Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07

mitted and saved the stigma of incarcera-
ton in an insane asylum.
District Litigation.
The work of the Office of the corporation
counsel has greatly increased, due to the
development Of the District. This work
has been conscientiously and efficiently
performed.
There were Twenty-Five cases In the
! Court of Appeals OF the District of Co.
lumbia to which the District or the
| Commissioners were parties: twelve Of
these cases were decided in favor Of the
| District: six were decided against the
! District: one, involving an appeal from a
large sum in damages allowed against the
| District in the court below, was settled
at a great advantage to the District by
a material reduction of the damages
awarded; and at the close of the last
| fiscal year ten cases were pending In
that court awaiting the fall term OF the
court. The questions involved In these
various appeals covered wide range.
both in law and equity, and dealt with
tracts. constitutional law. and the power
of the Commissioners to pass various
police regulations.
! The most important legal work of the
growing out Of the application of the
Georgetown Gas Light Company and the
Washington Gas Light Company for valua-
ton. by the Supreme Court OF the DIS
trlct of Columbia, of their RESPECTIVE
| plants under section Of the act Of Con-
gress of June 6. 1896. in order to increase
| their capital stock. On proceedings in
stituted by the Commissioners OF the
District of Columbia In the Court OF
Appeals that court issued writ OF pro-
hibition to the Supreme Court Of the
District Of Columbia. which If sust aimed
| by the Supreme Court OF the United
States. will effectually prevent action oy
the gas companies under said law
| In addition to several suits at law
to collect taxes and proceedings in equity
there were twenty-four law suits as
posed of in the Supreme Court OF the
District of Columbia, where the amount
about 1856. 1928, which resulted in judg-
ments aggregating s9s59. 20 There are
now pending twenty-one suits at law IN
that court wherein the amount claimed
against the District aggregates $Zl9.oio -.
| The Commissioners will recommend TO
the Congress the enactment of legislation
rendering it unnecessary for the District
! to give bond in appeal cases; to ciarl1y
| the law on the subject OF sale and con-
veyance of property in cases where
assessments for benefits are not paid. and
also directing that suits for damages
against the District for injuries received
! shall be instituted within six months
| from the date of such alleged injury
During the year permits to operate
| motor vehicles were issued to 1.035 per-
sons. in addition to which fifteen apph-
cants were examined and rejected as not
competent Permits to operator motor
vehicles have been issued to 1896 per-
sons from the date of the first examina-
| ton, August IL, 1903 to the close OF the
| fiscal year.
Grade Crossings and Union Station.
The work OF eliminating grade crossings
in the District Of Columbia under the
| provisions of acts of Congress approved
| February 1o. 1901. and February q. 1903,
was completed during the year, with the
execution Of some minor detail work.
The Union station, the construction OF
which was also provided for under the
| act Of Congress approved Feoruary 20,
1893, has also been completed and was
occupied by the railroad companies on
November II. 1907.
The legislation providing for this work
directed the Commissioners OF the DIS
trict of Columbia to certify to its proper
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington
Railroad Company was to be paid the
| sum of $f.5OO,OOO from funds of the
| United States and the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company the sum OF
| 81, 800, 900. one-haM of which was to be
paid from funds of the United States. and
| the other half from revenues of the Dis
| trict of Columbia. The first application
Tor SOCn CSFlluCdle was TeCcINeA l4ou
the Philadelphia. Baltimore and Washing
ton Railroad Company. and there was
| some question In the minds OF the Com
missioners whether the work had been
| completed to such an extent as to fulfill
the requirements of the law. They there
fore withheld their certificate in this case
until the matter was judicialiy deter
mined. The railroad company applied for
a writ of mandamus compelling the issu-
ance of the certificate. and this writ was
issued by the Supreme Court Of the Dis
| trict of Columbia. whereupon the Com
missioners, as directed by an order Issued
by the court. made such certificate and
| filed II with the Secretary of the Treas
| ury, as required by the law.
| Subsequently an application was made
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company for certificate emitting them
to the payment OF 81, 800 600 which was
obtained upon the completion of the
work to be done by that company and the
delivery to the District of Columbia of a
deed Of the right Of way Of the old main
| line OF that company between I'd street
east and Ivy City. This deed was fur
nished and the work ordered by the legis-
lation was properly completed in the
opinion Of the Commissioners, with the
exception Of certain work Of lining the II
street subway under the railroad. The
| Commissioners thereupon issued certif1-
! cate to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company emitting it to the payment of
! the sum Of 81 500. 600 upon the condition
that the railroad company would deposit
with the District of Columbia the sum OF
| $40. 600 to guarantee the lining of this
subway If the Commissioners should sub
seuuently determine that such work was
necessary. This deposit was made by the
railroad company.
Fill to Form Plaza.
The location of the Union station re-
quired fill OF about forty feet at Massa-
| chusetts avenue to form plaza in front
| of the station. This fill was substantially
completed and a temporary surface OF
macadam was placed the plaza and
the streets leading to same. The District
appropriation act for the fiscal years
| 1908 and 1909 provided for the embellish-
ment OF this plaza by the construction of
fountains. lamppOstS and other structures
at a total cost to the United States and
| the District OF Columbia of 500. 600 pro-
vided that the Washington Terminal
| Company. which constructed the station
| for the Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington Railroad Company and the
| Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
would defray so much of the cost of sim
| liar work was called for by the plans
to be done within the limits of it's prop
| erty. Plans have been prepared for this
| work by D. Fl. Burnham & Co. archi-
| tects of Chicago, and contracts will be
| let for the work during the fiscal year
| 1909.
BY an act OF Congress approved May %.
| zoos. certain extensions We're authorized