Evening Star Newspaper, August 25, 1894, Page 5

naturally YOU with that which they got It is useless to remind Wives asi mother of ti part BREAD, CAKE and play in this at home. house- LESALE FLOUR DEALERS, 105-107-1109 11TH ST. S. E., AND 1000-1002 M ST. S.E. next HIBBERT’S GLOVE EMPORIUM, 606 uth St. la _ Mattress NO_MORE. © Sold by all Sret-cleme dealers. See that S. & B. im TAFFORD WATER. AVES LIVES. CURES WHEN OTHERS FAIL. "ARKLING STAFFORD IS THE BEST TABLE WATER. Cures Bright's Disease, Diabetes, Kidney, Blad- Ger, and s!i Urimary Troubles. Drop im and try : Physical Culture ~ %q@ CLEARING OUT SALE OF Corset Co.’s dn uniwec We've given our attention to jearing RSEETS for $2.97. One of the Dargaia =_ repaid a in ¥ wel o for buying Odd sizes, lengths ine Tirs. Whelan, Mgr., 0% Are You Married? It want to do your husband or your son a Kindness fend thelr ‘solled lot here to be cleaned our NEW io grease pots thew. dor after several days’ wear. Con- sidering the work our price is the cheapest— Anton Fischer, 906 G St. 104 &—T._ WALKER SONS, 204 10TH ST. ‘Building Moth-proof Goods, Fire Gay ant “ile Aabeeton, Foe Lining, uip Sate, - At Ramsay’s Your watch cleaned for $1; watch mainspring, |. All our work for one year. i2m1 F st. ow. EXCURSIONS. Marshall Hall tomorrow will be a resort where an enjoyable day may be spent. At- tractions of all deseriptions are found here, and on the green lawns,where there is plenty of cool air and an abundance of shade, one may spend a most restful day. The day ‘will be enlivened by Prof. Schroeder’s band, which will furnish music all day long. The steamer Charles Macalester will leave at 11 am., 2:30 and 6:30 p.m., and River Queen “‘rhe great Morris pony show will be seen great Mor at River View tomorrow in a splendid pro- gram of unique novelty. The herd com- prises twelve animals that perform such us feats that they are called, very @ppropriately, Lilliputian equine actors. ‘The wrestling pony will also be seen in a contest with his trainer. The attraction the week has drawn large crowds, and it likely that a large number will go down tomorrow, and Capt. Randall has made ample preparations. The Samuel J. Pents will leave at 10:45 a.m., 2:45 and 5:45 p.m. Tomorrow Bay- Ridge will be a delightful fesort at whien to spend a day out of the city. ‘With the numerous attractions that are to be found here, and the excellent crabbing, fishing, boating and salt water bathing for which the place is well known, all are sure to enjoy themselves. Innes’ famous Thirteenth Regiment Band of New York, comprising sixty pieces, together with Prof. Wright's Military Band, will give a grand musical festival. Over two hundred zouaves, assisted by cannon, will participate. There will also be solos, duets and quartets by the finest local talent, all free of charge. Trains will leave the Baltimore and Ohio station at 9:35 a.m., 1:30 and 3:15 p.m. The steamer Charles Macalester will leave her wharf this evering on her regular Sat- urday evening trip to Indian Head and Mar- shall Hall. On the down trip of the boat Prof. Schroeder's band will furnish choice selections. Picturesque scenery and a de- lightful sail down the historic Potomac make this trip one of the most pleasant on the river. On the return trip a moonlight sail is to be had, which adds to the enjoy- ment of the trip. 'A visit to the well-known resort Buena Vist2 will afford an enjoyable day’s outing temorrow. Plenty of attractions and shady grounds make this place one of the most ton the Potomac. The new steamer e J. Seufferle will leave her wharf at 10 11 a.m. and from 1 to 8 p.m. hourly. On next Wednesday Douglas Memorial M. E. Church will give an excursion to Bay Ridge for the benefit of the new church fvnd, and they will be accompanied by the Knights cf Pythias. An enjoyable day ts anticipated by the members of the church end their mary friends who will take this trip, and all will be home in time to wit- ness the illumination and parade. Trains will leave the Baltimore and Ohio station at 9:15 a.m. and 4:28 pm. —— THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1894—EIGHTEEN PAGES. WHEN A SHERIFF Like the President, Senator Jones Once Held That Office. HE RELATES A GRAPHIC EXPERIENCE An Innocent Man in the Meshes of Circumstantial Evidence. SENATOR BRICE’S COMMENT Senator Jones of Nevada is one of the best story tellers in the Senate. The announce- ment among the Senators that Jones has a new story always interests every man on the floor, and those who enjoy good stories are never quite satisfied until they have heard the latest by Senator Jones. After the session was over the other day the Nevada Senator was surrounded by a num- ber of Senators, and at the urgent solicita- tion of Senator Brice he told a story, which the Ohio Senator declared convicted the sage brush Senator of being a corruptionist. “Some time ago, when I was quite a young man, I was a sheriff, like Mr. Cleveland,” began Mr. Jones. “It was in the early days of California, when everybody was digging for gold and before the days of railroads, when we traveled by stage, or navigated such streams as steamboats would float upon. I was going down to San Quentin with two rather tough prisoners, who had been sent down for one cause or