Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-05

by subsequent owners. there can be no reasona-
Die Objection, in strict justice equity. to the
enactment of law authorizing the reassess-
Inent and collection Of taxes and assessments
which may be lost to the District by like defects
| IN future. Some time, since the Commissioners
I submitted to Congress bill providing fof the
/ proposed necessary legislation and have since
on several occasions favorably reported upon
Ike bills submitted to them by congressional
/ committees for their report but no action has
as yet been taken by Congress-
! PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
| The continued growth and prosperity Of the
public school interests are indicative Of the
growth Of our city and the District no less than
they are an indication of the deep interest Of
| our people in the education Of their children.
/ The many-sided character of modern knowl-
! edge and development renders necessary a
1 broad, comprehensive and methoSical system
4 Of trimming to prepare the growing citizen for
/ useful and intelligent life. To provide such
schools for the citizens of the District has been
/ the aim Of all who have TO do with their man
agement. Efforts for this purpose have been
encouraged in the main by generous appropri-
atoms and wise enactments on the part OF Con-
gress. Such schools as our people desire and
as any people have a right to demand are neces-
sarily expensive. The schools. therefore, of
the District of Columbia require large pro-
portion Of the revenues Of the District for
their maintenance. The Commissioners. how
ever, have always deemed it wise so to provide
for the SCHOOL,, even though it be done at
great expense. not only that their present
efficiency may not be impaired. but that the
different departments of schools may all be
wisely and thoroughly developed.
During the past wear the schools have main
tanned their usual high standing and have been
prosperous, as shown by the increase and regu-
larity of attendance. Between AZ 900 and
43, 900 persons have been instructed in the
schools during the year. including those that
have attended night schools. This is between
is and IL per cent of our population. The
Commissioners feel that SO great an interest as
this demands the most earnest consideration
and the wisest judgment.
THE HEALTH OFFICE.
In view Of the possible danger from cholera
during the next summer the Commissioners
have asked for increase of the emergency
fund, to be expended only in the event of urgent
necessity therefor.
In the garbage service many complaints have
been made of the failure of the contractor to
fully comply with the terms Of his contract.
Prior to the beginning Of the present fiscal
year the Appropriation for the garbage service
included an amount sufficient for the employ
ment of inspectors, whose duty it was to inves-
ugate and report upon all such complaints.
The omission to provide snch inspectors for
the current fiscal wear has rendered it iplprac-
tlcable for the health Office to verify complaints
made Of derchction on the part OF the con-
tractor and difficult to apply proper remedy.
The existing regulations require householders
to provide garbage receptaces accessible to the
collector. but the absence Of inspectors hinders
the enforcement of the regulation. In cases of
dispute between the citizen and the contractor
to the facts the health office has no means of
ascertainiug where the fault may lie. In view
of the limited police force. elsewhere herein al
luded to. the use OF policemen as garbage in
Il
tary and food inspectors have line of duty
which requires their full time and attention.
In view of these facts and of the possible con-
tingency of an epidemic of cholera during the
coming summer and fall the Commissioners
urge with all possible emphasis that garbage
inspectors be provided for by an appropriation.
THE POLICE.
Since the rendition of an opinion by the
United States Supreme Court in the Hutton
case there have been no restrictions upon the
appointment of citizens of the District upon
the police force. All Young men of good stand
iBg are. under rules recently adopted. eligible
Tor appointment. and it is believed that the
excellent standard of efficiency heretofore
ting among the members of the force viii
be main tanned and excelled.
The inadequacy of the existing force to fully
patrol the entire District is again brought to
the attention of the lawmaking power of the
=
in the District. the growth of suburban villages,
the extension of street car facilities to all parts
of the District. and the anticipated early in
crease of crossing of street railways at high
rates of speed. render an increase Of the police
force absolutely essential TO the safety of the
citizens and to the good order OF the District.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The fire department has been able during the
past year to successfully meet the demands
,+aa l,,t IL -
ritory to be protected and the constant and
rapid increase in the number of buildings rem
der expedient the establishment of ad-
ditiOnal company to the present force of the
department. and the Commissioners have ac-
curdingly submitted the requisite estimate
therefor.
TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICE.
The necessity of extending the limits and
utility OF the fire alarm system by its introduce
ton beyond the cities of Washington and
Georgetown and by an increased number of
boxes within the cities is constantly becoming
more pressing and should receive the prompt
and favorable constellation Of Congress. The
Commissioners reiterate. with the emphasis Of
another years confrmatory experience, the
vital importance of reconstructing the existing
lines of the fire alarm wires either by replacing
the poles which by reason of their age O
constant menace to life and property or by the
O
method which the Commissioners earnestly rec
ommend as eminenty superior to the old and
dangerous practice of stringing wires upon
poles and housetops.
the LIQUOR TRAFFIC..
During the first session of the Fifty-first Con-
gress the Commissioners prepared and sub
mitted to that body drafts Of two bills Oh. r.
O.0i5 and l0,046) embotying their views
the subject, but neither Of them received the
final action of the committees to which they
were referred. Either of these bills would
effect a great improvement on the present law
governing the subject, not only with respect to
an increase of revenue. but to the better regula-
ton and surveillance of the business. The Com
missioners have several occasions called atten-
ton to the fact that the law regulating the issue
of licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors
in the District of Columbia is not satisfactory,
and each years experience more forcibly con-
firms the truth of the statement. In a previous
report the Commissioners took occasion 10
make the following remarks with reference to
this matter: ITO remedy this condition they
presented to Congress two bills de-
signed TO accomplish what is known as the high
license system This system has been and s
being tried in many Of the states and cities
Of the country and found to produce desirable
results in the decrease of violent crimes and va
graney and a proportional increase OF happy
homes and families. With these enviable re-
suits also come great reduction in the court
and police expenses and decreased poor house
n