Evening star., 1900-12-03

trolley system. but is operating only one of
| such lines with that system
| Electric Wiring.
| A bill requiring that all electrical con-
| tractors and wiremen should be licensed,
| creating board Of electrical control to
supervise electrical installations and re-
Qutring that the District shall inspect the
! installation of all electric wires and plants
! in buildings has been introduced and its
| passage will be urged by the Commission
ers With this enacted the danger from
cheap and unworkmanlike construction in
! electric wiring would be reduced to a min
imum and the danger from fires greatly re-
duced.
Fire Department.
The fire department has maintained its
reputation for efficiency. although during
the year 1t had no remarkable fires to fight,
1t responded. however, to 639 alarms during
the fiscal year and did good service as
| usual The need for an enlargement of the
department and for the Improvement Of
| the existing buildings belonging to it is
still great. notwithstanding the fact that
through the action Of Congress two addi-
tional truck companies and one chemical
engine company have been provided. The
increased facilities for rapid transit have
spread the population of the District over
all portions of 1t, so that there has been a
general and rapid increase in the number
Of buildings in the suburban places which.
therefore, appeal, with reason, for fire pro-
lection that cannot be given without weak
ening that to which the older portions of
the District are entitled. At the same
time the normal increase of populat ton
and the number Of buildings in the city of
Washington. including Georgetown, demand
chief of the fire department gives good
reasons in mis- annual report for an in
crease OF three new engines companies and
two new truck companies. The Commits
sioners would gladly ask for all of these.
but, In view Of the other pressing needs Of
the District, they have asked in their esti-
mates for only one new engine company
and one new truck company, and defer the
others until next year. A stable where
the sick and disabled horses of the fire
department may be treated and extra
horses kept is greatly needed. and is once
more asked for.
AS a mere matter Of justice, a fifteen per
cent increase of the salaries Of the off,
GERS and men Of the fire department. which
has been asked in this years estimates
by the Commissioners, should be granted.
For some reason the fire department has
never received the same rates of COM
pensation as other departments under the
work as hard, and with as great and con-
slant risk, as any other employees of the
District. while they are separated from
their families as no other employees are.
1t has become difficult to retain first-class
men in the department because OF the fact
that their compensation is so inadequate.
The Increase Of the department and the
expansion of the city demand that the
number Of assistant chiefs shall be in
creased from two to four At present each
OF the assistant chiefs has to respond to
all alarms in one-half of the District, night
and day. This is more than any man can
do easily and well, and there is no doubt
that the service will be improved by dou-
bling the number Of these officers.
The fire alarm system of the District of
Columbia continues to give great satisfac-
ton. The electrical engineer and his as
sistantssin immediate charge Of fire alarm
headquarters have adopted every improve
ment that can be devised to increase its
efficiency. The employees in charge of it
show singular fidelity and industry under
very uncomfortable conditions at head.
quarters.
Centennial Celebration.
Under the action Of Congress and the
steps taken by the committees authorized to
make arrangements for the celebration OF
the centennial Of the establishment of the
seat Of government In the District Of Co
lumbia, Wednesday. December II. has been
selected as the day for the ceremonies. A
simple but dlgnified and worthy celebrate
is provided in the program prepared by he
executive committee, representing Congr ss,
the governors Of the states and territories
and the citizens OF the District Of Columbia,
who have had the cooperation of the Pres
ident Of the United States in their prepara-
tions.
A reception by the President in honor of
the governors Of the states and territories
at the Executive Mansion in the morning
during which brief addresses on the history
Of the White House. the history Of the Dis
the nation will be delivered. and addresses
on the subject of the celebration, by emf
nent senators and representatives. at a
join session Of the Senate and House, in
A.. nro fha ,1fy, &c.
the program.
military and naval parade is to escort
the President and his distinguished guests
from the White House to the Capitol at
noon. The people of the District Of CO.
lumbia have shown deep interest in the
preparations for the celebration Of this
memorable anniversary, and there is every
reason to believe that 1t will prove to be q
notable occasion.
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
The sealer Of weights and measures is
able to report continued improvement; in the
work Of his office. which has been carried
forward with zeal and discretion. He re-
pcrts that there is very evident improve
nent made in the scales and measures in
use in the District. He recommends that
there should be an annual inspection Of all
measures, instead Of simply one inspection
sI.ection and sealing Of milk jars for the
protection Of the public, which would re-
quire an additional assistant sealer at a sal
ary Of 500 per annum, which outgo would
be more than counterbalanced by the in
come from fees The sealer makes other in
telligent and interesting suggestions. which
are worthy Of consideration.
HarbOrmaster.
The harbor master has done the best he
could to police the waters Of the District OF
Columbia with his police boat. "Vigilant,"
and has accomplished wonders when it is
considered that his boat is probably the
slowest on the river. and that he mas only
q day crew. 1t is high time that the Dis
trict should have a suitable boat for this
necessary business and that the harbor
master should have a night crew as well as
a day crew. This Is more necessary than
ever now that new duties have been placed
upon the Commissioners respecting the
wharfage Of the water front. 1t seems plain
that there should be no further delay in
this matter, and the modest estimate sub
mitted by the harbor master will be earn
estly commended to the attention Of Con-
gress.
Excise Board.
The excise board reports that 515 retail
licenses were issued in the year ending Oc-