Evening Star Newspaper, November 12, 1898, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1898-24 PAGES. — PIANOS AND ORGANS. | — 2 sas " PIANOS AND ORGANS. Oldest Music House in the City. Established 1852. Read Our Great Bargain List ° And if you wish to try a good reliable Piano for a little money cut this out and come and see us. UPRIGHT PIANOS: Ebonized Case, 7/4 Octaves = = = $110 Resewoed Case, 7/4 Octaves = = = $125 Mahogany Case, Octaves = = = = $150 Mahogany Case, Octaves = =-= = $175 Walnut Case, Octaves = = = = $200 Antique Oak Case, taves = = = = §225 BABY GRAND—all mode rn improvements, $375. These Pianos are not new, but in nearly every instance are as good as the day they were made; some we re taken in exchange, and some have been out at rent. At these prices we sell for cash only and no ex- ange. We have quite a number of of various makes and different prices ments. good second-hand Square Pianos that we will sell on very small pay- Always on hand a full line of the best makes of new Pianos— CHICKERING SONS and others. instruments taken in part payment. packed by first-class workmen. and all kinds of Musical Instruments phone talk. At reasonable prices and on accommodating terms and old ianos tuned, repaired, moved and We deal in Sheet Music, Music Books Come in and hear the Gramo- Remember our name and number. JOHN F. ELLIS & CO., 937 Pennsylvania Avenue. — = A Critical Examination of “The Kimball” —PIANO will demonstrate that conse is given to every detail Nothing short of the hi of perfection Will satisfy the manufacturers. ‘The KIMIALL ¢ largest piano factory in the world, m, skill, brat nusies lity are combi This enables kerg to supply high grade instruments at rea- ble prices. EASY PAYMENTS. W.W. Kimball Co., 523 llth St. © HAWL MGR. Buy Your Piano Now. Never get three better chances to get good pianos for litle money Hendsome $350 Upright, grand tone, a fin pent. on Sau Pian cost for. . Good medium-size Sq te nly... GRIMES” PIANO E: nol2-16d y Buy a Stieff Piano? Because ing quality, delicacy and great power of manabip. Because arkable 4 tien to and piancs. Stieff Piano Warercoms Branch of Factory), Eleventh St. N. W. sd : ae J. Cc. CONLIFF, Manager. _ HUGO WORCH, SOLE AGENT FOR SOHMER PIANOS, KRAKAUER PIANOS, Hallet & Davis Pianos, | CAMERON PIANOS. ¥23 F STREET N.W. and glyes com- purchasers. Bargains THE COURTS. 1—Justice Cox. es: Thomas Grant i litem. In re Cath- d atic: petitions scha e Hagner. © dismis: Nathan a D. Phil- we agt. defer Re ainst plaintiff. Riley for new triat filed. I stice Hagner. se J. Otis: will dated Orto. Estate of Geo. B. Harri- j August 16, 1893, filed with | tate of John K. | ition for citation against admin- istrator. Estate of Frank T. McCaffrey: jer appointing guardian ad litem, and an- of said guardian filed. Estate of Mar- Connor: citation returned served. | summons returned e of Mary B. Morse; uckley will fully ank T. Hyam; petition | tration filed. | Knocks Out the GRIP Every Bad Cold Is complicated with Grip. When Grip prevails everything is Grip. At this season of the year Grip is in the air: Grip is everywhere. Colds are all mixed up with Grip. Note how your Cold hangs on, that’s Grip; that’s where it gets its name G-r-i-p— hang on. “77° knocks out the Grip and breaks up Colds that hang on. ber 10, 1892, fi son; will da for lett rs } will be | Ass “EVERYTHING IN THE MUSIC LINE.” WEBER iVERS & POND ESTEY FISCHER LUDWIG FRANKLIN ESTEY ORGANS. The Wonderful Aeoliar the Pianophone. Pianos to rent. WOZ>r=9 and SHEET MUSIC AT LOWEST PRICES. SANDERS & STAYMAN, 1327 F St. N.W. Percy S. Foster, Manager. ned-4t one can be had for $150 $150. Pfeiffer’s Piano Warerooms 929 F Street. One slightly used Land Mahogany U Piano, well-known m new—sells for $300—this nod-16tf FOR MUSIC LOVERS. STEINWAY AND OTHER Pianos For Rent, SALE AND EXCHAN( E. F. DROOP & SONS, ocl4-14tf 925 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. KN ALL STYLES AND WOODS. = BARGAINS IN NEW AND PIANOS OF OTHER MAK IN SECOND-HAND PIANOS. RENT. TU AND MOVING Wm. Knabe & Co., 1422 Pa. Ave. N.W. ocl-21,tf ASSOCIATED CHARITIES up. PIANOS FOR Program of the Approaching Annual Meet- ing Next Wednesday. A Conference on Co-Operative Charity Work Will Be Heid—Other Interesting Features. The annual meeting of the Associated Charities of the Distric§ of Columbia will held on Wednesday evening, November end as good as brand- + 1808S, at 7:4 in the Foundry M. E. Church, corner Mth and G streets north- it. teports of work for the past year will be we and s members of the board of xers for the ensuing year will be ted President Whitman will preside and ad- will be made by repr the leading local charities. The meeting varied from the ordinary annuai meetings and will be in a sense a confer- ence en co-operation in charity work. The ntention is to bring out the relation of the ciated Charities to all other charities. is expected that addresses will be made the superintendent of charities, the :vesident of the Citizens’ Relief Associa- tion, the health officer, the superintendent of the alms house hospital, a representative from the St. Vincent de Paul Society and others. The full program will be announced im a few days. In addition to