Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-01

In the various sections OF the article
which follows will be found history OF
the District Of Columbia for the year 1888
containing valuable amount of readily
digested information upon the subjects
most interesting TO those who have at heart
the best interests of the national capital
Every department of the public system has
been cleaned of it's more important events
and the tale of a year of progress and
advancement has been told in an epito-
mized form that will be found both inter-
esting and educational on perusal.
The District Government.
Many important matters were considered
and disposed Of in one way or another dur
ing the year by the District Commissioners
and a great many others are still in pro-
cess of settlement. Among the latter Is
the absorbing problem relating to the dis
posal OF garbage, which came over with
1875 as an unsolved heritage of former
years and goes into 1896 In the same I'M
satisfactory condition. The more decisive
measures taken included the imposition of
a penalty of two per cent on overdue taxes
the decision to place water me!ers IN bulio.
ings where there is large consumption OF
water; the clearance Of the streets ana
avenues of such distractions as fruit
stands, boot black chairs, swinging signs.
barber poles, ETC., and the requirement OF
street car companies using rapid transit
modes of locomotion to equip their cars
with safety tenders and wheel guards.
The civil service was extended to en-
ployes TO be hereafter appointed under
the District government, and the civil serV-
ice commission was asked to take charge OF
all applications for positions. The police
regulations were amended so that all rapid
transit cars must shortly come to a stop
on the near side of streets intersecting
the tracks and their speed allowance in
creased to ten miles an hour. The con-
tract for the collection and removal Of
garbage within the city limits for period
of five years was awarded to Mr. josiah
Warfieid, and it was decided to erect three
crematores to destroy the refuse. one
plant to be selected by the contractor, one
by the Commissioners and the third to be
the best system found after the trial. The
contractor selected the Brown system, and
It has been located at the foot of South
Capitol street. The Commissioners chose
the Smith system, but the plant has not yet
been set up, owing to the objections raised
by property holders to the several sites
that have been, one after another, selected.
The first and second sections of the Dis
trict outside of the city limits were mapped
out under the provisions OF the street ex-
tension act and approved by the highway
commission, and legal steps looking to the
condemnation of certain property in the
first section were begun. important
amendments were made to the plumbing
regulations in the interest of public health,
and an examining board was appointed to
conduct the physical examinations for all
persons applying for positions in the po-
lice and fire departments. Other actions
of the Commissioners are noted in other
departments of this review.
The attorney for the District was kept
busy examining the legal aspects of Ques-
lions submitted to him. He upheld the
position of the Commissioners in imposing
the two per cent penalty on overdue taxes;
decided that where sgner to liquor
license desired to withdraw his signature
board; held that bona fide clubs did not re-
quire a liquor license, and gave it as his
opinion that the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road Company must protect its grade
crossings day and night, and that it could
be successfully proceeded against under the
act of the legislative assembly if it did not
do so. The attorney also held that the
law regulating the sale of liquors within
400 feet of school houses did not apply to
hotels.
The excise board gave evidence of
praiseworthy determination to govern the
selling of liquor with full regard for. the
law and a common sense understanding of
the conditions surrounding the traffic. 1t
decided to grant no more licenses in the
section known as the Division, south cf the
avenue, and between 10Th street and the
the community has been accustomed to
congregate for many years, and recon-
mended to the Commissioners an increase
in the license fee. 1t also determined to
were sold, and for the purpose of aiding
in this intention 1t has secured, through
Its inspectors. samples of the liquor sold
in numerous saloons, which are now being
examined.
During the year the District government
moved its offices to the Walker building, on
Louisiana avenue near the city hall. The
annual report Of the Commissioners con-
tanned many valuable recommendations to
Congress, besides the estimates of the APP
necessary for the next fiscal
year.
District Legislation.
The year was not prolific in congressional
legislation for the District. Congress was
in session but short time early in the year,
closing its deliberations March last
Among the measures that were passed and
received the signature of the President at
the short session were the following:
Amending the act creating the Court of APP
pealS for the District; appropriating 900
for the relief of the suffering poor; abolish
ing Georgetown as a separate title; amend
ing the act relating to claims against the
District growing out of the operations of
the old board of public works; appropriatng
5000 to clear the Potomac of ice; extend
ing the jurisdiction Of justices of the peace;
amending the charter of the Metropolitan
railway by altering the western and south
ern terminals Of that road; preventing the
dissertation of graves in the District; au-
t.
Samuel Gross; establishing harbor regula-
tons for the District; providing regulations
for the removal of snow and ice from side
walks; regulating the sale of milk in the
District; Incorporating the Capital Traction
Company.
Temporary provision was made in the
sundry civil appropriation bill for an addi-
tional building for the government printing
Office adjoining the existing structure Con-
gress appropriated 100000 to patch up the
old building. There was an increase in the
amount Of District appropriations over
former years. The appropriation bill, as 1t
became law, amounted to $5,916, 533. The
average appropriations for previous years
was S5,54S,347.
The Fifty-fourth Congress assembled De-
cember 2. The Senate District committee
was organized first with Mr.. Mcmillan of
Michigan as chairman. The House commit
tee as now constituted Is presided over by
Mr.. Babcock Of Wisconsin.
The Senate early in the present session
passed an amendment to the highway act,
which fixes jurisdiction in cases arising
in the courts here under this act. The bill
is now before the District committee of the
House.
The Metropolitan Police.
During The year just closed the metro
politan police Of the District has maintained
that high-grade standing which has char
acterized it in the past. With an area of