Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-20

4
property would wisely be given But the At
kinson bill as Independent proposition
should not be considered for an instant
Inc railroads at the capital have been for so
| ion2 ume accustomed. the report states, to get
whatever they hsve asked from Congress and
| 70 defeat every effort to require them to make
| Improvements in their methods of occupation
70 increase the safety and convenience Of the
| puonc, that there Is nothing remarkable to q
| resident Of the District in the railroad demand
| OF reward as well as pardon for past offenses
| without suggestion of fecompense in any shape
TO the public against whom these offenses have
| been committed. Elsewhere such a request
| might naturally excite profound establishment
and public indignation
The committee recommends the remodeling
and strengthening of the Morrill, bill in the man
ner suggested, causing its provisions to apply
to the Baltimore and Potomac alone, and the
incorporation into this bill of provision CIV
! Ing the Baltimore and Potomac power to con-
denim squares abutting upon the designated
tracks and south of them and east of Sd street
west and the right to run tracks into the con-
demned property.
AUTHORIZED TO 90 TO CONGRESS.
The approval Of the board was expressed by
applause and by the adoption Of a resolution
offered by Mr. I. L. Holbrook authorizing the
! officers of the board and the members of the
railroad committee to appear before the COM
mittees of Congress and the Commissioners
! and urge the recommendations made in the
| report.
| The committee on commerce was repre-
| sented by Mr.. Isadore Saks. who reported that
| the committee had referred to it bill intro
duced in the House by Mr. Hit which pro-
| vided for the correction of the abuses arising
| from the operations of bogus commission mer-
| chants.
THE CITY POST OFFICE.
| When the committee on public buildings was
called it was stated that the chairman, Mr.
Thnrsa H.. -
Ross, a member of the committee, was called
upon and he stated that the committee had
recommended in the matter Of the new post
Office building that a dislnterested commission
| be appointed with power to select a site and
that an appropriation be made for its pur-
chase. This report had received the approval
| OF the board of directors. In his opinion no
more important matter could come before the
board. He then proceeded by striking
array OF figures, to show the importance of
| the Washington post office and the enormous
| amount OF business that was done. As far as
| the registry business is concerned it has long
been known, he said that this Office stands
| at the head. As regards the number OF pieces
OF mail matter 1t stands third, with
New York first and Chicago second. 1t had
been determined by actual weight that 65 per
cent OF the tirst-class matter and Is per cent of
the second-class matter passing through the
city post Office was free. II all this free mat
| ter, he said, was paid for the city post office
would stand fifth in the United States in the
amount of its earnings. These figures he said
should be forced ON the attention of Congress
and that body should know that the Office has
| rights and that the interests not alone of this
city but OF the country were involved in the Ell
hclent and prompt dispatch of business at the
city post office. There is not room enough to
accommodate this business and already the
danger line Is being approached of peril to the
| business interests. The new post Office build
ing now being erected in Cincinnati contains
oO,ooO square feet on the ground floor That
| office ranks far below the Washington Office in
| the amount of business done, and he thought
| that the new building to be erected here ought
to be at least as large as the Cincinnati office.
He thought that the proper way to solve the
post office problem was by the appointment of
a commission.
THE ROCK CREEK PARK.
The next report was presented by Mr. c. ].
Bell, from the committee on parks and reserva-
tions. He said that the Rock Creek park bill
had passed the Senate unanimously and had
been reported favorably to the House with two
amendments, one to change the name of the
park to Columbus memorial park and the other
that the District should pay one-half of the
original cost of the park. He thought that on
Monday next when the bill came up in the
! House the prospect was favorable for its
passage The committee, in common with
other citizens, earnestly hoped that Congress
would now take final and favorable action upon
tnls long delayed project.
Upon motion OF Mr. Henry Wise Garnett a
resolution was adopted declaring it to be the
sense OF the board that the park bill should be-
| come law at the earliest possible moment.
President Parker in calling the committee
on streets and avenues, stated in the absence Of
| the chairman that the House committee had
| invited the members to be present at hearing
| to be held tomorrow, when the subject of the
extension OF the streets of the city will be con-
| sidered. .~..--
MEASURES OF CHARITY.
MIR. John II. MaSruder, from the committee
| on charities, made favorable report upon the
! following measures now before Congress: To
establish an inebrate asylum, for the prevention
Of cruelty to children and for other purposes;
| providing for appointment of superintendent of
charities; appropriating 800 900 for the erection
| of building on lot 10, square 228, for the
! central dspensary and emergency hospital;
| for the incorporation Of st. Rose industrial
| school anu to restore to the reform school boys
dismissed on probation. These recommends
tons were adopted by the board.
The committee also recommended an appro-
priation for the associated charities, which
recommendation the board approved.
| THE WASHINGTON ASYLUM.
| Mr.. Magruder stated that the committee had
| been informed that an increased appropriation
was desired for the Washington asylum as
| there only one bath tub and the institution
was lacking in other facilities.
| member of the board of visitors, Mr. Fred
| erick L. Moore stated that the increased ap-
preparation desired was not for these purposes.
! 1t was important that a building be erected on
the grounds for aged people. He was glad to
say that the condition of affairs at the asylum
had been greatly improved. Bathing facilities
! were good, the food was plentiful and well
| cooked, and he ventured to say that when all
the changes contemplated were brought about
no institution of the kind III the country
| would be better conducted. The board APP
| proved the recommendation.
PUBLIC HYGIENE.
Mr.. Moore, from the committee on public
health, made report upon the bill to prevent
the spread of scarlet fever in the District, and
was given authority to appear before the proper
committee of Congress to suggest certain
amendments. This committee also reported
favordbly the bill for the appointment of
sanitary engineer in the District. ,-.
| Commissioner Hine, member Of the board,
stated that the Commissioners had reached the
| conclusion that this measure was impracticable,
for the reason that it would be difficult to pro-
! cure man to I'LL such Office, and also on ac-
count of the danger of bringing about clash
of authority. They had recommended that
superintendent of plumbing, with four assist
ants be provided for, and they thought that
this would meet the objects of the bill.
| Mr.. E. j. Hannah stated that the recon-