Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-01

DECEMBER /
made payable In installments a recommended
for the charges on account of the water main
and the Geological Park.
FOOL SELLING.
The Commissioners, in common with ths
rest Of the community, are conscious Of tie un-
satisfactory condition of the law in regard to
pool selling. Pool selling, by either express
terms Of statutes or by Judicial construction,
and that whether upon horse racing or base
ball playing. The experience In this District
has been very sad TO many families in this
matter for want of Q sharp, comprehensive Law
against this tempting method Of gambling, that
shau apply to the whole District
THE LIQUOR TRAY1Ic.
In their last annual report, the Commits
sioners said, THE law regulating the issue of
licenses for the sale Of Intoxicating drinks in
the District of Columbia Is not satidsctory."
This is still true with the added emphasis of
another years experience. To remedy this
condition, they presented to Congress, at its
last session, two bills designed to accomplish
what is known as the ''high-license system !"
THIS system has been and ID being tried in many
OF the states and cities of the country and found
to produce most desirable results in the de-
crease Of violent crimes and vagrancy and a
proportional increase Of happy homes and fam
lilies. With these enviable results also come q
great reduction in the court and police ex-
penses and decreased poorhouse and work.
mouse population: The experience in those
communities also shows that high license fees put
the business into the hands Of dealers who, a. .
rule, are obedient to the law and helpful to the
executive officers and agents Of the municipali-
ties affected.
The Commissioners can make. thanks to the
IN oil do III
cannot prescribe evidence or impose penalties
and Just in these two particulars Is the law limp
and ineffective.
The Commissioners estimate that good law
OF the Kind recommended would raise not less
than $500 600 OF District revenues, which, with
like sum from the United States. would give
from this source alone S600 600 for yearly inn
provements. The amount raised last year
(1SSyo was upwards of S157 900. The Commits
sioners most respectfully urge the early pas
sage OF one OF the bills III. h. 10045 and iO0A6)
presented at the last session Of Congress.
THE WORLDS COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.
The discovery Of America, the greatest secu-
lar event in human history and experience. is
to be celebrated at Chicago in 1928. While
the Commissioners are firmer than ever in
their conviction that the capital of the nation
was the better place to have the exposition,
they have no controversy with the law or
heart-burning ut the result They heartily
urge that the District shall be authorized by a
proper appropriation--the amount to be fixed
by tho wisdom Of Congress-to take credita-
Bile part in the great international affair.
SUNDAY LAWS.
In their report Of last year the Com
missiOners recommended the enactment Of
a law to prohibit the pursuit Of ordinary
secular occupations on Sunday. They
believe such law 70 be in the interest Of pub
lie morality, health and comfort and hope that
the desired legislation on the subject will be
effected.
NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
1t is discreditable TO the nation and to this
community that the municipal government at
the national capital is obliged to resort to the
use OF q rented building for Office accommoda-
ton. Prior to the establishment of a single
government for the entire District the offices
OF the city of Washington, at least were housed
In building which comported with the bust
ness demands and dignity Of the municipality
which they represented. When the District
government was first organized in 1871, the
governor Of the District, voicing the common
sentiment Of the community. made the follow
ing suggestion In his message of May Is, 1871.
to the Legislative assembly Of the District. viz:
1t Is therefore recommended that measures
be taken for the transfer and sale to the gov
eminent OF the United States Of the city's in
terest in the building known as the City Hall
The increased business of the courts requires
the occupancy of the entire structure for that
purpose. 1t is suggested that site for a new
building, sufficient for the accommodation of
the territorial government. can be secured
upon some one OF the government reservations
In the city Of Washington. and that the pro-
ceeds of the sale of the city's share i'm the City
Hall building will go toward defraying the ex-
pense Of the proposed new structure"
Congress. recognizing the inadequacy of the
r<tyH HALL Co. H.
the courts and municipal Offices, appropriated
S75, 900 to purchase the interest Of the District
in this building and restricted the use of said
money to the erection Of a separate municipal
building, as follows:
For tie purchase by the United States Of the
interest 81 fhe District Of Columbia in the pres
ent City Han building in Washington, now used
solely for government purposes. such sum AZ
may be determined by three impartial ap-
praisers to be selected by the Secretary Of tie
Interior, not exceeding SIS, 900, the same to be
applied by said District only for the erection of
a suitable building for the District Offices; and
the governor and board Of public works are
authorized, If they deem it advisable for that
purpose, to make arrangements to secure suffi-
Gent land fronting on Pennsylvania and Louis
lana avenues between 7th and 9th streets; pro-
vided that the government of the United States
shall not be liable for any expenditures for said
land or for the purchase money therefor or for
the buildings to be erected thereon and no
land or the use thereof is hereby granted for
the purpose Of erecting any building thereon.
The money was drawn by the treasurer Of
the board OF public works and expended by that
body, but not for the specific purpose for
which the appropriation was made. The money
II now treated as a portion Of the revenues of
the District and set aside for the purpose in
tended would 60 far to form the nucleus Of q
fund to be devoted to the original purpose
To this might be added with propriety the pro-
portion which is due to the District as its re-
bate Of the war quota, alluded to by a former
executive Of the District as follows: Under the
eight different calls for troops made between
April Is, 1861, and December 19, 1854, inclu-
sive, the total quota Of men required Of the
District was Is, 973. The number actually fur
nished by the District for these calls was
=, 56l. Besides these Communication was paid by
1913 men for exemption from draft, making a
total excess of 2,899 over the amount of troops
called for from the District. In raising and
organizing these troops, in payment Of boun-
ties and other expenses connected with such
organization the cities of Washington and
Georgetown disbursed considerable amounts,
for which they have as yet received no reim-
from the general government. The
states have fled their claims for like disburse-
ments, which have been awarded and paid.
The amount due to the District Of Columbia on
this account in believed to be nearly $l50, 900.
HYGIENE AND DExoaRApHY..
At the instance Of the Commissioners,
Hon. Thomas Wilson, curator Of the de-
partment Of prehistoric anthropology Of
the Smithsonian Institution, who was
member OF the international congress of
hygiene and demography, held at Paris,
France, acted, without Compensation, a. the