Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-02

oShSu LOT new puSlueSS
high school, Congress has appropriated
$4,000 for the purchase of site and
5000 for plans. with provision that the
building shall not cost more than $115,OOO.
This amount should be used in erecting a
building which will admit Of future extern
sion. as the school has had and will con-
tinue to have rapid growth, and a build
ing designed to provide for this growth
pupils.
Under the appropriation by Congress at
the last session the Commissioners pur-
chased site for the business high school
building. 1t is the entire square bounded
by 9Th, 9th and r streets and Rhode Island
avenue, and designated as square north of
square number 396, and with the parking,
affords fine opportunity for suitable
building. Plans are In preparation under
the direction Of the Commissioners in
competition of architects residing In the
District of Columbia for this building, and
1t Is earnestly hoped that Congress will
make at the coming session the necessary
appropriation for its construction.
School athletics.-It is unfortunate that
the three great schools which have come
latest in the development Of our school sys-
tem-the two manual training schools and
the business high school, yet to be erected
Will be practically without grounds This.
added to the fact that none of the older
high schools is provided with anything at
all suitable for an athletic field, suggests
the diff1culties that are to confront our high
school boys unless measures are taken to
meet this need.
Promotions CT teachers-The rule adopted
by the board of education which abolished
the yearly election of teachers, thus secur-
ing to them permanency of tenure during
good behavior and efficiency, made 1t nee
essary that definite standards of efficiency
should be determined and that the RESPONSE
bllity for ranking teachers by these stand
ards should be located. The board accord
ingly, in the fall of 1901, amended rule u so
as to provide for an annual rating in June
of all teachers in the emDOv Of the hoo rd
In the grades, high, and normal schools and
special departments, by their respective
pervisors-principals or directors. 1t was
further provided that these ratings, when
approved by all intermediate supervisory o.
ficers and by the superintendent, should
constitute the basis on which promotions
Of teachers should be made, length of SER
Vice to be considered only where candidates
Tor advancement were of equal efficiency.
After the lst of July, 1902 all promotions of
teachers will be determined in accordance
with the provisions Of this rule.
Corporation Counsel.
The work Of the corporation counsel has
been of considerable magnitude and the
efficiency of that officer has been demon
strated In the management of the legal
business Of the District Of Columbia. His
report shows in detail the number of suits
instituted against the District and their dis
position.
Especial attention is called to the street
extension and condemnation cases, tnyoly-
Ing legal questions of difficulty. which have
been successfully prosecuted during the
fiscal year. The extension Of 10th street
presented a case Of the greatest Importance
OF its kind in the District, the area of land
condemned being about forty-seven acres
in 22O parcels of ownership This proceed
Ing necesSitated the condemnation of land
for street nearly five miles In length and
100 feet wide. The jury awarded damages
amounting to S129 20 and assessed bene-
fits aggregating SOS, S34.75 Many objec-
tons to this verdict award and assessment
were filed by all parties concerned, but the
court overruled all exceptions and objec-
tons and passed an order finally ratifying
the entire award, both as to damages and
benefits
The new code of laws for the District of
Columbia, enacted by Congress March 8,
1901, went into effect and operation Jan
uary l, 1902, since which time several i'm
portant amendments have been made.
There will naturally be still further read
1ustment necessary, but already much
benefit has been derived from the revision
of previously complicated laws
Attention is called to the necessity of
amending the present lunacy law, on the
ground that it Is unsatisfactory expensive
and perhaps unconstitutional The renewal
of the corporation counsels recommended
ton for this amendment Is approved by the
Commissioners.
Board Of Charities.
The board of charities again urges the
Importance of centralizing the control Of all
District charities in the hands of the Com
missioners Of the District Of Columbia, so
that charitable institutions maintained by
the District government will be subject to
the same authority as other departments of
that government. The Commissioners be-
lieve that the board of charities and the
Board Of Children's Guardians should be
appointed by the Commissioners.
The board further emphasizes the i'm
portance of uniflcation In the work of car
Ing for dependent children and advocates
the concentration of that work under the
direction Of the Board Of Children's Guard
ians, which Is the arm of the District gov
eminent created for that service Under
present arrangements there are too many
agencies working independently, resulting
in duplication CT effort.
The board has been more successful than
heretofore In having returned to their
homes nonresident insane persons confined
In the Government Hospital for the Insane
and charged to the District of Columbia.
During the year 33 were returned to their
homes and the District thus relieved of the
cost Of their maintenance.
In granting transportation to paupers the
board has introduced system of careful
investigation, and through the cooperation
of organized charities in other communities
has endeavored to gain Information con-
corning parties asking transportation to
those communities. by THIS system many
unworthy persons have been weeded out
and the board has been enabled to send all
genuine cases to their homes.
Under the contract system, whereby the
board is enabled to investigate the cases
received as charity patients in the various
hospitals, 1t has prevented imposition in
many cases. People who are abundantly
able to pay for their treatment have been
denied admission as charity patients, and
many cases have been detected where de-
pendent persons from other communities
We're sent here for the express purpose of
being cared for in our hospitals. Such cases
have always been returned to their homes
as soon as the condition Of the patient
would permit. and many chronic cases
were turned away at the depots and were
never allowed to enter institutions.
Municipal almshouse.-The board submits
an estimate for $125. 600 for the erection Of
the municipal almshouse, In accordance
with the plans prepared, as heretofore
authorized by Congress.
Estimate for municipal hospital - The
board asks an appropriation of $3.50, 900 to
commence the erection of a municipal hos
pltal, and urges that provision first be
made at such hospital for the care of
tubercuar. convalescent and general chron-
ic patients, as these are deemed by the
board to be the most pressing demands Of
the immediate future. 1t Is suggested that
there is reasonable provision made at pres
ent for general acute medical and surgical
cases, but a lamentable lack Of facilities
fAv olo