Evening star., 1896-12-07


tion without q punishment, contrary to the
law in such case made and provided.
1t is useless to try to amend existing laws
now imperative for want of penalties, II
nored and the personal bonds of the Of
fender substituted therefor. This practice,
which no doubt springs from the most hui
name considerations, is a serious menace
enforcement of the laws, and should be dis
continued. All sanitary laws should be
rigidly enforced If any reduction in the
high death rate Is to be expected.
In view of the serious consequences which
the taking of personal bonds involves and
the long establishment of the practice. the
commissioners are constrained to recon-
mend, In the interest of the public welfare.
that Its discontinuance be directed by Con-
greSS.
Hospital for Minor ContnKious Dis
eases.
A hospital for the treatment of minor
contagious diseases is still the crying need
OF the hour, and an appropriation of $4,000
Tor the purchase of a site. and of $25OOO
Tor the purchase of wards for the treat
ment of these diseases. is earnestly recon-
mended. 1t Is to be hoped that the un-
reasonable opposition to the location of
such a building in any convenient and suit
able place. which has hitherto deprived the
public of the benefits of such an institution
Will no longer be allowed to prevent an ap-
preparation therefor. If groundess fear
and prejudice are to determine that hos
the public health. and which ought to be
reasonably accessible. can only be allowed
IN some remote and inaccessible corner of
the District. it will be better to have it
there than not to have it anywhere
Collection and Disposal of Garbage.
The work Of collecting and disposng of
garbage and dead animals during the year
Is so FULLY and SO intelligently discussed in
the health officers report that the Com
missloners deem it unnecessary to do more
pended.
Since the closing Of the health officers
report. In addition to the Brown crematory
mentioned by him. the difflc ulty in securing
z site Tor the Smith furnace has been over
now being erected in square No. G3 II is
expected that this furnace will be in opera
'ioh py the first Of the new year.
metropolitan Police,
Inc carefully prepared report of the Liza
JOE ana superintendent of police appended
10 the report of the Commissioners gives a
complete and detailed account of the work
of his department.
1t Is gratifying to note considerable de-
crease CT crime in the District, the whola
number of arrests being 22, ,5O2, as against
Der 1O,oS1 were white and II g75 colorsd
seven are charged with murder being one
less than in 1885, and four less than in 1s.A
ne ne losses of property and money report
ed durlnS the year amounted to SJS 75l and
during the preceding year to SOL .G15
Gut OF 4I4 applicants for appointment tn
.he ponce force but 125 passed the physical
examination conducted by the police sur
seons. and of los Of these who were exam
ined by the civil service Commission hn,t IN
were reported as eligible for appointment.
III thus- appears that but one man out of
every sixteen applying was successful in
tassims ts,sa ootn examinations. That this sys-
tenn OF selection has raised the standard of
appointments. and given to the force mon
OF more intelligence and better equipped
Ior the duties they are called upon to per
form. admits OF no doubt
Discipline in the force has noticeab,v i'm
proved, as indicated by the appearance Of
the men. and by reduction In the number
OF cases brought before the trial board
mto tioI,arIs IN tnose OF serious character.
Inc increase in the force has not kept
pace with the growth of the city, and the
needs OF the rapidly growing suburbs. nor 1s
IL adequate to the proper protection of the
eatehSi'G area which 1t is expected to
patrol. The estimate of the major and su-
perlntendent Of the additional number of
men required is conservative one and is
approved by the Commissioners
Building Department.
A detailed statement Of the transactions
OF the building department for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1886, is contained in
the accompanying report of the INSPECTOR
of buildings
Attention is invited to his recommends
tion that the organic act be SO amended as
70 permit the Commissioners to erect all
District buildings by day labor whenever
IN their judgment. the public interests will
be better subserved thereby The erection
oi pubhc buildings under the contract sys-
TEN In the District of Columbia has not
resulted favorably to the public interests.
competition and Inadequate appropriations
during time of great depression in the
building trade have induced bids below The
cost of construction by irresponsible bid
ders, and under the law the lowest bidder
Wn" complies with the conditions of the
advertisement is entitled to the contract
Ihese conditions have. as rule, deferred
lne better class of builders from bidding,
SO tnat wnlie the contract prices have been
low. costly delays in the completion of
buildings and serious loss to the Distri,
ana those who furnished labor and material
tractors. WA
1t Is not creditable to the District. nor is
1t in accordance with a wise public policy
TOT IT to own and occupy buildings in which
Iepresented single dollar of unpaid
iSbcf or material. No one ought to expcct
that an honest contractor will underfak ke
the erection of building for less than ito
actual cost With a reasonable profit added
oi SAIi q sum, ana generally for less
is always possible for the District to do its
own work under the supervision of the
Dulldlhg department, with the assurance Of
Letter construction and more satisfactory
results tnan is usual under the contract
system. The Commissioners recommend the
change in the law suggested by the insnac
tor of buildings.
Meager appropriations for school bui1d-
lngs and sites for the same have comnejIed
the purchase of lots CT insuffjcient area
which II will be difficult and costly to on
large. This was a mistake which ouebt
not to be repeated. and the COMMISSIONER
nave increased their estimates to provide
for larger sites.
Excessive Claims.
The act of February 13, 1895. provid,ne
Tor the payment to contractors operating
under the late board of public works. of
the difference between the contract rates
and what was known as board rates ;, wa q
not approved by the Commissioners in ito
present FORM
The result has been. as stated bv the
auditor in his report hereto appended. that
claims aSgregating, with interest 81 3OO :
UO, nave been filed in the Court of Claims
most of which Is absolutely without merit
or Justification.
A law so burdensome and Unjust to tho
taxpayers of the District of Columbia and
to the general government, should. as sup-
gested by the auditor. be speedily repealed