the addresses, several mu- sical numbers will be rendered by some of the best local talent, including organ vol- untaries by the organist of the Foundry Chureh, Mr. W. K. Cohen, and solos. by Prof. Jasper Dean McFall, Miss Belle Car- penter, Mr. Frank C. Roach and others. —_>—_. TAKOMA PARK. ntatives of The regular monthly meetings of the Takoma Cit- zens’ Association, which were discontinued during the summer, will be hereafter held the third Mon- day in each month. These meetings are regarded as of great importance to the welfare of the commu- aity. as it ts orly by co-operation that matters af- fecting the public interests can be satisfactorily ummnmat °a. - hed its annual visita- 73 of ‘the District of Colum- night at Takoma Hall, when a la s friends were present, the affair being program was as foliows: Address of Welowme by the noble grand, Mr. John BR. Kinnea! Fospomse by the grand master, Mr. W. W. Milla umoroUs solos by |. L. Shacklefor colon by Prof. 8. B. Clementa, core and banjo ‘The congregation of the Presbyterian church made an inspecticn, upon invitation, last Wednesday ev ing, of the new manse which was recently present ed to the church by one of its members,” The offi. cers of the church, Messrs. Webb, Clark, Shedd and Knight, formed’ the reception committee. on of the zrand ottice: Thareday At druggists or sent prepaid; price. 25e. ai See.; large pocket flask, $1.00.' Dr. Humphreys’ Manual at druggists or sent free. Humphreyr’ Med. Co., Cor. William and John Sts. New York. Be sure to get H-U-M-P-H-R-E-Y-S Miss S. A. Dawson of Dawsonville is at present guest of her sister, Mrs. ‘Thomas Waters at the park ‘The Takoma home department of Bapt Church were, entertained “Wednesday, erent oy Houy’ avenue. Mrs, J. B. Kinnear at ber bome on ACTUAL -CONDITIONS What a Tour of Observation Through the New City Post Office Reveals. A TINDER BOX AT THE TOP Leaky Roofs, Loose Windows and Other Inexcusable Features. SEWERAGE FACTS Several da s ago The Evening Star pub- lished a statement regarding the policy that has guided those responsible for the erection of the new city post office “which was given out by Mr. Thomas C. Steward, the ex-superintendent, recently removed. In the course of his declarations, Mr. Stew- ard made some vigorous charges. When the attention of those in charge of the su- pervising architect's office at the Treasury Department was called to these, they were dismissed with the remark that they were similar to a “last year’s bird nest.” This allegorical disposal of some very vital ques- tions probably satisfied the authorities, but not the general public, which has become weary of the persistence with which the supervising architect and several of his predecessors in office have ignored the in- stances of neglect, delay and inefficiency which have characterized the history of the building since its censtruction was begun. In order to ascertain just what the condi- tion of the building is and to form a dis- interested opinion concerning the charges brought against the building, a reporter of The Star was assigned to the duty of making a journey of observation through it. He had never been below the first or nove the second story of the building. Realizing that he required the assistance s a guide of some one familiar with the ast edifice, he ed the services of ex- Superintendent Steward, and Thursday af- ternoon proceeded to fi!l his gnment and aver to ascertain just what a last r's bird’s nest in the ne of an un- finished public building costing two and a half millions of dollars in the capital city of the nation w really like. Carelessness at the Start. After entering, the rough planking stair- way surrounding the east elevator shaft Was mounted and the second floor reached. Here a stop was made, and the reporter looked out into the cortile upon the inner 3 roof which covers the prospective Washi post office. All around the u in the cortile workmen were € zed in finishing the interior, plac- ing in position the heavy white plaster molding: The which will decorate the interior. sloping sides of the glass roof were z a thick board covering, which "a Were removing in small sections in order to ascertain if any damage had been done beneath, temporarily leaving e: cellent glass targets to be shivered by any debris that may fall at any moment from the heights above. The immense flat gla deck of the roof, however, was devoid o: protection save for the flimsy wire netting over the glass, and the observer noted many of these broken and a force of work- men engaged in replacing them, though this was being done when, left unpro- » they were liable to be smashed as a natural query. Inquiry from jrecting this work of repair devel- that 168 of the glass lights in the had been broken, at a cost of a total expense to date of s rior work on the cortile,”” he volunteered, “didn’t call for any covering on the main deck, but only on the slopes, but the department is mak- ing the contractors for the interipr work put in all the lights that were destroyed, and they are doing it under protest.” aky Ceilings. The reporter made his way to the avenue front on the second floor and went into two rooms under the balcony on the east and w des of the