Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-29

are so great that close scrutiny is needed to limit
reef from the public treasury to the requirements
OF actual necessity or public advantage.
AS the common control OF the various private in
st1tutlons seems 10 be at present impracticable,
the commissioners respectfully suggest that they
DE authorized to appoint an inspector OF charity.
upon whose examination and reports District
appropriations tother than fos the 1nsane) may be
expended or withheld by the Commissioners from
time TO time according to the varying exigencies.
and also suggest that expenditures by the District
Tor the erection OF buildings owned by private
SoclatlonS should be made upon the uniform con-
dtfon that if the building is abandoned for char-
tabe uses 1t shall revert to and become the prop
erty OF the District.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
"The report OF the major of police herewith trans
mitted exhibits what was done by that depart
ment during the year.
The Commissioners have observed growing i'm
proyement In the discipline and efficiency or the
poilce force, and that both officers and men are
Jealous IN the performance OF duty.
Additional legislation in several particulars Is
greatly needed 1t is not necessary to formally re-
peat in relation thereto what was urged In the
last annual report OF the Commissioners, and
brought 10 the attention of Congress nor to point
Out what IS so we'll known. that Washington Is
rapidly becoming large city, and requires regua-
lions more strict than were Necessary in former
times The liquor license law is detective. Hack
men, news boys, bootbacks, and vendors engage in
struggles Oh competition on the principal thorough
Iareo Il the frequent and unnecessary annoyance
OF pedestrians The national capital is visited 0y
great numbers OF strangers and peope from the
states, and for the comfort and convenience of all
there should be exceptionally good police regrla-
lions, as well as TO reduce imposition, fraud, and
crime 10 minimum
Streets and alleys should be well lighted; the
sale OF intoxicating liquors put under strict rega-
uoh, and required 10 pay argeu proportion or the
revenue.
Upon these subjects the Commissioners call es-
peelal attention TO comments and requests OF the
major OF police in his report. and OF Mr. Paigett
special assistant attorney ACCOMMODATING the re.
port OF Attorney Rfddle) and earnestly commend
them TO the favorable consideration OF Congress.
m a M nf,Ti has rod
sented TO by most or the officers and men, that one
do lar per month be deducted from TIE paw OF each
Int -aoer OF the force and added to the police fund
from which. and The income from the present fund,
payments may be made to officers discharged by
reason OF inability incurred in their line OF duty
and, IN case Of death. TO the widow or children
under sixteen years OF age The Commissioners
heartily approve Of this suggestion and ask for ts
favorable consideration.
Complaints are made that the present law does
not sufficiently protect graves from dissertation;
also that fair opportunity TO pursue the study OF
anat meal science is denied to medical students
and the profession in the District. There should
be no just ground Ior either complaint.
Should the regulations found IN the statutes of
most states, and substantially embodied In H. r.
Dill No $3.50. 'for the promotion OF anatomical
science and TO prevent the Dissertation of graves
De enacted as law for the District, the troubles
complained or would doubtless cease, and Lhe Com
-n.Ssioners respectfully recommend them TO the
favorable consideration OF Congress.
In the improbable, but not Impossible, event OF
rOtOuS dlstur Dances In the District, the Com
ml5sioners recourse for their suppression rests
solely upon the police force there being no author
lty vested In them TO call upon any military
organizations as an auxiliary Various organiza-
tons OF that character exist within the District
not subject TO the militia law and as far as the
Commissioners are advised, there is no authority
whatever TO exact service from them, and no
legal obligation on their part 10 render 1t, While
United States troops could do no more than pro-
tect government property II endangered. This
anomalous, If not serious, condition OF affairs Is
brought TO the attention OF Congress.
TIE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The officers and men Of this department are
animated by a desire to make it as nearly perfect
as possible, and perform their respective duties in
that spirit
engine house now being erected on street, and
Tor ten additional men to constitute new CON-
pany. The engine and hose carriage therefor are
alrea y provided.
The growing importance Of the villages OF Mt
fleasant and AnacoStia demands attention In re-
speCt To fires, and the Commissioners recommend
that two or three hydrants be located in the for
mer village, properly connected with the stand
pipe, and that In the latter village large cistern
be constructed, TO be nled from the river
A new engine house In the eastern portion of the
city viii also soon be needed.
The provision made In the last appropriation
act for the District for disabled remen is believed
10 De wise, anu one That should be continued
HEALTH OFFICE.
The accompanying report Of the health oficer
exhibits the work OF his Office and the vital sta
t1stics OF the District for the year.
Although a widespread epidemic tmeasles)
seriously increased the death rate for the year. the
sanitary condition OF the District Is gradually i'm
proving. shown by The average annual death rate
Prior IL 1880 the rate about $50 per thousand
and since then about This improy ernent IS fo,nI
more largely among the cOlored than the white pop-
ulation the rate among the former having been re-
duced from an average OF about 3S5 to 80 per thous
and, and among the white from about 1875 to 1875
This reduction In the mortality rate of the com
btned population from about 25.6 TO 233 makes it
about the same as that OF Chicago, slightly above
that OF Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston. and
considerably below that OF New York; or II the white
population alone be considered, the rate is below
that OF either OF said cities,
The report calls attention to the joint resolution
OF Congress, approved April "a, 1880, which
omitted, In legalizing the health ordinances TO
approve OF sections and g. that provided punish
ment for those who, after due notice. failed to
drain stagnant water upon their premesis In the
populouS quarters or failed 70 provide proper
drainage for their tenement houses
Now that such drainage Is made easy by the ex-
tension OF the sewer system 1t is recommended that
those provisions OF law be revived at least In all
cases where such premises are situated upon
squares al ng which sewer has been constructed
stagnant and unwholeSOme pools OF water, and the
fact that large proportion OF the houses are
rented for limited terms by those unable or unwil-
ing, on account OF their brief occupancy to incur
the expense OF connecting house drainage with a
sewer, while the owner thinks this sanitary meas
ure would add 10 his expense without a CORE
spending increase of rent The resulting neglect
Is the cause OF many nusanceS highly Injurious to
health, and, aside nom threatened epidemic, de-
The report deals at length with the question of
milk, both for It's sanitary importance and as a
subject or popular interest The law provides num-
ishment for unwholesome adulteratlon. There
ported analyses suggest the proprety OF preventing
all adulteration, which is now quite too Common.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The public schools or the District have under the
care and management of the Board OF School
Trustees, continued TO progress mainly TO the sat-
1sfaction OF the public. Criticisms, as CUSTOMARY
are applied TO the course OF StudieSpurSued and to
some OF the methods Of selecting teachers The
Commissioners are gratif1ed TO observe that dill
gent and appreciative care OF the highly important
interests confded TO the board OF trustees charac
teriZes the administration OF their trust.
The commission appointed by the House of Rep
resentetiveS, February 20, 1882, to examine into
tsee Mis-. Doc, NO. IS, H. r. 47th Cong, LIST sess)
the character, condition and fitness OF all build
inSS owned and rented now In use or In process OF
erection for the use OF the public schools OF the
Dlstrict, reported that for the next three four
years at least the sum of 500 600 per annum should
De expended In the construction OF new buildings,
and that, setting all other considerations
ASIDE, IL VIII De much more economical TO make
THIS expenditure than TO pay the rents OF struc-
lures which these new buildings would replace
Thls Recommendation has been acted upon by
congress and since that report some $500 600 have
oeen appropriated and applied TO the purchase Of
sites and the construction OF properly adapted
school buildings
The economy and wisdom OF this course is de-
monstrated as follows:
Appropriations for new buildings and
p 49,, loo<, 100, 1854. $39O,95O 90