another. I had to watch the men for many miles in a stage coach before we reached Sacramento, where we took the boat for San Quentin. It was like finding a palace upon the route after the long overland journey. When I got my men aboard I found that a friend of mine, the sheriff of Placer county, was on board with two prisoners, going to the same destination. ‘Here,’ said I, ‘Kretcher, I am ail tired out, you keep watch over these four fellows awhile and let me rest, and I will take my turn with them and let you rest. It waa my turn for watch when we reached San Francisco. The boat was boarded by the hotel runners. who wanted everybody to come to their respective houses. two fellows and one of Kretch- er’s men were jokers and had having sport way down the river. When looked up I found that he was a very good- looking young man, and the last im the world that would be taken for a criminal. ‘What are you sent up for? I asked. ‘Highway robbery,’ he replied. “You don't look like it,’ I replied. ‘Why, man, when it is so easy to make money in this country, why de you go into that kind of business?” “I never did it,’ he replied. ‘It’s all wrong. But I am in for it, and there is no escape. My life is lost. I am sent up for ten years, and there will be nothing left for me when that time has elapsed.’ “I became interested in the man, and asked Kretcher about him. He assured me that it was a remarkable case. He had known the man for several years, and he was the last man in the county that he would have taken for a criminal. But there was no mistake. The man was guilty, and there was direct evidence to the effect that he had committed the robbery. I then got the man to tell me his story. His name was Levi Beck. He was working in the gulch with others, but, being very fond of hunting, and as fresh meat was scarce, his mates were always glad to have him go u; in the mountains and get.e deer. One af- ternoon he had quite a lo he got a shot. He did not kill him. He followed the trail, keeping just in sight, but he did not catch up with his game by nightfall, and then found himself many miles away. He made his return slowly over the mountain, and it was after 10 o’clock when he finally reached camp. Circumstantial Evidence. “The next morning while he was at work the sheriff came along and arrested him on the charge of highway robbery. Those were days of quick trials. In the court he was confronted with a teamster, who swore that Beck had stopped him on the road on the opposite side of the mountain range, where Beck had followed the wounded deer, and had robbed him. He described the gun which Beck had carried, and the unusual clothes which he had worn on that occasion in the most minute detail. Beck's he Fifle was of 5 peomles pete = hg nd testified and that he did not get back to camp until after 10 o'clock that night. The robbery had taken place about 5 o'clock in the after- roon, giving Beck time enough to have been at the place and to have returned. “That's the case against me,’ he said, de- jectedly. ‘I have had two trials, and been convicted both times. More than that, I have an old father in Philadelphia, and his entire fortune has been spent in my de- fense. I have never robbed the man, and I am at a loss to account for the testimony me," the man I believed his story,” continued Senator Jones, “and when I left him I committee which had a great deal of busi- do, as there were many claims before the legislature. After the appvint- ment of a clerk, I had a talk with him about his duties, and told him to arrange the bills that had been introduced in order for consideration. He did so, and I then had him read the titles of each. The first one was for the relief of Levi Beck. ‘Stop,’ I said, ‘read that again. No, give it to me.’ served for a year in the penitentiary, when his innocence had been proven; that he had been a most exem! er, and, now vided that he be recompensed by the pay- ment of $§,000. The matter interested me, and I began an investigation. ‘The True Criminal Found. “I found that some time after his in- carceration one of the toughest characters of the country had been convicted of mur- der and was in prison awaiting execution. The day before the event he allowed a Catholic priest to come to him, being in his early days a member of that church. He began telling some of his past crimes, and was finally admonished by the priest that he should endeavor to make restitution to any persons he had wronged. “There's a fellow do! time down at San Quentin for a job I ” said the hard- ened culprit, and related the eircumstances. “The lest telegraphed the bishop to know if would be at liberty to use what was told him in confessional to liberate an imnocent man in prison. The answer was “Yes,” and the gcvernor was telegraphed to grant the murderer a reprieve until the facts could be learned, as it might have been a trick to let the criminal’s pard out confronted with the crimima) and told by him that he was the robber th: had to admit it, especially when the con- versation was detailed to him. It seems that the murderer had a rifle exactly like that belonging to Beck, and by a curious coincidence wore the very same kind of clothes worn by Beck the day he went on that fateful deer hunt. Well. when