Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-07
DISTRICT BUILDING.


Mai Charles w. Kutz completed today
his first week as Engineer Commissioners
Of the District of Columbia During the
past seven days he has more or less
familiarized himself with the routine
work Of his office, attended several board
sessions and posted himself on the status
| of a number of pending public utilities
matters The new official admits that he
| likes his Job and. in the minds OF his
subordinates. there is no doubt that his
administration is going to prove credita-
I Bile one.
| Commissioner Kutz frankly says he has
no policies with respect to the govern
ment of the engineer department and that
he contemplates adopting none until he
| is thoroughly familiar with its needs.
Concerning prospective District improve
ments he is thoroughly of the opinion
that early steps should be taken toward
providing an increased water supply for
Washington. While there is at present
| no urgent need for an increased supply,
the Engineer Commissioner takes the po-
sition that the question is one OF such
Importance it should be given serious
/ incurred in providing the Improvement
| when 1t becomes a necessity.
Between the opening of the hunting
season and the election many District
officials and employees found an oppor-
tunity to take a few days off. Gen.
Robert G. Smith and Henry S. Baker.
members Of the excise board, went to
lively. to vote. Edward Hart. clerk to
the excise board, who put in several
| weeks campaigning in New Jersey, also
voted in that state. John A Jarboe and
w. A Williams of the surveyors office
voted in Montgomery county, Md, and
George Earle of the same Office in Prince
Georges county.
| The principal hunting party of the
| week was that entertained by Melvin
c. Hazen, surveyor, on his farm. Mount
WELLESLEY. near Nokesville, Va. The
guests were Thomas Fisher of the
electrical department: John Beale,
superintendent of stables; F. Causey
| OF the surveyors Office. and Charles
| West. According to Causey, who re-
! turned the latter part of the week. a
, fair amount OF game had been killed,
| although the dry weather. which re-
tarded the work Of the dogs, had re-
suited in only a few birds being
| bagged. The hunters flushed a drove
| of wild turkeys, but failed to secure
| any of them.
Arthur Gleason has become the rival
| of NJ. J. Hale for the premier fishing
| honors of the surveyors office. Every
night this week Gleason has fShed at
the basin, using a spoon, and has land
ed several nice bass. He manages to
arrive there just as the tide rises and
reports that the fishing has been bet
ter this week than at any time during
the year Gleason declares that he saw
one fisherman bag fourteen bass one
night and eighteen the next. but his
clined to regard this as a typical fish
story.
Probably no District employee has
hnn ~ ii,
sociates than was John B. Fitzhugh of
the water registrars office, who
Thursday morning. was presented with
a gold watch. in honor Of the fftieth
anniversary OF his marriage. The an
niversary was celebrated at Mr.. Fitz-
hugh's home, in Landover. Nd, last
week. The entire office and field force
OF the registrars office was called to
order Thursday morning by R. 1.
Smith, who, on behalf OF those assem-
bled. presented to Mr.. Fitzhugh a
watch for himself and one for Mrs
F'itzhugh. The recipient until then
was ignorant of the purpose of the
meeting and was deeply affected by
the testimonial He has been an en-
pioye of the District for twenty-five
years.
Conrad II. Syme brings to a close
today the first year of his administra-
ton as corporation counsel of the Dis
trict of Columbia. The day also marks
the completion of the first year In the
District service of Miss Blanche Miller.
| stenographer to the corporation coun-
| sell Since the Syne administration
began the corporation counsers office
| has been one of the busiest depart
ments in the District building and has
the reputation of being able to turn
| out lot Of important work on short
notice.
A. c. Parker of the water registrars
| office came near suffering a serious
| injury when he slipped on the asphalt
floor just outside the tax collectors
office Thursday morning. His head
he was rendered unconscious for
few minutes. Accidents of similar
nature-one of them resulting in
lawsuit-haye occurred in the District
building, and the Commissioners are
considering change in the surface of
the floors in order to render them less
dangerous.
L. L. McAleer, inspector Of street
lighting, expects to leave Monday for
a hunting trip of two weeks in Mary
land.
w S. Jones, inspector of electric
wiring has returned to his work, after
II leave of one month. which was spent
principally OH a bicycle tour through
nearby states.
After three days of vacation, mem
hers of the excise board returned to-
their duties at the District building
Thursday.