Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-02

probably as many a. 285 600 people who reside
within the limits of the District of Columbia This
is a modest and moderate estimate, for in July
last the police census, most carefully taken.
showed a population Of PSI, 1873; an increase Of
IS. Os6 over the police census of 1888, So. 7s4
over 1885 and 26,S0l over the United States
census Of 1890 The claim that there are now
265. 900 human beings to whom the District Of
Columbia IS really home il not, therefore, I'M
reasonable.
The idea that Washington is not business
city was pretty thoroughly exploded BY CEN
sus bulletin issued during the early part Of the
year. The showing made in that official docu-
ment exhibits a remarkable increase in nearly
all branches OF manufactures in the District.
Since the census OF 1880 number Of new indus
tries have been started here. and as the result
there are now In operation 800 establishments,
employing EAT hands, and paying in wages
Sl463S,f9o The capital invested is S2S, $40. 258;
the miscellaneous expenses amount to 81 SOS, 54S;
the cost Of materials used was $17 1877 752, and
the value of goods manufactured at the factory
was $50, 2o9 As the past year has been
more successful than any of its predecessors
these figures are too low for the presentday.
CONGRESS AND THE DISTRICT.
Congress recognized the existence Of the
District in several ways, but was not over lib
eral District appropriations were cut down as
far as possible and conformed finally to the ex-
trenely economical ideas of the House commit
tee appropriations. District assembly Of
the Knights OF Labor and the Federation of
Labor demanded OF Congress suffrage for the
District and free text books in the public
! schools, and there was a weak response to the
request for books. Representative johnson Of
Ohio interested himself considerably in the
matter Of assessments and did all he knew how
to have the national legislature try the work.
I inc fff he tty achs Il
of this city Representative Barwig of Wiscon-
sin was induced to lay before the House a bill
which had for its object the repeal OF the act
providing for the purchase of land for Rock
Creek Park. The bill was lost in the shuttle.
At its first session Congress passed O number
of local bills which became laws. One import
ant measure was the resolution requiring all
theaters to provide exits from the building di-
rectly into the street. Another provided q
. rigorous punishment for the carrying OF con-
cealed weapons, designed to break up that
practice among certain classes. Another act
provides for the prevention of cruelty to ami
mails and children. The regulation Of the prac-
tice OF dentistry and the protection of the peo-
pie from empiricism in relation thereto is also
effected b. new law. The Commissioners are
authorized TO grant pardons and respites in GER
tain cases by another act Two measures re-
lating to commission merchants and market
dealers we're passed, one to prevent fraud on
the part of commission men and another repeal
ing the license tax of S25 per year on produce
dealers.
number OF acts were passed authorizing
changes in the routes OF railroads and amend
| ing their charters. In the District appropria-
ton bill the Offices of recorder OF deeds and
register OF wills were made low-salaried posi-
tons and are therefore not so much sought after
as they have been in times past.
THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR WORK.
The wear has been one Of much interest and
considerable achievement so far as municipal
affairs are concerned. Four matters of import
ance have occuvied the attention of the public
and engaged the consideration of the author
tiles more than any others. These have been
the new assessment. the adoption and enforce
ment OF new regulations concerning theaters
and places of public assembly, the garb-
age question and the problems raised by the
wreck Of the liquor license law.
The board Of assessors completed their as
sessment OF city property early in June and
| then. under the terms Of the law, began sitting
| as board Of equalization. There was loud and
| general complaint from property owners against
the assessment. it being generally regarded
that the Valuations had been placed too high
| Many complained also of Inconsistencies. The
board OF trade and other bodies of citizens con-
| sidered the matter, and it was at length taken
to Congress. The result was the passage Of a
| law continuing the old assessment in force for
another fiscal year. extending the time granted
| for comnlA,;n, ,ha a.savsroent of connty mon
| ertv and mos ;nonoy.sn, Of all nrov;iipo for
| A new board of eonaIization 10 he nnpoin ed bv
| the President This hoard the law granted
mower to MAKE San and GENERAL revision of the
| Assessment The prssident November % an
| pointed Mess-s = " " Crifin s II a. Nor
| sell and N p C,-,sv "a members of the hoard
! and these cen,larosr having soon after their
| anpointm4nt roet and org.nized are nov en-
| gagged in the vorE the resnl, of which ia
| waited xitb NJ ;,,a-est
s,vv-,, ~ ruv,rrps
-. W. 49,"
-, :, - -
VI I'm 81 -Neui os re"soh Vi iiaoeq
SAu i precautions "s"in'' ni0 an"
safety appliances bore frui; early IN the year:
The movement begun before the year opened
had received The powerful aid OF senator NC
MILAN, CHAIRMAN Of the Senate District COM
mittee, WHO went SO far as to frame and intro
| duce bill Prescribing regulations Of q rigid
| character. The bill however, was never re-
| ported, as the District Commissioners took the
matter up and made regulations which were
regarded as satisfactory, and made the pro-
I posed new law unnecessary. February Build
| ing Inspector Entwise made a report on the
! condition of the theaters and public halls, re-
| specting the safety OF the audiences. and March
IL the Commissioners promulgated the new
! regulations. To comply with these regulations
. expensive alterations were necessary at several
! of the theaters and the owners resisted their