Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-07
Special Correspondence of The Star.


After fight extending over a period of
fifteen years Baltimoreans have decided to
Build modern city. During the next dec
ade SO. 100000 will be devoted to improve
ments In the municipality. OF this great
sum $10lO00.0c0 will be expended for the in
stailation of complete sewerage system.
Inc plans for this work are in an advanced
stage, having been prepared some years
ago, and will be revised and completed by
January next, when the appropriation will
become available and the actual work will
be begun. The commission which will be in
charge of the work will be named by Mayor
Timanus within month. AS soon as the
commission organizes the work of selecting
chief engineer will be taken up. This po-
stion will be the only high-salaried one at
the disposal Of the commission, the ap-
pointee to receive between $150OO and $780,
600 per year for his services.
While much qualification was expressed
over the success of the loans ordinances,
surprise has been manifested over the
sweeping victory of the democrats in the
councilmanic election. The first branch will
stand IL democrats and republicans and
the second branch democrats and repub-
licans.
Rasin in Control.
This result has caused much comment, in
asmuch as the democrats elected to the new
council are practically all Rasin men, at
least sufficient number to insure the
boss control Of both branches. This sit
uation has caused many prominent citizens
to advocate the appointment of the sewer
age commission at once. In discussing this
| matter a well-known reform league leader
said to The Star correspondent:
IF Mayor Timanus is wise he will name
the sewerage commission at once, for the
reason that he now has a second branch
council in sympathy with him. His APP
pointees would probably be met with moth
Ing ike the opposition which may develop
when the democrats have control of that
branch. OF course. this leaves the matter
open to severe and possibly serious criticism
on the part of democrats who prefer the
other proposition. But it is far better to
have criticism when the commission is
named than to have the men the mayor may
select objected to and turned down by an
unfriendly second branch. and thus remove
them from all chance of being on the COM
mission.
THE mayor can send names for the COM
mission for confirmation to the second
branch three times before naming the COM
mission regardless Of the wishes of the
council, but remember that under the terms
of the act he cannot send the same names
to the council twice"
Close friends of Mr. Rasin assert that the
''old man." he is known in the wards is
not at all interested in local politics and
that he will not interfere in the workings Of
the new council.
A Gas Fight.
Baltimore. In line with the other large
municipalities, is Just now interested In
gas fight proposition has been laid be-
fore the city council by Joseph Schrieber
to furnish gas at 50 cents per thousand
cubic feet to private consumers. Mr..
Schrieber has an ordinance in council COM
mittee granting him permission to lay
mains within the city and agrees that If
the ordinance shall pass he will furnish gas
for city illumination purposes free of all
cost to the municipality. Mr.. Schrieber,
who Is now supplying gas to Highlandtown
and Canton and who is an expert on the
production of gas, says that he can make
clear profit of 30 cents per LOCO cubic
feet If sold to consumers at so cents.
OF course the Consolidated Gas Company
is opposed to the passage Of the Schrieber
ordinance. The price of gas regulated
by a law passed by the legislature Of 1900
is S1.10 per 1000 cubic feet Prior to that
time the price was 81. % and the reduction
in the cost to consumers was only secured
after one of the most bitter fights ever
waged in the legislature, during the course
Of which charges of bribery and corruption
on the part Of the lobby were freely made.
Just what the fate Of the Schrieber ordi-
nance in the council will be Is doubtful.
Naturally the people are In favor of its pas
sage and as Mr.. Schrieber has offered to
sign an agreement with the city that his
company shall forfeit all privileges granted
by the ordinance in the event of failure to
remain an independent company. it is GER
tain that scandal will follow the failure of
the passage of the measure.
Zionists to Meet.
The second annual convention Of the
Southeastern Council of Zionists will begin
in this city on Saturday next. The con-
vention proper will open the day following,
when the election of officers will take place.
In the evening a mass meeting will he held
in the Holiday Street Theater, at which
prominent speakers from Washington New
York and Philadelphia will deliver ad-
dresses. The convention will close on Mon
day with reception. dance and presenta-
ton of flags and banners to the uniformed
rank of the Ezras Chovevi Zion, one of the
local orders.
The Southeastern Council is a branch of
the Federation of Zionists. There are six
teen orders in this council. located in Wash
ington, Baltimore and Virginia cities, and
from these points 1000 delegates are ex-
pected to attend. The orders that make up
the Southeastern Council are: Young Peo-
pies Union of Zion and Chevra B'nai Zion.
of Washington. d. c.; Chovevi Zion, Ezras
Chovevi Zion, Daughters of Zion knights
of Zion, Children of Zion. Nshei Zion, Zion
Brigade and Agudas Zion, of Baltimore;
Daughters of Zion and B mai Zion Alliance,
of Norfolk, Va: B'nai Zion, of Newport
News. Va: Sisters Of Zion and Ezras Zion,
of Portsmouth. Va; and Tekwath Zion. Of
Richmond, Va. DR.. Howard Friedanwald
of this city, president of the Federation.
will preside at the convention.
The War Game.
Preparations are well under way at Forts
Armfstead and Carroll for the war game be-
tween the army and navy next month. Dur
ing the week work was begun on laying the
dummy mines In the channel approaches to
the city. The mines, which will be a huge,
fan-shaped group will be operated from
Fort Howard. A single cable will lead
from this fort to an unknown point In the
channel. where the cables will branch off
into number of cables along which will
be the mines. so placed that no ship could
possibly come up the harbor without being |
destroyed Upon the navy will .devolve the |
work Of locating these mines and removing
them before the war vessels can come with |
in range of the forts.
All Of the coast artillery companies that !
will participate in the maneuvers have ar /
rived and are now stationed at Forts Car
roll and Armistead. The five companies will |
be under the command of Col Frank |
Thorpe, who will be the fire line COM |
mander during the attack on Baltimore.
Notes of the Week.
Mrs. Evelyn r. F. Mullan, widow of |
LN