Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-08
Reclamation Recommended BY the
East Washington Citizens.
GREAT COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES
National Sanitary Bureau Proposed
by Professor Hird.
FOR POLICE MAGISTRATES

meeting of the East Washington Citizens
Association, and formed the principal topic
| of discussion. Another interesting feature
OF the meeting was paper on sanitation
| prepared and read by Prof. ]. H. Hird, the
| chemist of the District
The president, Mr.. ]. w. Babson, and
the secretary, Mr.. A. F. Sperry, were in
| their places when the meeting was called
| to order. After the usual routine business
| had beef disposed of the recent recon-
| mendation Of the major and superintendent
of police for change in Police Court mat
| tiers was taken up. This proposed change
provides for the appointment of precinct
ma gistrates to dispose of cases at each
| police station.
Police Magistrates.
| The chairman stated that Maj. s. H.
Walker, at one time superintendent of po-
| lice in the District, was present. and the
rules were suspended in order that he
might be-heard on the subject. In opening,
| Maj Walker warmly commended the rec
| ommeLdation for the designation of a
| ne gistrate for each police precinct. The
section Of the city represented by the as
ISOLATION would be affected by the change
| he said. and the matter should be brought
| to the attention of Congress. Maj. Walker
described the lack of police protection to
all sections while the policemen are nee
esseriiy in attendance at the Police Court,
| and he set forth that trivial offenses
Should be tried before a magistrate thus
| saving time and also tending to protect
innocent persons arrested on charges that
cannot be sustained. When such persons
are taken to the Police Court, and their
| csses called, continued Mai. Walker, their
| names are published and much undesired
| notoriety given them. This he declared,
should be avoided, and the desired course
would result Under the proposed system
| Provision should be made for appeals from
| the judgment of the magistrates, and all
| jury trials could take place at the court
appointed for hearing appeals. The bene-
| fits OF the system, 1T was stated, would
| largely outweigh the expense involved. In
conclusion Maj. Walker expressed the opin-
| ion that the crowded condition Of the Po-
| impossible for two judges to give the
proper attention to all the cases that came
before them for consideration.
Messrs Sperry, Weller and Jeffords also
spoke briefly on the subject, after which
Mr.. Weller moved that the matter be re-
ferred to the committee on health, police
and charity, with instructions to prepare
a bill for submission to Congress.
In his remarks Mr.. Jeffords, who is an
assistant district attorney, called attention
to the fact that the money expend I'd by the
District is providing meals Tor prisoners
each morning would be largely diminished
by the introduction of the proposed system
The prevailing situation, as described by
Major Walker, could not be too strongly
eIupNdSlZeQ, so SAID MI. JenOrQS.
National Board Of Health.
Reports from committees were then called
for by President Babson. When that on
health, police and charities was reached
Prof. ]. H. Hird said that at recent meet
| ing of the association the president made
certain statements, to the effect that, al
though the association dealt particularly
with matters pertaining to the eastern sec
tion of the city, yet whenever any member
had any communication to make, general
in its character, but at the same time in
volving the interests Of the section, the as
ISOLATION would cheerfully receive such a
communication 4 shall, therefore. with
your permission" said Prof Hird, "lay be-
fore you at this time certain IDEAS some
what original in their character but at
the same time deserving of your consider
ation.''
In his paper Prof Hird recommended
the establishment Of department. which
| would, in addition to its other work, en-
brace the duties usually devolving upon
national board Of health. He referred to
the establishment of a national sanitary
experiment station that should be establish
ed in this city for the purpose of promoting
sanitary science. The necessity for such a
station in this city, according to Prof
Hird, could be clearly demonstrated, and
such for the most part was the object of
his paper last evening. He maintained
that a station Of the character mentioned
departments of health throughout the coun-
try and TO the public generally. He set
forth that the people are not ignorant of
the ultimate causes, but rather of the pri-
mary, and the various environments that
control and modify the character of disease
and this proposition he illustrated fully
Prof. Hird called attention to the fact that
bread as well as water and milk is a source
of many diseases, and recited experiments
! made which clearly proved the allegation
The origin Of scarlet fever was touched
upon, as were several other diseases of a
like nature. In conclusion, Prof. Hird
ted that, first, We have no national bu-
reau of sanitation; second, 1t is absolutely
necessary that We do have one. The work
that is accumulating for department of
this character is enormous, he said and
the time cannot be long delayed before it
shall have been projected. Those of you
who have had son or daughter, or
brother or sister stricken down before their
time" he continued, cor who have lost
their father or mother in the prime of their
manhood or womanhood, do not need to be
told that the time Is ripe and waiting for
the promotion of this idea. And those of
you who have never been placed in this
position We trust will be saved this sad ex-
perience by the establishment of a national
sanitary experiment station"
The report received with applause
and on motion of Mr.. Jeffords the thanks
of the association were extended to Prof
Hurd. The report was referred to the COM
mittee on health, police and charities for
consideration and report.
Anacostia Flats.
Mr.. Jeffords, as chairman of the commit
tee on the reclamation of the fats and the
improvement Of the Anacostia river, pre-
scented an important and carefully prepared
report on that subject. The report says:
lone Of the largest sewers in the District
empties great volume Of sewerage upon
the flats, and nearly one-half of the CITY
sewerage is discharged there and we found
it necessary to study the sewer system
| somewhat, and the report made by the la tie
board of experts on that subject
along the west border of these flats are
located the jail, workhouse almshouse
hospital wards and a number of other pub
lie buildings, all Of which received our con-
| sideration, as health of officers and inmates
is endangered by proximity to the pestilen-
tisl channel and flats.
THE question of title to the reclaimed
ground was probably our most important
one, and the late decision by District SUI
preme Court of the Potomac flats cases has
| been our guide in reaching the conclusions
here written as to title and the RECON-
mendations as to Water street
The most imperative demand for the
improvement of these flats Is based upon
their insanitary effects on the entire city,
| and particularly on persons living in their
| immediate vicinity