tower. In the east room w. $s weakly dripping from one or two pl in the ceiling, upon which the plaster was yet placed. In the room to the west substantial puddles were floor from the same cause. ne two formed on the The roof, which is the floor of the balcony above, made of the conc-ete, is covered with cement, which h: cracked in every direction, and this permit- ted such leak: even in such a light rain as that of Thursday OW notorious rotten Condemned Windows. An employe in the eastern room ra window, and the repo rattled when it went up. “They are all that way all over the build- Ing, id the man, ‘The windows haven't ised a r noticed how it any parting strips on the outside. There'll be a fine loi of pneumonia ¢ here when the clerks get in nd the cold winds come the cracks.” remainder of his exploration the tested windows on all sides of the building. und they Nt the same. It is not in ihe lea 2 tion ta say that no person having the t kind of a hoase built would permit such windows to be placed in ft, or allow them to stay in if a contractor put them there. Not only are they loose and draughty, but the wood- work of the frames on the exterior is rough afd in many pla s uneven as if hacked in thro On the report with a dull jack knife. Friday when the wind blowing strongly it was possible to see the win- dcws on the north front of the building m the north e of Pen Ivania av violently shaking. It was only neces- ury to watch the reflection in the panes of the buildings on the north side of the ave- ue to see what flimsy holdings keep the windows in place. All these windows were condemned by ex-Superintendent Steward when he was in 1 records show, but de- hortcomings the super- Mr. Taylor, decided to re- tain them. é will all be replaced with something appropriate when the build- ing is occupied is a certainty, because no one otherwise could safely ‘oceupy the rooms in cold weather. Proceeding upward it was plainly notice- able even to the unpracticed eye that the tile work which covers the walls and which is in turn to be coated with white plaster was in many places hurriedly put together, while the mortar on other walls, also to be covered with similar plaster, was evi- dently put on carelessly, as it was frequent- ly cracked, and in many places was almost as thin as a buckwheat cake. ‘ Fire-Proof Construction? The ninth story of the building is a travesty on “fire-proof construction.” The attic above is another. One everywhere sees wood-lined walls and pine-covered recesses. The “unfinished rooms,” as many of the apartments in the ninth’ story are termed, but which are completed so far as. the supervising architect and his plans are concerned, have this wooden lining, and every dormer window in the attic is lined with tongued-and-grooved pine. The two elevator shafts on the east and west sides open into tinder boxes of this “unfinished room’ character. All these rooms and recesses are connected at the outside walls by small apertures through which drafts have complete play. On the ninth floor the entrances to the “unfinished rooms” are completely barred at every door opening by immense ventilat- ing ducts of galvanized iron about 3% feet high and equally wide. If doors are placed in these doorways, as the specifications provide, they will open upon these barri- cades as described. At intervals are em- brasures entering from the portico, giving smal] entrances at the rear to these rooms. The only use to which these apartments can be possibly put will be storage, and in the course of time they will probably be filled with documents and papers, and such other inflammable things. It is apparently the idea of the supervising architet’s office that fire can never get up that high. A Story to the Point. These conditions reminded the writer of an incident in his early experience as a re- porter. Up to the time the United States patent office was devastated by fire in 1878 there was a popular impression that it was a fire-proof building. The fire therein started in the 9th street wing midway between F and G streets in the lofty space under the roof, where tons of paper records were stored. The writer, as a reporter, was with that fire from the time the engines arrived, the offic! about 9:30 in the ing, until it was con- trolled around ‘nt e@enter of the 7th street wing. The fire fol! the roof in both di- rections on 9th street from the point where it originated, along F street to the center, where the front commands Sth street, and to G street, where JX followed the roof a far as 7th street, and then to the point where it was arrested, . What the Builder Said. That night the Writer called on old Mr. Mohun, now ont ce was a builder of note for many Lkeavé here, and who had performed the work of building the patent office roof many yéars ago. “Mr Mohun,” inquired the reporter, “was the patent office’foof regarded by you as fire-proof?” ‘The old gentl tioner in astonis! “Why, of course, it was fire-proof,” ejacu- jated the worthy old gentleman in his rich and, well-remembered Miiesian accent, “of course, it was fire-proof. It was made of the very best tongue-and-grooved Georgia pir> and was thirty feet above the floor. Who'd ever thought that fire would get