Evening star., 1898-10-14

|
/ The Commissioners tecla red all the streets
| Should be cleaned daily, and by hand to
/ give eminently satisfactory. results and the
main object Of the Increase estimated is to
provide for cleaning daily by hand the en-
| tire paved area of the city. The estimate
| of S2o4 ,49S Is h8sea 1upon the actual cost
| of our present system of hand-cleaning by
day labor without contract, which is cheap
| er by SS6,I ,I41 a year under contract hand
| cleaning and $36,117 cheaper than by ma
| chine sweeping.ciN :.
Disposal of Ashes.
In explaining the tenn of $4,000 for the
| collection and dispos al Of ashes it is stated
| that this has long been a crying need in
| Washington The citizens almost univer-
| sally favor its being; done by the munich
| pality. In almost every other city of any
| size in the Union tht system is in vogue
| The estimate is5 a m nbderate one compared
| to other cities.
! The increased appr opriation for the park
| ing commission is needed for the proper
| maintenance of the trees of the city and
| their appurtenances. With the present ap-
preparation it is i'm possible to replace all
trees destroyed by storm or otherwise, and
| to keep them and Il e spaces around them
| along the public res eservauons in condition
! necessary to make one of the chief beau
| ties of Washington, u credit to the city and
one of its distinctive features
An estimate for an increase in the SUI
| pervlsion of the public schools is made by
| the board because Of the growth of the
| school system in siz. and its expansion in
| application.
An assistant superintendent to hav.
| charge of the distribution of appliances
| such as text books and furniture, and the
| care of the innumer able supplies and the
| countless changes that must take place is
| so great an establishment is we'll nigh a
| necessity, certainly wise financial move.
The number of teachers asked for in the
| estimate is thirtylsix in excess of the pres
| en+ number employed. These are distrib-
uted ar1ong the various schools, white and
| colored. In accordance with the growth of
| the schools. The salary of the principal
| of the Central High School is increased
! from $3.50 to $1,000 and the salaries of
| all teachers are increased by enlarging the
higher Salaried grades Of conversation and
diminishing the lesser. An increase to
| $500 for teachers of night schools IS asked
| The growth of suburban localities in so
| many parts of the District. each of which
| asks, and no doubt ought to have, a night
| school, makes substantial increase in the
| appropriation desirable at least.
! The appropriation for kindergartens last
year was for beginning, with the under
! standing that this branch of work will grow
from year to year until the necessary num-
| Der of kindergartens shall be established to
| provide this kind of training for the chill
| dren of kindergarten age in the entire Dis
| trict. The sum of So. 900 is asked. This
| will sustain the kindergartens already es-
! tablished and afford means for the establish
| ment of as great number of new ones as
| the District now has.
| Repairs to school Buildings.
| The sum of $50, 600 for repairs to school
| buildings, the Commissioners say, will be
| found to be none too large. There are 119
| buildings to be cared for, some of which
are worth over 100000 each, and many of
which are very old and fast falling into
| decay. For free text books and supplies
| S45, 900 is asked. This is q low estimate,
allowing but 81 to the pupil.
p hl,ld to
! S41, 800 each. are asked; one TO be in the
ninth, one in the tenth and the third in
| the eleventh division Ghe colored schools).
The Police Force.
| In the police department an increase from
81 500 to 81 900 in the Salary of the captain,
W no is second in command of the depart
| n ent, is asked. An Increase from 81. 800 to
| S1.S00 in the salary Of the three lieutenant
! inspectors is also asked on account of the
nature of their 3iuties requiring skill and
acutenesS.
| The CommissioperS Sealso ask an increase
in the compensation of the nine lieutenants
from 1920 year to 800, as the number
of men in. their commands has been mora
ttan douiSed since their present salary was
eStabiSh91SS and they are regarded al
ways on-duty: fsf two additional sergeants
making a total of thirty-three, and an i'll
crease from 81. 40 toos1 800.
The Commssioners-ask for 300 privates of
class l. at $500 tsame sas last year,, and 400
rrivates of sscond Glass. at 81 $50 ian in
crease of 2of). The need of an enlarged DO
lice force has been fully set forth year after
year by the heads of the department and
the Commissioners.
This7year substantial increase is hoped
for. An increase 10 5000 in the salary of
the twenty station keepers is asked, and
Congress,is told in no>ether city is the pei
son like intrusted required to do much
for 50 little pay. In order to give a more
nearly proper patrol of the suburban dis
| trcts, two additional mounted men are
asked. at s240 each. One additional driver,
at $500. for duty with the detective bureau,
and 5000 for absolutely necessary repairs
to station houses are included in the esti-
mates. Should Congress provide for an
increased police force the estimate submit
ted for contingent expenses Will be Suffi-
cient to equip the additional number which
includes arms. insignia, hatons, beds and
minor Increases.
Fire Department.
| For the fire department two additional
assistant chief engineers are asked and a
general increase in the salary of all men,
| bers of the department is requested for the
reasons set forth in Chief Paris report
heretofore published in The Star.
Forty new patrol boxes are urgently rec
commended by the major of police.
Health Office.
An increase in the salary of the health
| officer from 5000 to $1,000 is estimated.
| The present salary was fixed when the pop
| ulation of the District of Columbia was
| 300 Since then the population has in
creased to, approximately, 2S5, 900. An in
crease in the work devolving upon individ-
ual inspectors and clerks has been, to a
! reasonable degree, prevented by increasing
| the number of such officers, but it has not
| been possible to relieve the health officer
| in such manner. The Commissioners ask
for a chief inspector and deputy health Off
| Ger at 81 800. for thirteen sanitary and food
| inspectors at 81 200 each. and for chemist
| at 81, 400.
The purchase of the west part of lot 9
square 1885, is recommended at cost of
| $4,000. to be utilized for an addition to the
Police Court. The minor improvements to
I the courst. house. are, noted in the figures
| below: -f'i
Executive Office. t'L