they esteblished the fact beyond doubt, the gov- ernor pardomed Beck, and the murderer was duly hung. Beck came to the legislature to be recompensed, and I thought $5,000 was note too little to pay a man who had been falsely imprisoned.” . As the Nevada Senator concluded his in- teresting story Senator Brice spoke up: “That is just where I say he convicts himself of corruption. He found a man to the penitentiary for ten whom he believed to be innocent, without doing anything for him except to give him $10 and a plug of tobacco. Afterward, when his innocence is proven, he sticks the state for $5,000 to make it right with the man and his own conscience.” But, aside from the joke of Senator Brice, those who heard the story told in Senator Jones’ graphic manner felt that truth is often stranger than fiction. AFFAIRS INGEORGETOWN Boats Coming in and Clearing on the Water- way. Many Local and Personal Notes of General ferest—A Bad Ac- cident Yesterday. Boats to clear Cumberland for George- tcwn on the canal were as follows: W. J. Stephenson, Capt. Quinn; No. 139, Capt. Engle; No. 129, Capt. Bowers; Libbie, Capt. Sha®; No. 182, Capt. Hammond; 8. W. Storm, Capt. Davis; Here I Am, Capt. Smith; Victor, Capt. Kelley; Hanekamp, Capt. Dorr; No. 113, Capt. Creamer; No. 127, Capt. Swain: Corsolidation No. 13, Capt. Spong; C. R. Lord, Capt. Hebb; J. K. Cowen, Capt. Jackson; No. 126, Capt. Cant- well. With the shipments to Williamsport the cargoes aggregate 2,325 tons. The ship- ments are still behing those of the same period of last year. No beats came in yes- terday, owing to the torn-up condition of the locks at Seneca, which are undergoing repair. Commission merchants report that they have a considerable quantity of corn, wheat and hay on tne way to Georgetown. Wheat continues down. It is said that Maryland's wheat acreage next year will hardly be one-half of what it was this. The farmers have grown disheartened at the prices it has and is still bringing. They say it is more profitable to feed their cattle with it now than send it to market.” - A Bad Accident. On Thursday evering about 7:30 o'clock Mrs. Barbara Wagner, wife of Mr. John Wagner of P street, met with an accident that has confined her to her bed since. She was going up 32d street when she stepped upon a banana peel. It slipped and threw her violently to the ground. She struck on her side and was urable to rise without asaistance. Dr. Ritchie was called on. No bones ere believed to have been broken, but the side is very painfully injured. Funeral Services. The funeral of Mr. Thomas Probey took pisce yesterday from his late residence on Bank street. It was attended by the rep- resentative citizens of the town. The pall- bearers were Messrs. Seth Schell, Chas. H. Demar, John F. Kelly, Joseph C. Murray, James Manogue and T. A. Newman. Ser- vices were held at Trinity Church. Father Roccofort officiated and spoke in beautiful terms of the life of the deceased. The in- terment was at Holy Rood cemetery. Notes. Mr. Thos. E. Waggaman and others have begun the construction of a row of dwell- ings on that part of Fenwick’s hill recently reduced to the level of the street. R street between 34th and 35th, which was cut through a hill years ago, but never graded sufficiently to allow general traffic, is to be properly attended to. A grade will be established and other necessary im- provements made. There was a slight fire at 3002 M street last night. It was caused by some show bills in a front window coming in contact with a gas flame. The damage was small. No definite reply has as yet been received from Rev. Mr. Billheimer, to whom has been tendered the pastorate of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church. His answer is expected in a day or two. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. E. Dale have gone to Colonial Beach to spend the r of the summer with friends. Mr. Upton B. Mackall left today on a short trip to Montgomery county, Mary- land. —_— SOME NEW HOUSES. Improvements Contemplated in Dif- ferent Sections of the City. Dr. J. W. Nairn will erect a residence at 1300 Rhode Island avenue, from plans pre- pared by F. H. Knight, architect. It will be three stories in height, with a frontage of twenty-one feet and a depth of sixty- nine. The front is to be built of white stone, with entrance porch and a circular bay. The roof will be tiled and the interior finish will be oak and pine. The rear of the house fronting on P street will be fin- ished with press brick and stone and will haye a circular bay. 2 The building known as the Anderson an- nex, on 4 1-2 street between C and D streets, is to be remodeled into an office building. A building known as the nurses’ home 1s to be erected at the corner of Pennsyl- val avenue and 25th street, on the grounds of the Columbia Hospital. It is to be three stories in height, with a front- age of thirty feet, and is to be built of brick and brown stone. A. P, Clark, jr., is the architect. Three dwellings will be erected by D. B. Groff at 4th and E streets northeast. They are to be two stories in peight and built of brick and stone. The residence of J. R. Buckalew,1450 Ken- esaw avenue, is to be eniarged by the ad- dition of another story, and the interior is to be