up there?” This incident came forcibly back to Tne Star reporter's memory when he investigat- ed the upper part of the new city post office ‘Thursday, and he fervently hoped that his- tory would not repeat itself in this instanc Cutting Walls to Reach Steam Va On the eighth story many tell-tale marks on the now white finished walls gave mute evidence of more blundering on the part of those responsible for the plans of construc- tion. These marks indieite where cuttings will have to be de through the solid walls in order to allow access to the valves of the steam pipes, which are now bricked up behind them. ‘Inquiry developed that when the genius of the supervising archi- tect’s office had devoted itelf to the impor- tant duty of preparing the plans for the interior finish of the eighth story no suit- 2 provision was made for access to the steam pipe valves. Over forty of these openings are marked out to be cut and fit- ted with frames, doors, etc., and the ex- pense must be met, of cours under the head of that all-absorbing item known as “extras.” A Grandfather's Clock. In and from the vantage of the tower The Star reporter had an opportunity to see several things. In these days of elec- tricity and progress the clock in the tower is almost a reminder of the Pliocene age. It is wound by hand! Every week some- body with well-developed muscles must mount the heights and with a big wrench wind up the heavy weights that hang in wooden box—everything seems to be wood- en up aloft--that extends through the floor and the lower apartment. If by any forget- fulne: an looked at his ques- ment. Me or carelessness this duty is un tended at the proper time, the clock will stop. On the lookout platform above the clock the cement is cracked numerous places, and as the concrete under it Is of the rotten variety the clock {s assured of frequent baths when a hard rain and a high wind, occasional in this climate, come to- gether. in The Roof on Top. ‘There are entrances opening out upon the roof from the tower and the reporter went out to see what this cover of the last year’s bird’s nest looked like. The glass which affords light to the corteil is in heavy plates, which are covered at their. junctions by strips of copper probably an inch wide. The edges of the plates do not lap, as Is usually the case in such construc- tion, but merely meet edge to edge. The sides of the plates are also covered where they meet with ‘strips of copper. ‘These strips are, in many places observed by the reporter, already warped, there being in frequent instances openings easily a quar- ter-inch wide bétween the glass beneath and the strips abéve. What the condition up above there willbe When the coming win- ter gets its work in will be probably an- other problem fog ‘‘extras” to solve. Descending, the reporter paused long enough on the fifth‘’or executive floor to visit some of thé apartments. It was no- ticed that “open:’ plumbing was predomi- nant if steam and return pipes and others running perpendicularly up outside th alls can be takenias evidences of this modern style of :the art, The large room at the yutheast corner of the fifth floor, is intended for the use of the Postmaster General. Right in the cor- ner at the junction ef llth street and C street. walls. i furret. Three windows look cut upon a splendid view of the cit and the country .as far as the eye can fol- low the Potomac up and down. This ad- mirable and cozy opportunity for quiet re- tirement dnd reflyction, or consultation with intimates is being equipped with a water closet and stationary wash basin‘ The reporter then picked his way down ent. In the rear, behind the immense e occupied by the heating and ventilating departments, will be the down-stairs portion of the local post office. re located the toilet rooms, etc. In connection with this subject and what will follow there is a Uttle bit of history that wil! be of interest. Some Established Facts. Soon after his first assignment to duty as superintendent of construction, and while the preliminaries were being ar- ranged for the construction of the new building, Mr. Steward states that he had several interviews with the then supervis- ing architect (Mr. Edbrooke) in relation to the disposal of the sewage in the time of high er in the river. Having been in the city at the time of the flood of 1889. and having seen back water in lith a 12th streets nearly up to the avenue line, Mr. Steward maintained that it would be necessary to have a large reservoir under lith street sidewalk of sufficient capacity to contain the sewage of the entire build- ing when occupied, for eight or ten day to be used in case of overflow emergenc; He strongly urged that such provision be made. Upon reinstatement as superin- tendent in June, 1897, on his first. round through the basement with a gentieman who had been on duty there during the in- terval of nearly four years, Mr. Steward asked if such a storage reservoir had been built or planned, and was informed that it had not He insists now ,that something of this character will have to be provided before the business to be transacted in that build- ing will be reasonably safe from serious in- terruptions when the river is at flood tide, or