The evening times., 1897-12-06

condition OF affairs will be submitted to
Congress during the present session.
The annual report OF the superintendent
OF charities is transmitted In full. The
Commissioners say:
Since making their last annual report
the incuinbeficy OF the office has been
May OF Col. John Tracey and the appoint
ment of Mr.. Herbert W. Lewis. Col. Tracey
was Wen fitted Tor the work by his gen.
erai ACCOMPLISHMENTS and Ills large pre-
vious experience in charitable and reform-
atory matters, and was capable organizer
and administrator.
The para graphs on the civil service re-
form are as follows:
1t should be the aim and desire of those
charged with the control OF the aIfairs
OF the Distinct of Columbia to conduct its
business for the best interests OF tile
United States andof the taxpayers. Looking
to that end, all employees Or the District
government should be selected and re-
tained wholly upon basis or merit anu
efficiency. Partisan control Of the af-
fairs OF the District has been ignored by
every President OF the United States since
the establishment Of the present form
OF government in 1878, by the aprcint-
ment upon the board OF District Commis-
Sioncrs of u representative CT each OF
the great political parties.
With all OF the departments Of the Cen
earl government under the protection OF
the civil service law, every Grange in the
administration of the General Govern
mcnt brings to the Officials in Charge OF
the District government demands for ap-
pointments impossible OF recognition, but
which are dangerous to the interests of
the District and which seriously interrupt
and sometimes practically prevent the
conduct of its rapiil increasing business
interests.
The Commissioners strongly recommend
that the District government be Included
within tue protection OF the civil service
law.
The Commissioners commend the man
nual training schools very highly. They
indorse the recommendation Of Superin-
tendent Powell, that manual training
High School be established.
In the paragraphs relating to street
cleaning the proposition or Superintendent
Stuttler, that all the streets be cleaned
by hand and that the work be done by
the District without any intermediate con-
tractor.
A new contract for a ter IN of two years
was entered into, beginning July l, 1897,
unter wiicn large purtIon oI the prin-
Cipdi business slrce,s atIu so. me OF TIE resi-
DENTAL streets are cleaned by hand. The
resuits OF inns hanucieaning sysIetu have
been 50 satisfactory anu nave been 10
nigniy commenced ny the cltiZens or tine
District tnau tne Commissioners are con-
vinceu that, as FUNDS may be maze aNaIi-
able therefor, the entire area oi the I'm
proved streets and avenues should be
cleaned Without tie use or the street
sweeping machines.
inc iianu ; sus,i does better work, keeps
the public, areas more clean ana present
able during the hours of daylight, causes
less annoyance from dust ana gives EN-
ployincnt To many more OF our worthy
laborers than the other system.
Cnuer the existing contract the price
per LOCO square yards Cleaned by ma
chimes is % 3-4 cents; by hand, 80 cents.
1t was limited to term of two years
for the reason that the Commiss toner's be-
lieved that IL might be advisable at an
early date to inaugurate the new system
over the entire District, and also because
they regarded it as probable that the
Work might in the near future be well
and profitahly done without the interven-
tion of a Contractor. The experience gained
since July l under the system now in
vogue has enabled the superintendent of
street cleaning to calculate the actual cost
of hand d-cleaning the entire area of the
improved ways to be cleaned at Cost
not to exceed per 900 = uare yards the
expense now incurred by machine clean
ing. The Commissioners have thereby been
induced to recommend that they be au-
thorHed, at the expiration OF the exist
ing contract, to have the work of clean
ing the streets and avenues done under
their own direct supervision and without
letting the same TO the lowest bidder.
The report suggests that the Commits
sioners be relieved OF their respons bilitiss
relating tr the District militia. As the
law is famed at present the Commission
ers are required to make all contracts
invoicing expenditures for the militia and
set are without any corresponding control
Of the money. The brigadier general or
the quartermaster OF the militia makes
reGuistion fer a lump sum, which is eX-
pcnded by the officers of the militia
without consultation with the Commits
sioners. The Commissioners believe that
the militia is more properly a branch OF
the War Department.
The police census taken during the
past year is believed to be as accurate as
such census can be. In April, 1897,
the total population was 277,.S2. or
this number 1S9, ,457 were white and
ss,325 coloIed 1898 reside in alleys,
OF which 2,l5O are white, and 16,s2S
colored. and 41,I95 reside in the county.
of which - ,292 are white, and 13,SO3
colored.
After abiding to the report of Major
Moore, superintendent of the police de-
partmcnt, the Commissioners say:
With the growth OF the population which
means naturally an increased amount of
crime, owing to the necessities laid upon
tnosc who are wit hout SUPPORT, and who
are thus driy en- to theft, il il gratifying
to note that although the force has not
been at all increa sed in any proportion to
the increased work put uLOn it, letter re-
suits have been achieved han ever before.
The weakness of the force, so far as the
numbers are concerned, is perhaps as promi-
nently seen in the matter of what are
called ''foot-pads" as I'm anyt hing else.
Where crime is expected and proy isions are
made for patrOlling those sections, Offenses
nave been Kept well in hand, but III the
the resident portion of the city, during
the day, where the Officers are so few
and so far apart, these bold thieves, many
of whompresent a well-dressed appearance,
and who are usually young lads from six
peace of the entire neighborhood by boldly
lady's purse and running off
withft.
Another evidence OF the necessity for an
increase OF the force may be noticed in
the fact that many Of our citizens, not
feeling satisfied with the protection of
their homes afforded by the present force.
pay monthly for the services of additional
watchmen. who nightly patrol the streets
and guard their property. The number Of
these additional privates SO employed is
about 100.
A detailed statement of the number of
police is given. and a compa rison with the
forces of other cities, which are much
larger by comparison. The Commissioners
also comment on the number OF men on the
force that have been there many years, and
recommend that they be retired on re-
duced pay, and give way to younger men.
The report says of the efficiency of the
force:
1t ought not be charged against the
force that because it has been so efficient
with limited numbers it need not be in
creased. 1t should rather he rewa rtled
for the extraordinary exertions IL has
made, working more hours than is proper
or lust. with the increase asked for, 50
that not only the city will be bene-
fitted, but the men themselves given that
proportion OF work and rest which hest
fits them for active and efficient service
Attention is called to additional work
done by the police in the sanitary office,
where vagrants, Iunatics and those in dis
tress are provided for, by the officer de-
tailed to assist the Humane Society I'm the