reconstructed. Two three-story English basement houses are to be erected on M street between 1ith and 15th streets, by F. H. Smith. The fronts will be of press brick and stone. Three four-story English basement houses are to be erected on Princeton street be- dimensions will be 17: and the fronts will be built of brick heey The Building Record. The record of building operations for the past week shows that thirteen permits were issued for the erection of new buildings, at @ total aggregate cost of $40,350. Qf this amount $28,000 cume from the northwestern section, with three permits; the northeast, two new buildings, at a cost of $2,800; southeast, one permit, costing $500, and the county, seven permits for new buildings, aggregating $0,050. Horses on the Second Floor. The inspector of buildings has tssued a permit to E. 8S. Mahoney for the erection of a three-story brick livery stable, with herses stabled on the second floor, in the alley between M, N, 12th and 13th streets. The stable will be in many ways fireproof, built of red brick, 85 1-2 feet decp, 4 feet high, and 50 feet front. J. E. Denson is the architect. Building Inspector Entwisle and the Commissioncrs were greatly opposed to granting a permit, but, as the new amend- ment to the building regulations, prohibit- YIrg the stabling of horses above the first floor, could not be enforced until August 27, the permit was issued, by order of the Commissioners, Building Inspector Entwisle has issued a buildimg permit to Joseph Parris for the erection of an attractive dwelling at 439 Massachusetts avenue northwest. The bufiding will be built of pressed brick, 35 feet deep, 35 feet high, and 17 feet 9 inches front, and erected by Anderson K. Belt. W. B. Brady of the inspector of building's office Is the architect. | H. Gordon has planned the erection. of a handsome dwelling at 330 O street, Georgetown, D. C. It will be butlt of pressed brick, 32 feet deep, 35 feet high and 18 feet front, by John H. Nolan. N. T. Haller, Warder building, is the architect, _——————_. Oklahoma Sam Departs. The Xoxeyite who was known as “Okla- homa Sam,” the trusted lieutenant of the leader who desetted the poor men when they were starving to death, was furnished transportation as far as Pittsburg by San- itary Officer Frank yesterday. MR. THOMAS REPORTS A Busy Year for the Attorney for the District. CASES TRIED AND 70 BE TRIED Many Recommendations in Regard to Needed Changes. POLICE COURT CASES The annual report of Mr. S. T. Thomas, attorney for the Ristrict of Columbia, was submitted to the missioners this after- noon. In his repest Mr. Thomas says: “ the year under consideration five hundred and forty-eight advisory opinions were given on various subjects arising in the course of municipal administration and in regard to legislation pending before Con- gress affecting District interests, being an increase of two ht and twelve over the previous year. It will thus be seen that the duties of the office yearly involve tn- creased labor. Ag tovcongressional bills not municipal in their character, referred to this office by you fof report, I have sub- mitted them to the justices of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia for their views, and it is gratifying to state that they have promptly responded to my re- quests, and their valuable suggestions have been availed of in the advice I have given you on those subjects. . Some Cases. “There is but one District case pending in the Supreme Court of the United States. I refer to the case ‘of the District against the Washington Ges Light Company. This was an action by thé District to recover over against the gas light company the sum of $5,14¥.58, being the amount of a judg- ament recovered by one Marietta M. Parker against the District for personal injuries sustained by stepping in an open gas box in the sidewalk, in its action over against the the to police the gas company's works and keep its gas boxes in repair, or whether that duty is imposed upon the gas light the cases against the mor! i Ay the calendar of the ie Court of Dis- trict at the close of the last fiscal year, and those added at the intervening terms of the court, twenty have been of, six- teen were tried by jury, resulting in verdicts for the District in eleven cases, and against the District in five cases. Three of the latter grew out of the same accident—the falling of a District fire alarm telegraph pole, and four cages when called for trial were entered “discontinued” in the clerk’s office by the plaintiffs. Eight new cases were added to thé Mst during the year, so that there are now sixty-eight cases pend- ing against the District; of these thirty, one are of the class known as ‘sewer cases, which grew out of the great floods in Tiber sewer in 1880. “Since my last report the judgment for $8,694, In the case of Edwin N. Gray against the District (in which $30,000 is claimed for alleged damages to his foundry and ma- chine shops by the floods of 1880), has been reversed by the Court of Appeals, and a new trial granted; a second trial resulted in a verdict for $3,500 for the plaintiff; this verdict has also been set aside and a new trial granted. It is confidently believed that this class of cases will ultimatety be disposed