Evening star., 1898-12-05


nection with the next annual appropria-
ton.
The care of sick and disabled horses of
the department has been matter Of great t
concern. and had not the District veteri-
marian placed at the disposal of the Com
missiOners his private hospital facilities the
department would have been totally unpre-
pared for emergencies of this kind. The
horses are fre1l emily injured or burned,
and at such times hospital treatment is alb
sOlutely essential. 1t is proposed to erect
a stable on ground owned by the District,
where all the horses of the District govern
hent may be properly cared for in case OF
disability, and an appropriation is requested
for that purpose
During the year the attention of the Com
missoners was called to the large number
of alarms incorrectly struck on the engine
house gongs. often causing serious delay in
aching fires. investigation showed the
present system of receiving and transmit
ting alarms to he, with very slight change,
the same which was introduced in 1873.
On the strength of this fact $4,000 was
secured for the addition of story to No.
II engine house, located on Sth street be-
tween u ard f streets northwest, for the
accommodation of permanent fire alarm
headquarters and the sum of S3l,JoO was
provided for the installation of the most
modern equipment known to the service.
The building is about completed. The cabi-
net work and furniture. which have been
especially designed, will soon be in place,
and il is believed that the first of the yea
will see the new system successfully m
augura ted. With this Improvement the DIS
trct will. so far as mechanical appliances
are concerned, have a fire alarm equipment
second to none in the country, and there
need he, thereafter, no occasion Tor the III
correct registering or striking OF any alarm
Provision is also made for the substltu-
tiOn of new fire alarm boxes for all ola
ones. Every box now has device 10 pre-
vent it's burning out by electrical disturb
anCes The number of signal circuits mas
the number of alarm circuits from 1our 10
six. Should two or more boxes be pulled at
the same time the alarms will be accurately
received, recorded and transmitted
Better provision is also made for the turn
ing in of alarms. Heretofore each police
man has been provided with Key anu uu-
plicate keys were placed with the occu-
pants of stores and houses near the boxes
Under this system there was often serious
delay in getting the keys. Each box is now
provided with little glass door, covering
the key hole in which the key Is perma-
nently located To turn in an alarm 1t IS
only necessary to break the glass, open the
door and pull the hook While this has
been the occasion of a number of false
alarms, turned in by mischievous boys (ali
of whom have been severely punished by
heavy fines or Jail sentences). it is believed
the novelty has worn off and that this de-
vice will materially benefit the department
and the citizens.
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
A very noticeable Improvement is observ
ed in the office of the sealer of weights and
measures. A thorough system of book
keeping has been inaugurated by which Il
careful record is kept of the work of the
office. The examination of scales and meas
ures has been faithfully and economically
pursued, with results gratifying to pur-
chasers but in many instances disastrous
10 dealers. little reflection will demon
strate the importance of the faithful ad-
rslt ff ntTin y1-h1 is
sidtred how much depends upon proper
weight and measure. especially with the
poor. who buy in small quantities. 1t can
be readily seen that in order to protec,
them close scrutiny and constant super
vision are absolutely essential.
\ review of the work of the office shows
the receipts for last year to be s., 163. 80,
viii" for the present year ending Novem-
ber -. 1SHS, they were S,i.616.20 net gain
of s. N52.Hp.
The incumbent of the office. Mr.. w. c.
Haskell, and mis- assistant. Mr.. John d.
Miller. are entitled to much credit for the
record they have made.
Superintendent of Charities
The Commissioners have included in their
estimates an item in connection with char
tiles which. it is believed. is an important
step toward the solution of the vexed ques-
tion of appropriations to hospitals. and the
treatment Of patients sent
to them.
II is proposed that all appropriations thus
mace shall b- expended under contract b.
tween me Commissioners and ;he-e insti-
tutichs at the rate of so much per annum
for each case. This viii enable the Com
H-SSlphefs 10 SnSist upon proper provision
Tor urgent cases and Will insure their re-
ctrllon at the h spita!s. 1t has some irae
been the case in 'he past that patients have
been necessarily tarCn from one hospital
10 another when in urgent need Of treat
men: because they have been refused ad-
mission. II being all ged that there was
manner room nor preparation for the treat
Tnent of the particular class Of disease with
Ejch they Were afflicted.
i hr objects sought to he attained IN the
creation of the office of superintendent of
charities were the collection md prestrVa-
tlaH II information concerning the Chart Is
when receive prriic gran : in the D.stiict
iEe direction of their work into such Icia-
tiuAs Win cach other as would erable
In N To avoid confusion and duni@atiOn.
and to Apply their resources 10 the relief
q Al those needing ther ca. c in the most
economical and effective manner. !. was
d-Sp expected that the superintendent
would h able 10 present the real IeeCs of
all public dependents in the District aud 10
secure proper protection ana assistance for
them with less proper iOnate cxpendI ure
OF money and effort than had been incurred
in the past
The necessity Of supervision of the nri-
Naje Institutions receiving public appro-
pIlaIOHS arose not from any Indifference
or any wrong intention on the part of those
resp nsiblv for their management, but fr m
he imr1-Sibility Cf their knowing the otal
needs and resources of the ID strict and of
approaching and accepting their own
proper place between those needs and re-
sources.
For several years past the number of
private charities for whose assistance ap-
preparations are made, and the gross
amount appropriated for their support.
have remained practically stationary, while
The number of public agencies for The ac-
compHShment of similar work and the
gross amount appropriated fer their sup
port have increased.
The eighth annual report of the superin-
tsndent OF charities is included herewith
! he tabulated statistics which it contains
give clear idea of the work of the various
institutions which receive assistance from
the Congress, as well as the proportion of
their income from public and private
sources and their annual expenditure per
inmate.
II is believed that the direction of tho
work of the charities of the District into
harmonious relation with each olher ard
with the public has made considerable
progress.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The schools of the city continue to sus-
tain their high reputation for excellence of
work performed and discipline maintained
among the scholars
During the wear new eipbtroc,,, .ol,z-,