when the city is visited by heavy or long-continued rain storms. If the down spouts had been provided with cut-offs, so that the great volume of water from the roof could be thrown into the streets in- stead of into the sewers of the building, the risks of overflow on ordinary occasions, he states, would be greatly reduced. With the present arrangement all the roof water Is discharged into the sewers within the build- ing, and it has already been demonstrated on August 12 last, for instance, that these seWers are not of sufficient capacity for the rain water alone. The supervising architect has just con- tracted, at extra cost to the government, for placing automatic gate valves between the basement toilet rooms and main sew- ers, to prevent the water from backing up through the many water closets, slop sinks and wash basins. This device will proba- bly answer the purpose for which it is in- troduced, but it has not yet been explained how these toilet, x90ms can be used while the main sewer 4g. fyll and the valves are closed, peed An Expert diusaber’s Opinions. In the southeast’eérher room of the base- ment The Star fepg}ter met a man who was apparently qirgeting the force of plumbers now at werk. He stated there were five toflet/¥oéms in the basement, containing in all,fyreqty-two water closets, with requisite slep hpppers, sinks, troughs and wash basins,,,These toilet rooms were to be used by theless and other employes of the city post,pffise proper and the em- ployes in the hegting and ventilating de- partments and. ptheg, places in the base- ment. All the sewerage from the base- ment, he said,;went,,out into the main sewers surroungieg ime building by con- necting pipes. Ip,Awgust the water backed up through thegg,.cognecting pipes, forced out the plugs them stopping them and let water out in the basement in large quanti- ties. Upon this it; was decided to put the stop gates in. the connecting pipes. The gates, he said, worked automatically, so that when the main sewers are full and the water backed {nto the connécting pipes the gates will close a prevent further inflow. “In case the gates are closed, is there any way for the sewage from the basement to get out?” inquired; the reporter. - “None at all,” was the response, “What would be'the result if the closets, wash basins and ‘troughs were used while the gates were ¢dfosed? Would the con- necting pipes to the points where the gates are be sufficient to? tere : “Why, certainly’ not,” replied the man. “The connecting. pipes ‘are small affairs. These efosets you see here have extra-size flush tanks connected ‘with them. One pull is sufficient to fil the bowl. ~In~case the re facilities in these toilet rooms were used while the stop gates were closed this sew- age would all be forced out into the rooms.” Further inquiry developed that in the nine upper stories there were about 160 water closets with the usual supply of sinks, wash basins, slop hoppers and troughs, the refuse from which went direct to the main sewers from the first story. The man, experienced plumber as he was, gave it as his opinion that in case a heavy rain occurred when the main sewers were full, as they usually are on such occasions in this neighborhood, the sewage from the eight stories over the first story would be forced out through the closets in the lat- ter story because the same pipes would have to receive and carry off the water that fell on the several acres of roof on top of the building. CALLS FOR JUDICIAL ACTION Opinion of Attorney Thomas Upon Internal Revenue Office Ruling. Question Whether Tax Certificates Is- sued by District Assessor Are Subject to War Tax. The attorney for the District today ren- dered an opirion in reply to a communica- tior from Acting Commissioner of Tuternal Revenue Wilson, who held that certificates issued by the assessor of the District of Columbia, under the act of Congress ap- proved May 13, 1892, relating to tax sales and taxes in the District, are liable to a stamp duty of 10 cents. This tax, it is un- derstood, was demanded under the act of June 13, 1898, entitled “An act to provide ways and means to meet war expenditures, and for othar purposes.” The attorney was arcked for an opinion whether, in view of section 17 of the war revenue act, tax cer- tifleates issued by the assessor must be stamped. “The act of Congress of May 12, 1892," he sta ‘amending the act of February 6, 1879, in regard to tax certificates, makes it the duty of the assessor, when requested, to furnish, in addition to regular tax bills, a certified statement under his hand and official seal of all taxes and assessments, general and special, due and unpaid at the time of making said certificate; and for each and every certifi 0 furnished by the assessor the party requesting the same shall pay into the treasury of the District a fee of 50 cents. “Section 17 of the war revenue act pro- vides: ‘That all bonds, debentures or cer- utes of irdebtednes ned by the off- cers of the United States government, or officers of any state, county, town, mu- nicipal corporation or other corporation ex- ercising a taxing power, shall be, and here- by are, exempt from the stamp duty re- quired by this act; provided that it is