recently wrote to the Commits
sioners complaining of the hardship OF a
notice served upon her to remove dirt
from the sidewalk In front of lots 22 and
%, block 6, Ivy City. She informed the
Commissioners that the presence of the
dirt upon the sidewalk was due to pedes-
TRANS using the hydrant in its present in
convenient location In front of the prem
ises. She asked that it might be changed
to q better location.
In reporting upon the matter W. A Nc
Farland the Superintendent of the Water
Department, has informed the Commits
sioners that an inspection of the premises
shows that the hydrant is in excellent
condition. Ths pavement, he says, about
the hydrant is OF brick. He also states |