Evening star., 1901-12-03

requesting persons In the vicinity to
aNoid unnecessary noise. The Commits
offered to commission special policemen.
to be paid by the householder, to en-
force In the vicinity pf such residences
such sa laws and regulations as are already on
the statute books for the prevention of noise
liable to occasion injury to the sick.
The 1iilK Law.
Attention is again invited to the neces-
sity for amending the law regulating the
sale of milk. The goodsthat has apparently
been accomplished by the existing statute
is shown by the fact that the death rate of
children under one year of age, calculated
on the basis of the entire population which
curing the hVe years prior to the passage OF
the law was 5.91. has during the corre-
sponolnS period since its passage fallen to
4.ot. Even such mortality among this class
of the populat ation as now occurs is believed
10 De due IN great part to the sale of milk
more or less advanced towards souring, and,
WINE no law or regulation can prevent
improper way after its purchase, some ac-
tlon, II Is believed, should be taken toward
providing Tor its sale and delivery In the
pest possible condition that those who
may De able and willing to care for it prop
erly after its purchase can do so.
Attention IS invited to the urgent need
Tor a new pound. The present structure,
unsatisfactory at best has been rendered
IN the grades Of the streets in it's vicinity.
Inc establishment of a system of medi-
cal inspection in the public schools is
again recommended by the health officer.
ftesuits accomplished in other commune
ties as the outcome of such an inspection
service have fully justified a demand for
It's recognition as a part of our municipal
system. accomplishing as 1t does the double
oDJect OF conserving the health of the IN
d1vldual pupil by direct medical oversight
ana OF preventing the spread Of contagious
diseases among the pupils generally, its de-
slrabillty does not seem to be open for
question 1t is earnestly recommended that
the appropriation which has been asked
Tor its establishment and maintenance will
be granted.
The need for the establishment of mu-
n1clpal bath houses, which, too. is recon-
mended by the health officer, is so apparent
as to need no arguments in its support.
Smoke Inspection.
During the past year successful prosecu-
tions for alleged violations of the smoke
law were maintained In seven cases. fine
OF $40 having been imposed in each case.
In three other cases warrants were issued
and the defendants brought into court.
Two of such cases were, however, con-
tlnued by the court Indefinitely, because Of
the production of contracts for the install
lation OF smoke-preventing devices, and the
third was continued to enable the defend
ant to procure additional witnesses. In the
hrst two cases devices have been duly in
stalled and the nuisances for a time
abated. The last case has never been
brought to trial.
COroner's Office.
The coroner reports that during the last
fiscal year he investigated ST. cases, an
increase of 90 over the previous year.
Congress having appropriated $4,000 for
the new morgue, to be placed on govern
md
have been prepared, and this much-needed
Improvement will soon be secured. The
coroner recommends an increase in his
force, to meet the increased demands of the
office, which the Commissioners approve.
He thinks that the provision in the Dis
trict code for fees for witnesses at in
quests should be repealed.
The Commissioners recommend that the
code should be amended in section 100 SO
that the coroner shall be appointed as at
present, by the Commissioners of the Dis
trlct OF Columbia, and not as proposed in
that section by the President of the United
States.
Electrical Department.
The proposition to place this department
on the same basis as other departments of
the District government by providing on
the annual rolls for those per diem en-
ployes whose services are now continuous,
is again urgently recommended.
tric lighting system is prevented east of
Rock creek by lack of authority in the
Commissioners to grant permission for the
erection of the necessary wires and poles.
1t is recommended that the Commissioners
be given such authority as will enable
them to erect wires and poles east Of Rock
creek and outside of the fire limits.
Attention is invited to the fact that the
pany is prevented from building conduits
either to bury it's existing wires or to make
extensions to it's existing underground sys-
tenn, while the electric lighting companies
enjoy unlimited privileges in this direction.
The telephone company is ready and willing
TO take down a great many of it's over
head lines which 1t cannot do. however.
without the building of additional conduits,
A carefully drawn bill (H.R. 9O53), having
many features which 1t would be desirable
to have enacted, was introduced in the last
Congress, which would relieve this restrict
ed condition of affairs.
A bill was again introduced at the last
session of Congress requiring every rail-
way company in the District to install and
use metallic circuit trolley systems. either
overhead or underground, and to abandon
lne use OF rall and ground returns. This
measure is of considerable Importance In
affording protection to subseryice pines
cables, wires and other metallic construc-
tons, and should be passed. The Washing
ton Traction and Electric Company, antfc-
lpating such legislation, has rebuilt a large
portion Of the overhead trolley lines con-
trolled by it with the double trolley system
but is operating only one Of such lines with
that system.
A bill requiring that all electrical con-
tractors and wiremen should be licensed.
creating a board of electrical control to
the electrical installations and
requiring that the District shall INSPECT the
of all electrical wires and
plants in buildings, was introduced. and RS
passage will be urged by the Commission
ers. With this enacted the damage from
cheap and understandable construction IN
electric wiring would be reduced to a min
imum and the danger from fires greatly ra
duced.
The Assessors Once.
marked Improvement in the business
methods in the assessors office has at
tended the transfer to that official Of the
special assessment division and of so much
of the business Of the water registrars
office as pertains to water main assess
ments. All assessments are now unon a
card index system, whereby the speedy ex-
animation of the records of all assessments
is greatly facilitated.
The triennial assessment by the hoard of
assistant assessors will be completed .Iann
airy 6, 1902. The work of the board of
equalization and review will be finished in
the beginning of the month of June 1aO2.
and the new assessment will be the basis
Of taxation for the fhraa yoor,