The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-13

tanned damages are over 1854. 900. one-hal
OF which, $442, 900, Is made payable iron
| the revenues Of the District OF COLUMBIA
The damages for the extension of Sixteenth
street have mt been reported. but 1t i
estimated they will be considerably NOR
than those Of all the other streets which
have been named.
| 1t is evident. that under the present pro
vision requiring all damages to be pai'
| from the revenues of the District of Co
lumbia such improvements cannot go mucl
further (unless proper provision is mad
therefor) without involving the District il
serious financial difficulties.
! The people of the District of COlumbis
feel that 1t Is unjust and injurious to the
Nations Capital not to bring the expense
or street extension within the provisions o.
the organic act of 1873, providing that hal
the expenses for the municipal government
are to be paid from funds OF the United
states Treasury and half from the revenues
of the District.
The bill approved June 6. 1900. for the
extension of Columbia Road east of Thir-
teenth Street, could be well applied uni
formly to the other street extensions II
| Two amendments were made; first that
damages be paid in accordance with the
| organic act. and second. fixing reasonable
time for assessing benefits. perhaps when
actual opening OF the street is begun. TIC
exact payment OF benefits SO long time
| before the street is opened for traffic would
seem palpably unjust
THE report of the Committee on
Bridges this year is particularly encour-
| aging. 1t states that bill appropriating
| 100000 for the commencement of the
| work upon the memorial bridge passed
| the Senate at the last session. In the
House OF Representatives it was passed
| upon rising vote by majority of nine.
Roll call was demanded. when it failed
by seventeen votes. The committee I'M
der former instructions. will earnestly
renew its efforts to secure favorable
action at the next session of Congress.
| especially SO in view of the plans for a
bridge recommended in the report of
General Wilson. Chief of Engineers of
the United States Army.
1T is probably fact that there is no
city in the Union or in the civilized
world, especially the capital of a ma
ton containing the population of the
District of Columbia, which has so lit
tie to show in the way of safe and de-
Gently constructed bridges. and this, too.
where they are SO necessary. 1t is dis
creditabla to the nation that such a state
Of affairs has existed down to the pres
eut time. Washington should have at this
bridges across the Potomac and Anacostia
Rivers. II is gratifying to state that Con-
gress last year took decided step for
ward toward bridge building, which
affords great encouragement. nav steel
truss bridge 300 feet long has been erected
across Piney Branch within Rock Creek
Park. An appropriation of s65,000 has
also been made for bridge across Rock
Creek on the line of Connecticut Ave-
nue.. The contract for the foundation
has heen made and work commenced.
The Park System Work.
with policy defined to develop on
broad, artistic. practical lines the lark
system of the District of Columbia the
Committee on Parks and Reservations has
been constantly working, with good prog
ress. 1t recommends the continuation of
the National Park system along Rock
Creek. from the Geological Park south to
Pennsylvania Avenue and Twenty-seventh
Street. suitably improving the latter
street to make 1t a desirable and pleasant
driveway between the Rock Creek and Po-
tomac Parks. 1t endorses the proposition
to extend the park west Of Rock Creek.
The committee recommends the establish
ment of battlefield park at Fort Stevens.
THE Committee on Charities and Cor
rections presents this year in its re-
port several interesting subjects. 1t re-
fers to the law creating Board of Chari-
ties. and also to the provision for a NUM-
cipal hospital by the appropriation OF
100000 for the purchase of a site. and
the people of the District
upon having secured these improvements.
A bill introduced in Congress for the COM
pulsory support of children by parents in
the District of Columbia for the relief OF
prisoners in the District jail, for a tenn
porary reformatory for children. and for
the appointment of truant officer, is rec
for approval. The separation
OF the Jail, the workhOuse. and the aims
house. and their removal from the pres
ent site is recommended. Provision will
be made by Congress to erect
and equip hospital equal to the highest
standard.
I'm the month of February the Commits
,ioners Of the District of Columbia referred
% the Board of Trade for its opinion a bill
proposed to be introduced in Congress en-
titled An act to regulate the assessment
md collection of taxes and licenses in the
District of Columbia and for other pur-
,oses.' The bill was referred to the Com |
nittee on Taxation. On March II. 1900. |
he committee submitted an able exhaus- |
i've and instructive report to the board. |
1t fully attended meeting the report |
vas thoroughly discussed and adopted.
The report opposed the proposition TO |
make annual collection of taxes instead of |
emf annual, as at present. reasoning that |
he latter is more convenient and economi-
ally beneficial for the taxpayer and pro-
uces prompter payments. Moreover semi
nnual payments are not so disturbing to |
he financial conditions in the District as
nnual payments, which would require the
withdrawal of double the amount OF funds
t one time. and would be sure to unfavor-
bv affect business generally and the best
interests of the city.
From the report of the Committee on
Ie-cantile Interests We learn that greater
prosperity prevails and better
abor conditions exist than ever before in
he history of Washington. The commit
ee has endeavored to bring about better
rates from Virginia. West
-irginia and Maryland during the busy
urchasing season. Fake sales and fake
uctions' are receiving the attention OF the :.
ommittee. The committee recommends Il
ix of 81 per 81 600 on the gross business Of {
lerchants in place of the personal tax | {
ow imposed. This will ensure all mer- I
hants paying taxes instead Of only por- |
on.
THE Committee on Insurance recon- |
lends renewed efforts to secure the pass I
ge of the insurance bill TO regulate in I
france business OF every character in the
istrict of Columbia.
The Public Library. t
The Committee on Public Library re-
,rts bright prospects for a public library. =
ade possible by the generous donations of a
ndrew Carnegie. For the purpose Of add I
& books to the library the approval by C
,e trustees of the library of an estimate S
an appropriation of $4,000 is recon- I
ended by the committee. II
THE Committee on Public Order has f
ven considerable attention to the condi i
On and needs of the police force The