Evening star., 1896-12-07

for ..edue ational purposes" although il
seems clear that one of the OBJECTS OF shci
use of the property was private gam:
whatever may be the special merits OF that
case the Commissioners cannot but eA-
press their apprehension that great EN-,
barrassment would result from Gencrai
application Of the principles upon "h'ei
that ruling is based. They have alrealy
been called upon to pass upon fa'ms 1or
exemption from taxes Of other property
used in whole or part for private Scnooi
purposes upon tie same grouhos, Wnicit
NAV fryolye the question of refundment OF
taxes already paid as well as the remission
of those current and future.
Bathing Beach.
With the object of giving effect to the ap-
nronriation made under the current District
law toward adapting the inner basin Of
the Potomac fats for bathing beach pool.
with the approval of the Secretary OF war,
$4,000" the Commissioners have submitted
to the Secretary of War plans prepared by
the Superintendent of the bathing beach,
which seem well designed to secure the
object of that appropriation. The uullty
of the bathing beach is too manifest to
need argument. 1t remains for the author
tiles to provide the best possible bathing
facilities with the highest attainable de-
gree of safety. This has been and is the
object in the measures taken toward OBJ
tanning the use of the inner basin for
bathing beach, as it may at moderate
expense be arranged TO meet tnOSe COHul-
tions. The patronage and popularity of
this means of recreation increase with each
new bathing season.
Smoke Nuisance.
The SCOT of bituminous coal smoke emit
ted from the chimneys Of stationary boiler
furnaces Is the cause of much discomfort
and injury to the public. and its continu-
ance would be disgrace to the munich
pality. The nuisance is the more d:scred-
liable for the reason that it is to a large
extent unnecessary. and may be almost
entirely obviated by careful stoking and
the use of properly constructed furnaces.
1t has grown to such an extent and is in
creasing at such a rate that immediate ac-
ton for it's suppression is generally de-
manded If the city is to sustain Its eXcep-
tional reputat tion for cleanliness and COM
fort Several yearS ago the Commissioners
recommended to Congress the enactment OF
a bill to regulate the matter. but it failed
to become law. They earnestly renew their
recommendation for early legislation on the
subject.
Police Court Revenues.
In consequence of the defective system of
accounts connected with the collection and
deposit of fines penalties, &C, in the Police
Court of the District. the official detailed
by the superintendent of police to represent
that officer as collector on the District side
of that court failed to deposit or account
nv him from July ., 1872, to August 20, 1896.
Section 1913 of the Revised Statutes of
the United States. relating to the District
OF Columbia pr DIVIDES that "all fines. penal
ties cost and forfeitures imposed or taxed
hy the Police Court shall be collected by
the marshal or by the major OF police, as
the case may be, on process ordered by the
court, and by them paid over to the Dis
trict.''
Under that system. neither the Commits
sioners nor the auditor have any authority
to supervise or audit those accounts. and
therefore have no responsibility for the de-
falcation.
They have in course of preparation a
draft Of a bill which they will submit at
the present session, designed to amend ex-
istfng law on the subject, so as to provide
for the appointment of an adequately
bonded receiving officer for all of this class
of revenues.
The Municipal Building and Court
The District government is an agency es-
tab.ished by the federal government largely
for its own uses and in furtherance of ma
tional ends and objects. Chief among the
purposes sought to be effected by it's estab-
lshment, was that of making the place
where the peoples servants perform the
peoples work habitable, healthful, Clean
well lighted, orderly and attractive.
There is scarcely a function which per-
tains to the municipal offices of Washing
ton which has not relation to the well-be-
ifg, health. comfort and the safety Of the
people who reside here in the capacity of
employees of the American people.
And yet, Of all American cities Of like