the intent hereby to exempt from the stamp or other municipal cise only of fune- tons strictly belonging to them in their or- dinary governmental taxing or municipal capacity.” Section Twenty-Five. ‘ection 25 declares, among other things, specified In this act 10 cents shall be col- lected.” ‘venue act expressly exempts certificates issued by municipal corpora- ticns in =xecution of their municipal or gov- ernmental furctions from tax du’ “Whether these tax certificates are ex- empt from stamp duty under the war rev- enue act depends upon the question waether they are Issued in the exercise of municipal functions. If they are, then plainiy they ‘ section 17 of the revenue ssued to pri- vate individuals for their private use and benefit. “The act under which these tax certifi- cates are issued makes it the duty of the assessor to furnish them ‘whenever called upon’ to do so, and requires ‘the party re- questin, ame’ to pay to the District a fee of 50 cents for each certificate. “In Mr. Wilson's letter it is suggested ruling of the internal revenue de- that tax certificates issued by sessor of the District of Columbia jle to taxation ‘is founded upon sev eral opinions of the Attorney General 1 On application for copies of the opinions to which Mr. Wilson refers, I haye been furnished with a memorandum of an opinicn by Mr. Assistant Attorney General Boyd, holding that tax certificates issued by the controller of the city of New Orleans are Hable to a tax of 10 cents under the war revenue act, because issued for private benefit and Interest. “I have examined the published opinions of the Attorney General, and after a some- what careful research have been unable to find one which involved the precise ques- tion now submitted to me for consideration. “Assuming that tax certificates issued by the controller of the city of New Oritans are liable to taxation, that does not prove that tax certificates issued by the assessor of the District of Columbia are also liable. The relation between this District and the United States must be taken into account. Duty of Official. “The seventh section of the war revenue act makes it the duty of the official issuing the certificate—not the individual receiving it—to aMx the stamp. This provision, if it applies to the assessor, contemplates that he shall have revenue stamps. How is he to get them? Plainly not out of his private funds. If the District of Columbia sup- plies the stamps, then under the provisions of the act of June 11, 1878, one-half the cost is charged to the United States and one-half to the District. It will not be con- tended, I think, that Congress intended such a result. It has been held by the Su- preme Court that a municipal corporation is not stibject to taxation by Congress or its municipal revenues. (United States agt. railroad company, 17 Wall., 322.) “No duty is imposed upon private indi- viduals requesting certificates to furnish stamps, and no penalty is impcsed upon that th them for receiving certificates without sten-Ds. “It is plain, I think, that our tax cer- Uficates are issued by the ass2ssor in the exercise of municipal functions. It is im- material that they are for the private use and benefit of persons receiving them. But, for the sak> of the argument, suppose tax certificates partake both of mrunicipal and private functions, then, as said by Attorney General Hoar, ‘to attempt to separate those functions of a municipal corporation which are of a private nature from those which are public and political, and apply the in- ternal r2venue laws to the former, and to compel such a corporation to obey ‘those laws, would be attended with such practi- cal difficulties and might involve such an interference with the affairs of towns cnd cities by the United States, that an inten~ tion to.do so on ths part of Congress ougat not to be presumed from doubtful expres- sions. (13 Op. Att’y’s Gen'l, 76.) Not Clearly Defined. “If the burden of stamping tax certifi- cates issued by the assessor is imposed by the war revenue act upon private indi- viduals, 1t is not clear from tha language of the statute. “Story, Justice, sald (Adams vs. Ban- croft, 3 Sumner, 384): ‘Duties are never im- posed upon the citizens upon doubtful in- terpretation, for every duty imposes a bur- den upon the public at large and Is con- stru2d strictly and must be made out in a clear and determinate manner from the language of the statute.’ “Now, does it appear ‘in a clear and de- terminate manner’ from the language of the war revenue act, that the burden of stamping tax certificates, issued by the assessor of the District of Columbia, is up- on pri\¢‘e individuals? I cannot reach the conclusion that it is. « “In my judgment, the questions presented by this referenc2, affecting as they do the public revenues, sre too important to be disposed of by a mere advisory opinion. The matter should if possible be decided judicially.” id The opinion of their attorney will n> for- warded by the Commissioners to the com- missioner of internal revenue, and they will probably await his reply before taking further action in the matter. —_——___ A Fugitive Clergyman, Rey. Dr. Lee, pastor of the largest Meth- odist church in Wilmington, N..C., is in Washington, a fugitive from his home. He was one of the colored leaders ordered to}. leave. Dr. Lee was at one time pastor of a church in this city, and’ is well ‘known here. —_—.