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


throughout the District.
Receipts for the fiscal year ended June 90. |
1902 amounted to s6,s7OSo.
Total number of scales sealed Is 763 40 !
45O of which were wagon scales: condemn
ed, 50; wagon scales condemned for repair,
40; weights sealed, 1881: condemned, "a;
yard measures sealed, Soj condemned, Z:
measures sealed. 4.OSo: condemned, 1000:
government scales inspected and sealed, for
which no fees were charged. 81.
The sealer states that the system of cam
wasting the District in the examination OF
scales, weights and measures is very salts
factory to a majority of the dealers. Where
and when 1t is possible necessary repairs
are made on all kinds of scales. Much
time and attention has been given TO tho
inspection of wagon scales, and the sealer
reports theE condition more satisfactory
than here tofore
Sale of hay scales. etc-He also earnest
~ recommends that the law governing the
SAFE OF the use of the District hay scales bS
amended, giving the Commissioners of the
District the right to receive propositions IN
writing for the use OF these scales for one,
two or three years: the Commissioners to
nX fair and just valuation upon each scale
and to have the right to accept or reject all
such bids, and that they he authorized also
TO take charge of such scales and place
welghmaSterS at such points as would be
necessary and to the advantage OF the Dis
trfct and the best public service. should Is
De 1ound necessary 10 reject any or all such
prove.
He also urges the passage of the proposed
amendments to the laws governing the Of
nee which met with the approval of the
Commissioners and also with the approval
or the Senate District committee, but. ow-
ing TO press of business, were not taken up
by Congress at its last session.
MIX bottles.-Since his annual report
decision. in the case of the District against
a milk dealer for refusing to exhibit his
glass Jars or bottles used as measures in
distributing milk throughout the District
for inspection and sealing, has been rem
dered, the judge charging the jury to re-
turn a verdict of Guilty" The case has
been taken up to the Court of Appeals.
Coroner.
The new District CODE which went into
effect January /, 1902, created changes in
the coroner's office Among other things, q
provision was made for the compensation
of witnesses testifying before inquests. Tho
experience of a year demonstrates the ap-
preparation of last year for this purpose to
be insufficient; hence the increased estimate
for this year
While the law does not provide for q
stenographic report of inquests, the coro.
ner believes it to be of the utmost import.
ance that a full clear and concise record
or all 1nquests be kept. At inquests involv-
ing criminals cases valuable testimony In
given which assists the district attorneys
office In preparing cases for subsequent
trial. Witnesses have not been tempered
with and their testimony is reliable. Under
the present system, where long-hand re-
ports are the only ones obtainable not only
is much time taken up In examing wit.
nesse3, but errors occur. Both of these
things have caused much unfavorable criti-
cism by lawyers and witnesses alike. The
FORMER cannot depend upon the record and
the latter complain Of unnecessary delay.
An increase of pay is recommended for
the mOrgue keeper and an assistant to the
morgue keeper is asked Concerning tho
iS a cd htrf hn fh,f
incumbent is required by the very necessity
of the situation to be constantly on duty,
imposing great hardship. His duties are
manifold he must have technical knoWlS
edge of embalmng.
An assistant is urgently needed. He could
De lntrusted with the care of the morguf
and act as janitor, thereby permitting tho
morgue keeper to devote his entire time I'd
the outside work of the office.
Harbor Master.
The harbor master reports constant activ.
ity along ali the lines of his work during
the past year. Faithful performance of thu
exacting duties has been rendered Ho
recommends an annual appropriation Of
$1,000 for an emergency fund for clearing
the Potomac river of ice when necessary
to prevent flooding of the city of Washing
ton, believing that the work could be per-
formed thus more economically and more
thoroughly than under a hurried special
appropriation. He also requests an increase
In the item for miscellaneous expenses to
meet the increased cost of maintenance Of
the enlarged harbor boat, and to make
needed repairs to the wharf and buildings.
He asks that new item for fireman. at
S3o per month, be added, none now being
authorized.
The Commissioners renew their former
recommendation that the harbormaSter be
made a captain in the metropolitan police
department, and that the supervision Of tho
police department over his work be made
closer ana more immediate.
Bathing Beach.
The bathing beach maintains It's popu-
larity as a resort for comfort and diver
sion during the warm weather. The at
tendance during the past year was a little
over $4,000, or 5000 less than during the
preceding season, the falling off in attend
ance being principally due to the unusual
GOODNESS of the summer.
Improvements projected around the Mon
ument grounds involved the construction Of
a road on the site of the bathing beach. A.
provision In the last sundry civil approp.ia-
ton law directed that the beach should be
The District appropriation law
contained appropriation of $4,000 for
the beach to the inner basin. q
short distance away. In consequence OF
this legislation the bathing beach has been
a andoned and a new one is nearing conf
in the sundry civil law which requires the
abandonment of the beach authorizes the
to arrange with the Secre-
tary Of War for the establishment Of float
ing baths in the tidal reservoir, 1t may he
found feasible to provide bathing facilities
In the larger body of water as well as IN
the inner basin.
Excise Board.
The excise board reports that the mum.
Der of bar rooms in existence November is,
1902, was J04. The number of wholesale
liquor places In existence November 10,
1902 was 125 This is a decrease Of bar
rooms and an increase of wholesale places
over last year
The Commissioners reiterate their recon-.
in favor of the excise bill pend
ing in Congress.
The report concludes with the statement
Of Col. John Biddle, the Engineer .Commis-
sioner, as to the operations of the engineer
department. Col. Biddles report has here
tofore been printed in The Star.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.