of by the District, on the principie that it ts not Hable for damages resulting from the extraordinary floods of 1889. The remaining thirty-eight cases are mostly actions for personal injuries resulting from defects in streets and avenues, growing out of unguarded excavations for water and gas mains, plumbers’ cuts and projecting water and gas boxes. In ‘a number of these tne Dietrict has an action over against the per- sons making the excavations complained of, tmbursed. Whilst a municipality ts not un insurer against accidents happening upon its streets and it ts its duty, how- ever, to keep its highways in good repair and reasonably S4fé" for travel. Vigilance in this respect will prevent suits for per- sonal injuries fram; unduly multiplying. There are now pending in the Court of Ap- peals of the District of Columbia five Dis- trict cases, be! appeals from judgments of the Supreme/Court of the District of Columbia. Since my Jast report the Court of Appeais has made a decision very yalu- able as affecting municipal administration. E refer to the cas§ offDowning vs. Ross. . “This was a case filed by Downing and others, alleging themselves to be taxpayers, to restrain the Commissioners from accept- ing a proposal for asphalt paving, on the ground that it was informal and against thelr interests to“do'so, and it was held competent for the ‘Commissioners, under their reservation of the right to reject any and all bids for public works, to t or ignore a condition interlined by the bidder in =x taeda! the Lacie Fe ofa court of equity enjoin munici officers in the discharge of their duties cannot be invoked to promote the ulterior or private objects of complainants; and that a court of equity will in no case interfere in the official discretion invested in municipal offi- cers. Early in the year a question of some importance arose by reason of an adverse ruling in the Treasury Department, in re- £,ect to permit work in the District, out- side the cities of Washington and George- town; a review of this ruling was obtained and the department reversed its action, acopting the claim of the District. “There were 195 lunacy cases during the past year, being an increase of twenty-one over the previous year. Of these, 130 were tried by jury, and 6 were committed to the asylum on certificates of the Commis- sioners, Assessment Laws. “There were during the past year 132 certiorari cases against the District tried in thé Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, mostly to quash assessments un- der the so-called ‘compulsory permit’ sys- tem, and also to cancel assessments made for improvements, under continuations of contracts made by the late board of public works, “The court of appeals having decided in the case of Allman vs. the District, that assessments under the so-called “compul- sory permit” system for improvements, in the way of sidewalks, paving and sewering of alleys, &c., were vold, because the statute under which they were made did not pro- vide for notice, or what is called ‘due pro- cess of law,” it results that all the uncol- lected assessments from 1890-to the close of the last fiscal year are uncollectable. Con- gress was asked to cure the defect in the law, and the p legislation is con- tained in the District 4 peed bill, ap- proved August 7, 1894. No proceedings have been taken under the provisions of law in regard to enforcing the Hens of the District for arrears of general taxes, where, at tax sales, the District has become the pur- chaser. Although this feature of the tax law has been in existence since 1877, it has not been enforced, for the reason that there has never been any money appro- priated to pay the costs and expenses of the necessary legal proceedings. Congress should be asked for an appropriation for this purpose, or else the law should be changed. In this connection I renew my recommendation of last year, that the tax laws be amended s0 as to permit the Dis- trict to sell such property from time to a at private sale, and give deeds there- for. Emirent Domain. “During the past year there was only one case of the exercise of eminent domain by the District. In April last a petition was filed in the Supreme Court of the District, by its Commissioners, for the appointment of a commission to condemn the land neces- sary for the extenston of North =F street through the lands of Mrs. Annie Barbour and others and : Hill cemetery, under an act of Congress ap- proved December 21,0188, entitled ‘An act to extend NorttrCagftot street to the Sol- diers’ Home.’ Tht¥-ict- provided that the proceedings should be according to the law in force prior to March 3, 1893, and Con- gress having by act of August 30, 1890, declared that fiture condemnations of land in this District for public uses should be In accordance with the provisions of that act (which was fm respect of a site for the government printing office), the pro- ceedings were under;the act of 1800. The court instructed the jcommission that they were to award the owners the present market value of their lands, irrespective of any benefits the opening of the street might be to the remaining land. The commission returned awards which in the aggregate amounted to about $72,000. The District ex- cepted on various grounds, but the court overruled its exceptions and confirmed the awards, except in respect to an item of $5,962 awarded to Prospect Hill cemetery as damages for difference in grade. The judgment of the court confirming said awards, the District of Columbia and Prospect Hill cemetery, respectively, took an appeal to the Court of Apreels, and the cause is now in that court. The in- justice of excluding benefits in that case in- duced the Commissioners to appeal to Con- gress to authorize the Supreme Court of the District to vacate its order confirming the report of the commission, and to direct the 3 to extend sald street, to be taken according to chapter eleven of the Revised Statutes of the United States relat- ing to the District of Columbia, which al- lows benefits to be deducted from damages in the case of land taken for public high- ways. Such legislation has been procured, and its effect is to repeal so much of the act of 1890, as provides for condemnation of land (otherwise than as a site for the gov- ernment printing office) by a commissicn, and reinstates chapter eleven of the Revised Statutes of the District, which recognizes benefits as an element of compensation, and which also provides for a second jury, in case either the District or the owners are dissatisfied with the first verdict. A motion has been filed to vacate the judgment of the court confirming the report of the commis- sion in the matter of North Capitol street, and it will come on for hearing early in the . The Hay Market. There are several equity proceedings in which the District is a party now pending, but the only one worthy of special mention is the case of the Washington Market Com- pany against the District. In that case the Commissioners in November, 1891, being ad- vised that the occupation by the market company of the space at the intersection of Ohio and Louisiana avenues and 10th and 12th streets, commonly called the “hay zcarket,” was illegal, gave the company no- tice to vacate. Thereupon the market com- pany filed its bill to enjoin the Commis- sioners from out their purpose of possession of the space, on the ground that they had held it by an “agree- ment with the late governor and board of public works of the District.” The case Was argued and submitted to Mr. Justice Hagner near the clcse of the year under consideration. The court has since decided the case on all points in favor of the Dis- trict, and the market company has taken an appeal to the Court of Appeals. When the Commissioners get possession of this square they should ask Congress for money to improve it for the Purpose of a whole- sale market, and thus carry out the of Congress as expressed in the sixteenth section of the charter of the Washington Market Company, approved May 20, 1870. “There were two mandamus proceedings during the year—one involving the discre- tion ‘of the Commissioners as an excise board in regard to the issuance of liquor licenses and one involving the validity of the plumbing regulations, providing that permits for opening streets and avenues and tapping water mains in sewers shall only be issued to registered plumbers—both of which were decided in favor 6f the Com- missioners. Appeals have been taken by the relators in both cases to the Court of Appeals, “There were 13,527 cases tried in the Po- ice Court du: the last fiscal year, being @ decrease of 1,500 cases as against the previous year. This falling off in the num- ber of cases in the Police Court is due largely, I think, to improved discretion of officers in making arrests, which reflects credit upon the police department: also to a change in the practice of multiplying charges against persons after arrest, to the transfer by act of Congress of of- fenses for carrying concealed weapons to the United States side of the court.. During the year in question the fines collected in the Police Court from the District cases amounted to $36,824.26, being $3,343.49 less than for the previous year. This decrease in revenue is due principally to loss of fines for concealed weapons, and to the fact that from June 30 to November 1, 1893, we had no law regulating the sale of liquor as to licensed places. Metropolitan Road. “During the past year important legisla- tion was asked from Congress by the Metro- politan Ratircad Company in regard to an extension of its lines and a change in its motive power. The question of the payment of the judgment in favor of the District for $161,622.52 that wes rendered for paving during the years from 1871 to 1875 was in- volved. The Commissioners opposed the legislation, except on condition that “the company pay this claim with interest, and Congress, after full consideration, referred the whole matter to the Court of Appeais, to be tried on its merits upon the record and prdoceedings in the original case, and such additional evidence as that court may see fit to take, with a proviso that uniess the judgment of the Court of Appeals, if in favor of the District, shall be paid within a certain time the privileges granted by the act shall be null and void. The necessary stipulation on the part of the railroad com- pany has been and filed in the case and the record will be transmitted to the Court of Appeals early in the