Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-26
CAPT. KEMPER DEAD.
Attorney Well Known in Alex
andria for Years.
CITY COUNCILS SESSION
Upholds Action of Board of Alder
men Regarding Sewers.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

men Regardlng Sewers.
Special Correspondence of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. January &c, 1910.
Capt. kosciusko Kemper, one of the
best known and most prominent attorneys
in the city and past grand master of
Masons in Virginia, died shortly after /
O'Clock this morning at his home at the
Binney apartments. 15OS Girard street
northwest, Washington, after a lingering
illness. The body was brought here this
afternoon and taken to the home of his
son, Edward ii. Kemper, auditor of the
Southern Railway Company, at Rose
mont. His funeral will take place from
his sons home at $50 o'clock Friday aft
ernoon. The services will be conducted
by Rev. ]. r. SEWER pastor of the Sec
ond Presbyterian Church. and the inter-
ment will be with full Masonic honors.
Capt. Kemper was a native of Warren
ton. Va, and was seventy-four years old.
The following children survive him: Ed
ward III. Kemper, Kosciusko kemper. jr.;
Mrs. William M. Uhler and Miss Sailie
kemper.
Mr.. Kemper was son of the late Will
liam kemper, who was proctor of the
University of Virginia He came to Alex
andria in early youth with his father ana
taught private school on North Washing
ton street adjoining the Potomac Acad-
envy AT the outbreak Of the civil war
he went to South Carolina and joined the
Confederate forces, and during the con-
fict was located at Fort Sumter, 5. Gu
being promoted to captain. !
Entered Law Practice.
Following the close of the war he re-
turned to Alexandria, and for a while
taught school, He was afterward en-
gagged In insurance business. He subse-
quently began the practice of law, In
which he was engaged for a period OF
thirty-two years.
Mr.. kemper served as mayor of the city
in 1874, and in 1876 was defeated by the
late DR. Johnson. He was again elected
year term. In 1879 he was defeated for
that office by the late CORTLAND Smith.
During the same year. however, he was
elected corporation attorney. In which
position he served for four years.
In 1885 Mr.. kemper was appointed
superintendent of the public schoC.s of
this city, which position he filled up TO
about a year ago. when he was succeeded
by Capt. William III. Sweeney. He was
perhaps one of the best known educators
in the state having in recent years de-
voted most of his time to that work. As
superintendent of the public schools he
succeeded Rev. Father Richard l.. Carne,
who resigned.
Dir. Kemper was one of the most prom
inent MaSonS in the state being identified
with that fraternity most of his life, and
was one of the oldest worshipful masters
in the state. He reached the position of
grand master, being past grand master
of the state He was a member of Alex
andria Washington Lodge of Masons. No.
2, and past master of the lodge. He was
also past commander of Old Dominion
Commandery. No. II. knights Templar,
and secretary OF Mount Vernon Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons.
Prominent Among Veterans.
Mr. Kemper was also prominently iden-
tilted with r. E. Lee Camp, Confederate
Veterans. He was past commander of
the local camp. Members of this organ
ization will attend the funeral in body.
He was also a prominent member of the
Second Presbyterian Church and on nu-
merous occasions held various offices in
that church. Several months ago Mr.
kemper moved to washington, where ne
had since resided.
An animated discussion took place
among the members of the city council at
a meeting last night on the question of
the construction of sewers and the laws
governing the tapping of them, together
with the enforcement of the sewer laws,
when an ordinance came in from the
board of aldermen. passed by that body,
carrying with it an appropriation of $3.50
for the construction of a sewer in the
court bounded by Prince, Duke, Alfred
and Patrick streets.
1t was originally stipulated in the ordi-
nance that the money was to be available
when the six signers for the sewer had
deposited into the city treasury the sum
of $50. This time 1t was passed when
five property owners had signed and had
deposited only $125. Notwithstanding this
committee recommended
the measure be passed.
Mr.. Uhler moved that the matter be
laid upon the table. Councilman Lead
beater explained that the law for tap
ping sewers is not enforced. According
to statement made by Councilman Blr-
rell the corporation attorney some time
ago informed him that there is no law
whereby fine can be imposed on prop
erty owners who fail to tap sewers that
pass houses owned by them where other
than rain water runs on the streets.
Aldermen Sustained.
In the opinion of Councilman Snowden
many people regarded council as vacil-
iating body. He hoped council would not
pass the measure before them. A vote
to lay the matter on the table was lost.
and the action of the board Of aldermen
in passing the matter was concurred in.
A communication was received from
Corporation Attorney S. z. Fisher,
through Mayor Paff. on alleys. Mr.. Fisher
stated in his communication that since
occupying the Office of city attorney his
attention has been called to alleys OF
the city, and he stated that there are
only two public alleys in the city. one of
which is Market alley, running from
Royal to Fairfax street between King
and Cameron streets, and the other
known as Fayette alley. running from
Fairfax street to the river between King
and Cameron streets.
All of the other alleys, he said, are pri-
yate, and council only has such au-
thority over them as it has over other
private property. The limited authority
Is unsatisfactory and at times embarrass-
ing. He also added that whenever coun-
ell desires to construct public sewer in
any of the said alleys it Is necessary first
to obtain the consent of the abutting
property owners. In view of the fact that
the question of repairing and cleaning
the alleys generally falls upon the city he
suggested an amendment to the city char
ter by the legislature to make all alleys
public so that the city can have supervi-