—_ If you want work read the want columns of The Star. LITHIA WATER “A Veritable Antidote” A Distinguished and Despairing Physician is Made Whole. Dr. WILLIAM H. DRUMMOND, Professor of Medical Jurisprudence, University, Montreal, Canada: Bishop's “‘In the Acute and Chronic Nephritis (Bright’s Disease of the Kidneys) of Gouty and Rheumatic Origin, as well as in the BUFFALO LITHIA WATER nancy, I have found graver Albuminuria of Preg- to act as a veritable anti. dote, and I know of no other natural agent possessing this important quality.” Dr. G. A. FOOTE, of Warrenton, N. C., ex-President Stale Medical Socicty, Sormerly Member of the State Board of Medical Examiners, and also of the State Board of Health: “Thad, in January, 1893, a violent attack of ‘grip,’ which was soon followed by the complications of ascites, cardiac trouble, etc., and rapidly My ph: examination of my urine, found by volume into severe nephritis or Bright's. developed cians, Drs. King and Jerman, upon ty-five per cent. albumen, which test was frequently corroborated by subsequent examinations, showing also casts and low specific gravity. My nephritic trouble gradually grew worse, and I declined in weight from one hundred and ninety-five to one hundred and thirty-five pounds. In this condition, with little if any hope of relief from any remedy, I visited the BurraLo LirHia SpRiInGs of use of the Waters for some cight weeks. ing the Springs, by Dr. E. C. Laird, resident _p) Virginia, making free sof the urine soon after reach- sician, confirmed the examina- tions previously made. Other analyses, however, by Dr. Laird, from time to time showed a gradual diminution, and finally a total disappearance, of both albumen and casts, and the urine in a normal condition. I continued the use of the Waters several months at home. Leaving the Springs, At the expiration of some two years there has been no return of any unpleasafit symptom, and I am nowas well asI ever wasin my life,and a living monument to the virtues of that afflict mankin: BUFFALO LITHIA WATER is sold by Draggists and Grocers generally. It isan undoubted sitive remedy for man Anillustrated book ¢ be procured on request, containing the testimony of the most famous physicians of this country and Europe, as to the wonderful power of BUFFALO LiTnia WaTex in Gout Rheo: “PROPRIETOR, BUFFALO tism, Bright's Disease, Gravel, Indigestion, Nervous Dyspe) Exhaustion, Malaria, Alcoholism, Eczema and Blood Disorde: Send for the book and judge for yc LITHIA SPRINGS, VIRGINIA, a, Nervous Disenses of self. Address RS Celebration Tomorrow of Important Religious Anniversaries. ALEXANDRIA AFFAI PROGRAMS OF THE EXERCISES Movement in Progress to Form New Military Company. NOTES OF GENERAL INTEREST Evening Star Bureau, No. 727 King Street. Bell Telephone No. 106. ALEXANDRIA, Va., November 12, 1898. Arrangements were completed last night for the semi-centennial celebration to be held at the M. E. Church South Sunday morning and evening. In the morning the pastor, Rev. J. T. Williams, will preach a sermon in line with the subject, and in the afternoon an old-time consecration meeting will be held. The program for the evening celebration comprises a history of the church, covering the entire fifty years of its existence; brief biographical sketches of the ministers who have served the charge, and the rendition of appropriate musical and literary selections. A large number of por- traits of the church’s pastors have been secured and will be exhibited from the walls. Pictures of the butlding, as it was before the war, as it is now, and the pro- posed new structure, will also be shown. The church was organized early in June, 1848, from the old Methodist Episcopal Church congregation, about one-half draw- ing away. The congregation then was about 200; the membership is now about 0, Faneral of Wm. P. Wools. Funeral services were held at 10 o'clock this morning at St. Mary’s Church over the remains of Mr. Wm. P. Wools, whose death occurred last Thursday morning in Brook- lyn, N. Y. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Father Cutler of St. Mary’s, and at- tended by a large number of friends and relatives. The pallbearers were Messrs. Walter Roberts, Samuel Fisher, S. H. Lunt, A. A. Warfield, Thomas Hoy and Lind- sey. The body was interred in the Catholic cemetery. The deceased was eighty-two years of age, and well known in this city, where he spent his boyhood and youth, and where he paid frequent visits in later life. He went to Brooklyn many years ago. Mr. Wools was the father of W. P. Wools of this city and Mr. Stephen Wools of Richmond. Meeting of Company F. A meeting of the members of Company F (now disbanded) has been called for Mon- day night, at which matters pertaining to the organization of a new local military company will be discussed. Since the Alexandria Light Infantry was converted into a United States volunteer company the question has arisen as to what !ts fu- ture relation would be in regard to the oc- cupancy of Armory Hall, which was in pos- session