fall. This will finally dispose of a question which has vexed the authorities and the community for many. years. Some Recommendations. “The law in regard to the inspection and measurement of lumber having become ob- solete, I drafted and submitted to you dur- ing the year in question a bill to be sub- mitted to Congress, empowering the Comis- sioners to make regulations for the meas- urement and inspection of lumber. This bill has not become a law. It is important that it should again be brought to the atten- tion of Congress at its next session. “Our law as to weights and measures is eld and needs reform. We have one ordi- rance on the subject as to Georgetown (of 1824), and another (of 1820) as to Washing- ton. The law should be uniform, and a bill to accomplish this result has been drafted and referred to Congress, but it has not be- come a lew. “I would also renew my suggestion that the act of Congress approved January 26, 1887, regulating insurance in this District, is inadequate and needs amendment. A bill designed to correct defects in this law has been drafted and submitted to you for reference to Congress for enactment. The public authorities should be authorized to make a personal examination of the condi- tion of each insurance company doing busi- ness in this District, when deemed neces- sary, and if the condition be such as to rerder the further prosecution of business urwise, to institute proceedings to increase fir.ancial strength or revoke its license to do business. The recent attempt of an in- surance company in this District to trans- fer tts obligations to a foreign company, without the consent of its policy holders, gives emphasis to this matter. “Congress should also be asked to confer upon the Commissioners general power to make all such reasonable police regulaticns as they may deem necessary for the protec- tion of health, lif? and limb, and the pro- motion of good order, and the pubiic peace and general welfare of th> District, instead of the Mmited»power they now have. The Commisstoners should also power to remit fines and penalties and grant pardors for offenses committed against the District under acts of Congress. This wovld save the President much trouble and annoyance. ‘Since my last the commission appointed by the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, under tie act of Congress approved March 2, 1889, to com- pile the laws of the District has completed its labors, and the same having been ap- proved by the court, is now going through the press. When this work shall be ready for distribution, it will greatly facilitate the labors of the bar, and will be valuable as a basis for the codification of tie laws, which It ts hoped will soon follow. Pure Milk. “At your request, a number of bills re- lating to municipal affairs were drafted by this office for submission to Congress dur- ing the present year, among the rest, one to prevent the adulteration of milk. It was found that the health regulations and the act of Congress of October 12, 1880, in re- gard to pure food were inadequate to se- re pure milk, since both the regulations aaa the statute provided only against the introduction Into milk of such substances as were obnoxious to health. This bill pre- yents the introduction of such foreign mat- ter as the specific gravity of milk, and aleo provides for the ‘inspection and sanitary condition of dairies in the District of Columbia. The measure has the ap- proval of the Medical Society of the Dis- trict, and if it becomes a law will be most beneficial in its results. “The Police Court of the District of Co- lumbia baving decided that the regulations made and promu'gated by the late board of health of the District, and intended to be legalized by Congress in 1880, were invagid, because not being acts of Congress, it was incompetent for the board to declare by regulation a state of things to be « nuis- ance which at common law did not con- stitute a nuisance. As a result of this de- cision Congress has declared that these shall have the same force and effect as if enacted by it, and has trans- ferred the powers and duties of the late board of health, specified in the regulations, to the health officer. It is also declared that tions for violation of said regu- lations shall be by information in the Police Court of the District of Columbia, provided that said regulations shall not be enforced against established industries which are not nuisances in fact. It is believed that this legislation completes the authority of the Commissioners in respect of these mat- ters, and relieves the situation of the em- barrassment which heretofore attended it.” THE WORLD OF SOCIETY Many Are Returning to Enjoy the Delight- ful Weather Here. News and Gossip From Seaside and Mountain Resorts—A Number of Pleasant Entertainments. One of the scclal events of the season at Colonial Beach was a juvenile party given in honor of Miss Florence Johnson's elev- enth birthday, at Mimosa cottage. A pleas- ant feature of the evening was “Owl Eyes,” first prize being won by Master Donald Gensler, second prize by Miss Helen Cooper. Fancy dencing and many musical selections were rendered during the evening, after which a collation was served. The elabor- are at the Arlington