Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04

| of Congress.
| Inspection of Milk.
| Under the immediate direction of Prof
! Hird, the chemist of the health office, a
| thorough milk inspection has been made
| This disclosed the fact that quite a per-
| centage of the milk sold was watered, dis
| colored and otherwise rendered unwhole-
| some Cases of this kind were vigorously
prosecuted in the courts, with much ad-
vantage to our citizens.
| Death Rate.
| Notwithstanding there was much anxiety
| that cholera and other epidemics would
visit our people it is most gratifying to
note that this has not been the case and
| that the death rate has been constantly
| decreasing and is now at the minimum.
/ The health officer has had the hearty CO.
| operation of the Sanitary League. an or
| ganization composed of our leading citizens
| and eminent professional men.
In the District estimates for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1895, the Commits
| sioners recommend an appropriation of
Sl6,OoU for the purpose of making a daily col
lection of garbage for the entire collection
area during the months of May, June, July,
| August and September, and they now beg
| to urge upon Congress the great import
measure.
Excise Board.
Since the first of November, 1893, the ex-
else board which is composed of the three
Commissioners, has been operating under
the act of March 3, 1893. 1t is believed that
| under the provisions of this act the sale of
liquors in the District will be better regu-
lated and more satisfactory. A full report
! OF the excise board, as required by law,
will be submitted to Congress at an early
date.
Telegraph and Telephone Service.
The necessity for extending the fire alarm
and telephone service increases from year
to year. The poles upon which the wires
are now suspended have become so decayed
from age that during a recent storm large
number of them, covering a considerable
portion of the city, were blown down. Had
a hre occurred in any of these sections 1t is
impossible to estimate the damage that
would have resulted.
Electrical Sideways.
! The Commissioners in their estimates for
the fiscal year ending June 80 1894, recon-
mend an appropriation of $3OO,OOO to be
used in purchasing and controlling the sub
ways for electrical wires in the city Should
Congress make this appropriation, which is
earnestly recommended, the future of the
telegraph and telephone service will have
found satisfactory solution.
Police Department..
The rapid growth of Washington and the
building up of the suburbs make 1t neces-
sary that the police force should be in
creased. as recommended by the major and
superintendent of police
Some action will also be necessary to pro-
tect the pension fund from which disabled
policemen and the dppendent 70 piliaS Of do
ceased members of the force have been re-
ceiving benefits. The attention of Congress
is urged on these two points.
The good order of the city is almost en-
tirely in the hands of the police. Much of
their time is also consumed in inyestiga ting
alleged insanitary conditions They are con-
stantly on the watch for violations of city
ordinances of every character. To them is
also assigned the duty of making careful
investigation of every license that is granted
under the new excise law.
The Commissioners take pleasure in COM
mending the discipline and efficiency of the
metropolitan police as being worthy the
capital of the nation.
Fire Department..
The comparatively small losses from fires
attest the efficiency of the fire department
To maintain and extend the usefulness of
this important branch of the municipal
government in accordance with the require
ments and growth of the community the
Commissioners have recommended an in
crease therein. They also recommend that
the pensoner of that force be provided for
by regular annual appropriations instead
of by the present onerouS and Inadequate
levy of a monthly tax upon the members.
The extremely hazardous nature of this
employment renders the pension feature a
valuable means of encouraS cement to the
zeal and daring constantly demanded by
the eXigencies of the service The pension
fund should be placed beyond the contin-
gencies of deficiency or failure.
Collection and Removal of Ashes.
In response to an expression of a number
of our citizens in favor of the collection
and removal of ashes by the municipality
at the public expense the Commissioners
included in their estimates for 1919 an
item of $4,000 for this service to private
dwellings,, to make a test of its eXpediency
here. This estimate was largely conjectural
for the reason that the Commissioners were
unable to obtain definite information as to
the cost of like work done in this or in
other cities. In nearly all of the munich
palities with which they correspondent on
the subject this service was combined with
that of removing garbage, and no separate
account of their respective costs was kept.
AS the system seems to give satisfaction
elsewhere and the general sentiment of this
community is evidently in its favor. the
Commissioners hope their estimate will be
approved. ...r
New Municipal Building.
The Commissioners in their estimates for
1895 again included 100000 for the COM
mencement of a suitable building for the
accommodation of the offices of this NUM-
cipality. In their reports for several prev
ious years they have enlarged upon the
quirements for such a structure, and do not
deem it necessary for the information of
Congress to discuss it at length again. In
their judgment there is every reason why
the District government should have the
building and none against it, and they
would be gratified If Congress should au-
thorize it's commencement by an appropria-
ton recommended.
Public Schools.
The Commissioners are gratified to state
that during the year the schools were re-
ported to be in satisfactory condition by
the Honorable w. T. Harris United States
commissioner of education, who made an
examination of them in accordance with a
requirement contained in the last appro-
priation act for the support of the schools.
The EDUCATIONAL press notices of the report
of DR.. Harris have, without exception so
far as the Commissioners have been able
to ascertain, commended the school system
of the District of Columbia in a crafty
ing degree. We are able to report con-
tinued growth of the schools, and an ad-
Vancement toward better results along all
the various lines of work which they are
doing. The interest shown by the citizens
Of the District in the schools warrant us
in believing that ii is the desire of all so to
foster them that they may reach the high