of the old organization. This ques- tion is still unsettled, and, it is understood, will be a subject of discussion. An elec- tion for officers will be necessary should it be determined to form a new company. Lieutenants Fisher and King, formerly of Company F, are prominently spoken of as captain. Captain R. H. Atkinson, it is said, is expected to receive an appointment in the regular army. Anniversary Celebration. Special services will be held in the Meth- odist Protestant Church tomorrow at 11 o'clock, a.m. in observance of the seven- tieth anniversary of the Maryland an- nual conference of that denomination. Rev. H. C. Cushing will deliver the morning sermon on the subject “The Doctrine and Polity of the Church,” and Nevelle 8. Greenway of this city will read an his- torical sketch of the local church. ‘The observances will be continued in the evening service by a sermon from the pas- tor, Rev. Thos. E. Revelle, on “Discovery. and an address by James R. Caton of this on “The Institutions of tne Church.” Alexandria church was organized ‘April. 24, 1828, with a smali membership, but then its congregation has a ae) greatly > Police Court. ‘The following cases were before Mayor = Simpson in the police court this mornin Stella Smith and Laura Edmonds, both colored, charged with ringing door be forfeited collateral by non-appearance Carrie Meyers, colored, charged with as- aulting Ella Smith, also colored, was fine $2.50. Joseph Holland, colore a with was also fined $2.50, it appearing from the evidence of other witnesses that his state- ments were Bot correct. Generul Matters. Last night the United States transport Leonidas came up the river and anchored off Alexandra. She was in charge of Will- iam Luckett, first officer of the Norfolk and Washington mer Norfo! This morning she passed up the river to Wash- ington. It is stated that Officer Luckett has been detziled to pilot several more transports to the navy yard in Washing- ton. Cards have been issued for the marriage of Miss Sarah Mackason Mac n and Mr. Boyez Dansard, both of Monroe, Mich., at Trinity Episcopal Church, November 23. Miss MacLean is well known in this city, where she has relatives and many friends. Capt. R. W. Gailiard of Fairfax county Was severely hurt a few days since on his way to this city, in a runawe He is reported better this morning. A game of foot ball will be plaved this afternoon at the Episcopal High School be- tween a team from the school and one from Bethel Military Academy, near Warren- ton, Va. A pretty marriage ceremony took place Thursdey night at 1118 King street. the parties being Miss e Lee, daughter of Mr. Philip Frye of Frederick county, Va and Mr. Albert Bondurant of this city, B J. Howard Wells officiating. The will make their future home on Washington street, this city Word has been received of the marriage South of Miss Sarah Jane Carson, youngest daughter of Rey. Thos. E. Car to Mr. Hugh Conway Penn in Roanoke, Va. Miss Carson, several years ago, spent four years in this city, where her father was pastor of the M. E. Church South George Hough was fined $50 yesterCay by Mayor Simpson for carrying concealed weapons. rderous Assault. A row in Joseph Weidman’s saloon, on Henry street near King, between George Hough and E. C. Ramey led to a murder- ous assault attempted by Hough on Ramey with a pistol at the intersection of King and Henry streets between 11 and 12 o'clock Thursday night. The details of the case were heard before Mayor Simpson in the Police court yesterday morning. The evi- dence was, in effect, that Hough had some trouble with Ramey in the saloon and had gone out and lain in wait for him, hiding behind the railroad watch box at that place. When Ramey and the saloon keeper came out the man emerged from his hiding place and approached, brandishing the re- volver. It was quickly wrenched from his hand and he was knocked down by a pow- erful blow on the head, inflicting an ugly wound. Officer Ticer and Lieut. Smith ap- peared and made the arrest. After hearing the evidence, Mayor Simp- son stated that, though the prisoner was drunk, he guilty of a crime which might be punishable with several years in the penitentiary, but that he proposed to inflict a punishment for the offense of ca rying concealed weapons. He carefully drew the line between cases where the con- cealed weapon was a perfectly harmless one and the case in point, and referred to the fact that superficial readers of newspa- per accounts were often amazéd to see the same charge recorded against prisoners and different fines imposed. The fine for this case was $50. en cone Yeliceman Fined and Warned. Policeman L. L. Shannon, who was re- cently charged with leaving his beat and entering a saloon, has been found guilty by Trial Officer Pugh. ‘he officer stated in his defense that, being ill, he entered the place to get a drink of blackberry wine and ginger, but was called out before he could be served. Major Sylvester, the chief of police, has recommended that the officer be fined $10 and warned against any further neglect of duty, and the recommendation has been approved by Commissioner Wight. Bon . Ami Removes ONLY THE DIRT DOES NOT INJURE OR GOES MOT WEAR DELICATE SURFACES, =