Hotel gt that place. They expect to leave there @ few days for Col. and Mrs. J. J. Barnes of R street are at the Bristol, Asbury Park. From there they go to the mountains of Penn- sylvania. Mrs. James Beyer, Mrs. Geo. Shekell, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Smoot and Mrs. Brandt are stopping at the Hygeia Hotel, Atlantic City, and will be the guests of Mr. W. C. Buckley in Philadelphia for a few days. Mrs. W. F. Wright is at Aurora, W. Va., for an indefinite stay. ch, where they have been camping out with a party of friends. Maj. Creary, U. 8. A., wife and daughter are at Aurora, W. Va., where they expect to remain until the late fall. Mrs. John F, Mount of 312 Elm street, Le 8 i : 2 a j H i side for the winter at 317 Sth street north- east. Miss Ida Bruckheimer and Miss Cora Blondheim of 617 6th street ‘northwest have returned from their two weeks’ trip to the mountains, Dr. and Mrs. J. Wesley Bovee have re- Dr. James A. Freer has left the city to join his family in New York, where he will spend several weeks. Miss Louise Semmelbauer and Miss Edna McEwen, chaperoned by Mrs. McEwen, have gone to Uld Point for a short stay. Miss Effie Haney is visiting relatives in Rockville, Md. Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Arny of New Orleans are stopping at vv» I-street. A-souvenir hop was given at the “Glen Manor,” Forest Glen, Md, on Thursday evening last and was largely attended by bate dread and the young people of the surrounding country. Among those pres- ect Manning. Miss Florence Tibbets, Miss Anna Tibbets, Misses Scott, Miss Key, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. McQueen, Mrs. Sener, Mrs. Tib- bets, Mrs. Middleton, Messrs. Harry and Edward Keys, Mr. Faut, Mr. Flynn, Mr. Howard, Mr. Mi Mr. Johnston Hellen, Mr. Berg, Mr. Howe, Mr. Peter, Mr. Frost, Mr. Ayer, Mr. Staley, Mr. Jules Ken- peter Mr. Chas. Kennedy, Mr. Scott, Mr. Mr. W. B. Watson, who for the last two weeks has been traveling through Virgin! bas returned to his home, No. iss ok street. Miss Hattie Bowers, who has been spend- ing several weeks with relatives in New York and Plainfield, N. J., has returned to her home in East W: looking very much better for the trip. Miss Ida Palmer Topham has left the city for several weeks to visit friends in Kent county, Md. Capt. G. C. West is in Paris and will travel extensively on the continent before returning home. Miss Sophie Gheen of Baltimore and Miss Virginia Ellis of Rochester, Pa.. are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. B. W. Gheen, 1101 9th street. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Fell of Cherrydale, Va., with Mrs. Smith Lee of Georgetown and Mrs. Barstow of Eckington, set sail from Philadelphia last Saturday for Eng- land, their native home, where they intend staying a short time. The engagement of Miss Mary Josephine Osborne of this city to Mr. Samuel C. Bid- dle of Wilmington, Del., is announced. Mr. Biddle is a prominent citizen of Wilming- ton, and has a number of friends in this city also. Miss Lottie C. Duvall, who has been with friends in Harford county, Md. during August, returned to her home in George- town yesterday... Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H.-Rhine of 336 Spruce street. Le Droit Park, gave an at home so- cial last evening in honor of their guests, Mr. and Mrs. John Rhine of Baltimore. Among those ~ and Lynn _of Occoquan county, V: Mrs. Bennett, Mr. and Mre. Wm. F. Mr, and Mrs. I. Ridgway, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Coleman of New York, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Murray, Mrs. A. Handcock, the Misses Annie Horton, Mamie and Katie Finn, Ella Ridgway, Fannie Handcock, Mamie Celary, Mamie and Etta Molen, Edith Taylor and Mamie Rhine, Messrs. Nolen, Hoyt Lamson. Sommers Bemnett, Arthur Ridg- Fox, Frank Parr, J. Carroll and John Royce, Singing and dancing were greatly enjoyed by all, after which a -f wan Capt. and Mrs. S. G. Cabell returned to sient? oe Sot ire coer a ce of two it at Onset Bay, . The captain is tl improved in health. 4 — watermelon party given by Mr. Geo. . Robinson last Thursday ev: at his residence, 141 North Carolina ve south- east, was a delightful affair, and will Miss Beulah Moore of Philadelphia has returned home from a brief visit at her cousin's, Miss Teco Hughiett, 715 Rhode Island avenue. Mr. and Mrs. E. I. Booraem have return- ‘Their - ters, Ella and in = Jersey. . Booraem’s health, Sreatly impaired by her recent fliness, is Mr. John Scott Harrison of Kansas City, Mo., hat left for Philadelphia, Pa., where he will be the Mary R. guest of his cousin, Miss re gat maze and Clara Worch have returned, after a three x a weeks’ stay with dm Garrett of 9th street, ac- ccmpani Mrs. S. A. Garrett Miss Loulse Garrett of Wissapickon, ‘Pe, aes gone °° Ocean Grove to spend several Matthew Trimble, jr., i | f a! peut? ieeeal ! 1 LY £ § § z fF ys tf é § iif | i 1 ' i li i i tr i ir a 1 { i ke e i om, Ausest 28, HART, Mre. formenty, — | | ei i of our éem Ged one year SMITH. In remembrance mother, MARARIA SMITH, who today, 1808. e BY HEX HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER. —=— : i ty if i i gs if k | i j RE | eggs ij 1 f it i i 3 $8 B ” " CLEVELAND'S Baking Powder.