Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-29
THE CITY SOLICITOR
CHANGE OF TITLE IF APPROPRIA-
TON BILL PASSES.
But He Will Receive More Money
Some Consolation in Increases
for Two Departments.

There are a number of interesting fea-
lures to the District appropriation bill as
reported in the House Of Representatives in
addition to the large general reductions
II ade in the Commissioners estimates and
the proposed horizontal cut of 10 per cent
which Is threatened In the event Of the
failure of Congress to pass a personal tax
law.
II the bill in its present shape becomes
law the city solicitor, as he is known at
present will again become the attorney for
the District. He was known by the latter
title up to the time the District code went
into effect. There has always been a sug-
gestiOn of complication arising from the
similarity of the title attorney for the
District" and the United States district
attorney" The former Is the law officer of
the District, while the latter is the prose
cutting attorney of the United States before
the Supreme Court OF the District of CO.
lumbia. The trainers of the code sought to
simplify matters by providing that the at
torney for the District should be known as
the city solicitor" The Commissioners
were not pleased with this title believing
that it did not express the true character
of the position. So an amendment to the
code was forwarded TO Congress providing
that the city solicitor, who was erstwhile
the attorney for the District. should be-
come Corporation counsel" The latter
proposed amendment has not been acted
upon.
In drawing up the District appropriation
bill the House District committee ignored
the provisions OF the code and the proposed
amendment as TO the title of the Districts
law officer, and provides for him under the
designation of attorney" AS the appro-
priation bill has a repeating clause con-
nected with it. II is held the code would be
modified In regard to title and Mr.. A. B.
Duvall. the City solicitor. will again be
known as attorney for the District. In ad
dition TO being restored to his former des-
fgnatiOn MIR. Duvall receives by the bill
increase of 500 year in his salary, his
annual income from the District being now
fixed at $500.
One Consolation.
While it is apparent there is but little In
the appropriation bill as reported to the
House in which the Commissioners can find
consolation, they are said to be gratified at
the provision made for increases in the Of
flee Of the inspector Of buildings This Is
especially true OF the Engineer Commits
sioner and his assistant In charge of the
building division. During the past few
years the work in the Office has been car
ried on under great strain to the officers.
The force has been insufficient, and in order
that public interests might not suffer it has
10 work long past the regular office hours.
The growth OF the capital city and the in
crease IN building operations during the
past five years have combined to fairly
swamp the building inspectors office
Under the terms OF the new appropriation
act as 1t stands at present the salary of the
inspector Of buildings. Mr.. Snowden Ash
s27JO
Laborers Pay Increased.
There Is another grain of consolation In
the bill as reported-this to the satisfaction
of Mr.. Warner Stutler. the superintendent
of street cleaning. Against a current ap-
preparation of 1885, 600 for sprinkling. sweep
ing and cleaning the streets the new bill
carries an appropriation Of $4,000. One
of the items of increase Is for $4,000, with
which 1t Is intended to increase the pay of
all laborers engaged In hand-cleaning from
s125 to $1-5O per day. This will be good
news to the men who handle brooms and
push the little sweeping machines along the
principal thoroughfares. The remainder Of
the increase, 10000, Is to provide against