The evening times., 1896-12-07
WELFARE OF THE DISTRICT
Commissioners Report for the
Past Fiscal Year.
VITAL MATTERS DISCUSSED
Reco concentrations to Change Law
Regulating Sales for Arrears OF
Taxes, Amend Defects i'll License
Ordinance and Increase Police
Force and Fire Department.

\ The Commissioners gave out today press
copies of their annual report OF the oI'er-
atoms ui the District government for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1896.
The pauer reviews at great length the
business oil the municipality over which
the board has supervision, and 1T has added
interest from the fact that it is in all
probability the last annual report to be
made by tie present Commissioners.
The Commissioners state tie total OF the
approximations for the year, payable out OF
the geEt raj revenues, and including all but
those for The water department, to have
been S5.GsT 1880. Thereceiptsamounted
to S6,7 81. $50, ,43, which included the
surplus and balance Of former years ap-
plicable IL the payment Of thc aIpropiia-
tiGns. Total debt outstanding June 20,
1885. was $i7.3li ,4s3 80, no portion Il
which WAS incurred under The present
form Of government
~TAX SALES AND LICENSES.
The board calls attention To the need of
legislation to improve the efficiency or the
Jaw pertaining to sales of property for ar
rearS OF taxes, heretofore The subject of
a report from Assessor ,Trin,be, and print
ed liz The Times. They promise, also To
submit IA bill to cover defectsin license laws
They refer TO the exemption of brewencs
and bre wers' agents from license tax rs an
unjust discrimination, and so denloraliZing
in its tendencies as TO require immediate
correction.
The insurance laws are also referred to
as inadequate in their provisions for pro-
lection OF the public.
Thsr. Is 4 reference to the custom in the
police court of taking personal bonds gen
orally, but particularly in cases where
persons are charge with violations of the
health IA VS., TRis is condemned. The Com
misSonerS say they are Informed there is
no authority Of law to Justify the taking
of personal bonds after conviction.
IL is cited as a CCnyic, on without a
punishment, ard contrary To law. They
ask that the discontirrance of .he practice
be directed Icy Congress
The lack Of OPT 81 for tie treatment
OF minor contagious Is referred tO as the
crying need OF The loyr, ard an aprro-
pria icH OF $50 Geo for u Site and $685.
fer 'he purchase of wards !or the treatment
of these diseases is asked.
CREAsE oFPoLiCE FORCE.
The recommendation Of the supefin-
temdent Of police for an increase of l26
men III his force. is indorscl bg the Com
missiuners, as Is also the suggestion OF
the 5uiiCi;,g inspector that thc organic
act be SO amended as to permit the Com
miSsi,uerS To erect all public buildings IN
the District 10y day labor whenever, in
their Judgment the pubic interests viii
be better subserved thereby.
Reference is made TO recent losses by
laborers Under the contract system. and
while the District is not responsible, the
state OF affairs described is regarded as
not credit able
Meager appropriations, which oblige the
purchase of sites of insufficient area for
school buildings, is deprecated. Strong
ground is taken against tie ayment OF
excessive claims for contract work under
the act of February 13, 1885, detailed
in Auditor Petty's report, recently pub
lished in The Times
Several pages of the report are con-
sumed in a discussion of the need of
municipal building, and the sum of $780,
600 is asked as an initial appropriation for
its construction.
better equipment OF the fire depart
ment is recommended.
An exhaustive review is made of the
operations OF the engineer department,
Shown. the total mile. ge OF paved an un-
improved streets, respectively. An eSti-
mate of SO 900 is made for continuing the
system of deep wells, ana the most urgent
need of the water service is stated TO be
a greater supply of water. The reserve
supply, it is stated, would 5c doubled by
the U.s. of he reservoir near the Soldiers
Home. and the completion of that reser-
voir and the Aqueduct tunnel is recon-
menQed.