National Republican., 1882-12-01
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS.
[ooSrrSvrD FROM rmsr rAoxl

[coNrNuED FROM FIRST rAoxl
June 10, 1878, aud June q, 1879. have been COM
Uleted resulting IN reduc ion Of 81 S57 g. ~
lether with 10 per cent. delinquent Interest, run
ming from 1--WE TO ten ycnrs. Estimating This
interest for five years only Il Is seen that the re-
lief to properly on which these assessments for
over S2,000,00O. Still fuither concessions are
strenuously urged by interested parties and their
agents. kememosrinE ~, however mat such c9nees-
payers, but OF n favored few against whom these
special assessments were levied for special benefits
received the Commissioners felt bound to take n
firm stand against any further action In this di-
rection, by which this asset of the District will be
lowered below the amount required for the pay
ment of the outstanding liabilities, toward which
they arc specifically pledged.
WASHINGTON ASYLUM.
This institution has steadily improved during the
year In every requirement OF an establishment OF
record the death OF George A. Caswell. late COM
missioner and intendant, under whose Intelligent
management tue asylum made marked advances
in general character and efficiency.
Since the last report the process OF transforming
one of the magazine buildings into ward has
been completed. Ii is now one of the most COM
fortable aud best appointed apartments Of its kind
and is occupied by the colored male paupers.
The present commissioner and intendant reiter-
ates the recommendation OF his predecessor, that
house Of refuge or rcformatury be established as a
branch of the asylum, where juveniles committed
for petty ofenses may be kept apart from the har-
dened criminals with whom they at present are
compelled to associate in the workho The
Commissioners Join In this recomme dation, and
invite the attention OF Congress to the report ofthe
commissioner of the asylum on that subject.
Tho female prisoners have leen transferred
from the almshouse to the workhofse and the in
stuton relieved of the discreditable necessity of
imposing the company of criminals upon those
who are compelled by poverty TO seek alinshouse
The report contains further interesting details,
which ale well worthy oil attention
INDUSTRIAL HOME SCHOOL. -s.. .....
Accompanying this report is communication
from the managers of the Industrial Home
School. The object of this institution is to train
dependent youths in habits of useful industry.
The details of the management OF this school dur-
lug the year are set firth in said communication,
to which attention Is invited.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The provision OF the District appropriation act
OF July i, 1882 reducing The board of school truS-
tees 10 nine members was duly executed. The
smaller number has proved TO be adequate TO all
demands OF the business incident to the admin /.
istraLon of the public schools.
The various duties imposed by law in regard to
the erection aud repair OF school, houses, have
been performed.
The Jefferson building, burned at the close OF
last winter has been reconstructed and furnished.
The addition to the schoolbyilding near Howard
the High School, Gales. and Webster buildings in
Washington, were duly completed. The contract
for steam; healing and yentilating the Gales and
1882 provided for its performance on or before the
1st of November. An inconvenient delay has oc-
than few days after the LIST Of December. The
three buildings provided for in the of July /,
1882, Grc in course of erection, and will he ready
tur occupancy before the beginning OF the next
school-year.
The continuation of the policy pursued by Con-
grGss for several years past of erecting District
Du idngS for school purposes is earnestly recon-
medded. The rented rooms are, almost without
exception, badly ventilated and lighted and In.
conveniently arranged; many VI them have been
condemned by the health officer. The alterations
and repairs necessary in this class of rooms are
expensive, and the rents much larger than
would be reasonable If the rooms were to be used
for other purposes. A steady adherence for a few
years To the policy recommended will free the
District from tine necessity OF making these exor.
bitant expenditures. The location Of new build
ings should be selected with view to abanuon.
ing as soon as practicable, the practice of renting
The Commissioners recommend also the dedica-
tion 10 school purposes of the western part OF
square 446 the eastern part OF said square being
already occupied by the High School and Henry
buildings.
claim has recently been made that the ap.
propiations for school purposes should be divided
between the white and colored schools of the
District of Columbia iu proportion to the respec.
tive numbers OF white and coiored children of
school age In those cities. The Commissioners
are not informed whether the claim applies to
the duty Of Congress 10 mako appropriations un-
der that rule or 10 the duty OF The Commissioners
to apply appropriations under that rule, and not
az ordered by Congress- Since the act OF June IL,
1878, organizing one board ior the care and man
ngement Of all the schools and enacung the policy
Of specific appropriations for District purposes OIL
detailed estimates, tue practice of the Commits
sioners has been To obey the appropriation act in
| mated. Where no specific object has been desig-
mated, but terms Of general character have been
used, for example, in appropriations for repairs,
the money has been applied according 10 the
actual needs OF the schools and not according to
the color Of the pupils They know of no injus-
tce resulting from this practice, or sound objec-
tion to IL; and it is much more simple of adminis
tration than appoitionment by fractional census
| numbers would be. For great many years the
taNtf tpra
piled without reference to color, and no resulting
wrong or Inconvenience has been complained of.
Its teachers have been selected with unusual
care. There are nearly 400 pupils, including both
sexes. healthful spirit of study is general, and
the school bids fair to be eminently successful.
The Increased facilities for obtaining at home an
excellent practical education have awakened in
the community new interest in tue public school
system and have stimulated to diligence and ef-
tort the pupils In tue lower. and especially in the
grammar grades The Commissioners cordially
the seventh and eighth divisions to your fostering
care
For detailed information in regard to the public
schools reference is made to the appended report
of the board OF school trustees.
CHARITIES.
Under the requirement of the act Of July /, 1878
due supervision has been maintained by the COM
missoners over the various institutions of charity
to which appropriations are made by Cons sress,
and they have been called upon to make reports
Of receipts and expenditures, which are herewith
transmitted.
POLICE
The report of the major Of police embraces the
work of the department under his control during
the year. giving In detail important statistics in
relation to the criminal class, the INDECENT sck,
| the insane, and the transportation of on-resi-
dent paupers.
He renews his previous recommendation for an
increase of the force, aud the necessity of provd
ing for the care OF officers who are disabled from
| Recommendation. to which the Commissioners re-
| spectfully ask the attention of Congress.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The fro department continues to merit its well
Additional companies are recommended by the
board Of fire commissioners in the rapidly grow
ing sections of the city.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT..
The health officer contributes thoroughly pre- :
pared report, accompanied by important statistics.
which embrace much valuable information,
the District, tho work OF the poundmaster, the
abatement of nuisances. and many valuable sug
gestions worthy the earnest attention of Congress
HARBoRMAsTER.
The corporation OF Washington, lust before It's
charter was repealed abolished the Offices of
bormasters of Washington. This was, 10 say the
least, questionable measure. and from that time
until recently there was no one with authority TO
regulate the movements OF the shipping in the
hRrbor of this city.
In response to urgent demands an officer Of the
Metropolitan Police has been assigned to the
special duty OF enforcing as far as practical an
observance OF the laws on the subject, and the
measure has thus fur met with general approval.
1t is, however too important duty to be dis
charged in that provisional way. and the Com
missioners have put an item in their estimates for
1884 for the salary OF g regular harbormnsler,
whose compensation the fees of his office win al
NEST, If not wholly, suffice to meet.
The report of the officer who temporarily per-
formed tho duty of acting harbormaster Is ap.
pended hereto.
STEAM RAILWAYS.
The present status of the steam railways in this
District is most unsatisfactory one, not only 10
It's citizens, but TO the arrangements of the rUads