Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-01


of the District and its people are in some
instances discussed, showing that progress
has been made in municipal and individual
prosperity, and that the general conditions
are better today than one year ago.
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
No change occurred during the year In
the personnel of the board of District Com
r.ssioners, which consists of John &.
Wight, president; John W. Ross and Capt.
Lansing H. Beach, Engineer Corps, United
States army. Mr. j. Harrison johnson,
chairman of the excise board, resigned No
vember pa because of ill health. The resig-
nation took effect December l. and MIR.
Matthew Trimble, who had been the as
SCISSOR of the District for many years, was
made the successor of Mr.. johnson. Mr..
Hopewell II. Darncille, disbursing officer,
was promoted to the position vacated by
Mr.. Trimble, Mr.. Charles C. Rogers, assist
ant to Mr.. Darneille, being made disburs-
ing officer. These changes took effect De-
cember l. Capt. w. l.. Craighill Corps of
-, designated as assistant to the Engineer
commissioner, serving until July n, when
Capt. ID. DUB. Gaillard succeeded him.
Capt. Henry c. Newcomer has been dcsig-
mated as second assistant to the Engineer
Commissioner, and is expected 10 report Tor
such duty about January 10. Mr.. S. 7.
Thomas, who had for several years been
the attorney for the District, relinquished
the office May 81, being succeeded by Mr..
y B. Duvall, who had been his assistant
TO- a number of years, the latter being sue
&C eded by Mr.. Clarence a. BrandenburS.
New contracts were made July L for
cleaning the streets, roads and alleys of the
District, and Congress having limited The
price for doing such work, about $4,000
was saved the District under the con-
tracts, which were made to run but one
year The contractors under the hand
cleaning system were charged by the su-
perintendent of the street cleaning depart
ment with violating the terms of the con-
tract, and after a public hearing, conducted
by the Commissioners, the superintendent
vas sustained and the contractors directed
to perform the work according to his in
depreciation of the contract.
Conferences We're held during the year
between the Commissioners and officials of
the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio
railroads upon the subject of abolition of
result that a bill authorizing the first
named road to make such improvements
was introduced in the Senate just before
the holiday recess of Congress. This bill,
however does not meet in every respect
the approval of the Commissioners, and 1t
is expected that in their report to Congress
on the proposed measure they will suggest
many Important amendments. The BIN au-
thorizing the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
to make such improvements Will, it is be-
heved, be Introduced shortly.
Many hearings were granted by the Com
missiOnerS during the year upon various
subjects, the most important being upon a
proposed cross-town street railroad; on
Sunday laws and entertainments; on
plumbing regulations; on cab stands and
re equations; on street railways; on amend
ment of police and building regulations,
and of the law relative to steam engineers
The police and other regulations were
amended during the year in numerous in
stances. The most important of these
amendments related to hack stands and
rates; the extension of the snow and ice
laws beyond the city limits; occupancy of
parks and parkings; speed Of horsesless
vehicles; forbiddlng stands in the streets
for the sale of articles; erection of signs
and barber po,es, and occupancy of side
walks on south side Of Pennsylvania and
Louisiana avenues between 18th and 9th
streets.
The order permitting hotel hack stands
was revoked, despite the opposition of the
hotel men. Another matter which aroused
much opposition was the removal of the
country people and others who had been In
the habit of occupying the sidewalks ad-
jacent to the Riggs market. The Commits
sicners considered such occupancy to
amount to the use of public space for pri-
vate business purposes and adhered to the
order given by them for the removal of
the people.
Because of the advance in the cost Of
building materials the Commissioners were
unable to secure satisfactory bids for sew
eral school houses and houses for three
new companies in the fire department In
two or three cases several attempts We're
made to secure bids within the amounts re-
spectlVely available for erecting these Struc-
lures, but without success, although the
plans were revised SO as to contemplate less
expensive buildings. The Commissioners
then decided to lay the matter before Con-
gress during the present session, with i re-
quest for additional funds.
An outbreak of smallpox occurred early in
the year, and Congress granted the Com
missioners the sum of $1,000 with which
to prevent the spread of it and other con-
tagious diseases. About 100 cases occurred
during the first outbreak although but one
death was the result. A dozen or more cases
occurred during the outbreak of the dis
ease this fall but no death occurred. Con-
gress also voted increased amounts for re-
moving the snow from the streets and roads
last winter, the unusual severity of the
weather making such increased appropria-
tons absolutely necessary. Additional funds
Were also granted the Commissioners for
the employment Of boats in breaking the
ice in the river.
The awarding by the Commissioners to
an outside hrm OF the contract for making
and furnishing the uniforms of the mem
bers of the police and fire departments was
the subject OF adverse comment. The Com
mlsstoners We're also more or less criticised
for issuing a proclamation requiring all
dogs to wear muzzles when at large for a
period of six months, despite the fact that
they were officially informed, both by the
officer, that rabies in dogs existed here at
the time, and despite the further fact that
an act of Congress Of 1878 made the issu-
ance of such proclamation mandatory
upon them when they had good reason to
believe that mad dogs are at large in the
District. On the other hand. the Commits
sioners were generally commended for pro-
hibiting the firing off of giant frecrackers
and like explosives. An attempt to enforce
against agents of the property the provi-
sions of the snow and ice laws was unsuc-
cessful, the Court Of Appeals deciding in
favor of the agents.
The Commissioners estimates for the fis-
cal year 1900 amounted to 81, 800 ,432 81 in
Guiding s135.341 payable out Of the water
| funds. The total assessed value of taxable
real estate and personal property in the
| District July 1, 1899. was $19O95S, 1857. The
| total tax on real estate was $500 1853 So
| and the total tax on personal property,
| s245 SASS, a grand total of 81, So, 97S 20.
| The funded debt of the District June 30.
1899. was $15.s91. 82O1s. The appropria.
| lions for the fiscal year ended June 30,
| 1899. payable out Of the general revenues,
| and embracing all but those for the water
| department, amounted to 81, 239. 673. SO. The
| receipts from taxes and other resources
| applicable to the payment Of said appro-
| priations including the amount contribute.
Bile by the United States and surplus Of