Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-07

|
struction the conditions have been greatly
| improved. especially in the city OF washs
lngton, and several heavy street lines Of
poles removed.
The cables of the fire-alarm ana police
telephone service were extended by the ad.
dtfion OF 9.04 miles Of cable laid principals
~ IN the ducts Of the Chesapeake and Poto-
| mac Telephone Company. Seven fire-alarm
boxes. patrol boxes. and five buildings
| were connected to these cables
| Thirty-two flre-alarm boxes were added,
OF which were purchased and installed for
private parties without cost to the District.
| Ten police-patrol boxes were added in the !
| various precincts.
ut 1t Is again earnestly requested that the
placed upon the annual roll.
Inspector Of Gas and Meters.
DR.. g. Calvert Ford. who had been In.
spector OF gas and meters since the office
was created by act OF Congress in 1874. and
who had rendered faithful and Jealous
service. was obliged to retire on account OF
failing health. and. upon the recommended
| ton OF the Commissioners, the President
OF the United States appointed E. G. Run
yam 70 the ONCE. the duties OF which he as :
su gu. January z 1908 Congress. in the
| act OF March y. 1909 making provision for
! tne expenses OF the District of Columbia.
| provided that hereafter the appointments
10 this office should be made by the Com
| missioners Of the District of Columbia. The
service In this office has been efficiently
rendered.
Police Department.
The police organization has maintained its
| high standard during the past year. the
| superintendent effecting changes which
| tended to material improvement. There
| nave been few crimes Of great magnitude or
| depredations by professional criminals. The
force has been free from scandal and, con-
sidering its limited numerical strength, has
| accomplished excellent service
| The District appropriation bin passed at
| the last session of Congress provided for 40
| additional privates. but also provided that
| their pay should be only s720 per annum.
Owing to the great demand for labor IN the
| District this salary does not offer any In
| ducement to membership IN the police force,
| wages of more than SIS week being easily
obtainable. without night duty and without
| the expense Of procuring uniforms Conse-
| quently. 1t has been found impossible to Sc
| secure the full complement of men. AS the
| increased force is absolutely demanded to
| meet the requirements of the rapidly de-
| velopfng city and suburbs, the Commission.
| ers urge that the salary Of $720 be increased
| to $780, The positions of captains and lieu
| tenants should also be made more remun-
| erative. The salaries in the District are
| much lower than those paid in other large
| cities for like duties.
Other Station Houses Needed.
In noting the fact that the new building
provided for the fifth precinct is under con-
| struction and will be completed in the early
| part of the ensuing year. the Commission
| ers desire to call attention to the fact that
| other new station houses are needed. This
is especially the case in the first precinct,
| in the heart Of the city. The present sta
ton house, an old, inadequate and uns
| healthy structure. should be replaced by q
| central police station. completely equipped
| modern In every respect and a credit to the
| national capital. The Commissioners have
not, however. estimated for this building,
| owing to the enormous demands now being
| made upon the District finances They re-
gard as much more important the construc-
| ton Of new police-court building, the
necessity for which Is so well known as to
remove all occasion for argument. There
| Is revival Of the suggestion for the es-
| Establishment of magistrate system for the
| trial of petty offenders, and 1t is urged by
| the major and superintendent of police that
| much time and money can be saved by it's
| adoption The question is under consider
| alton and may occasion further report to
| Congress. In the meantime the practice of
| segregatng the trials of Juveniles i, being
| successfully tried.
| In this connection Congress Is urged to
| appropriate the full amount asked for tho
maintenance mai of the House of Detention.
The superintendent of police believes that
| the police administration would be greatly
| benefited by laws to punish fugttives from
Jusuce, TO regulate the sale of opium and
| cocaine, to increase the penalty for Sec
| ond onense of larceny, to place proba ton
omcers under the supervision of the SUPER
in.endent or police, to consolidate the river
| patrol with the police department and 70
| erect an asylum for inebriates
The Grand Army of the Republic held its
annual gathering in Washington during the
| was handled with such skill and cara ~
to secure to the visitors every freedom from
| embarrassment
The Public Library.
The new Washington Public Library was
| formally opened on the 7th Of January, 1904
the occasion being one Of unusual import
ance and interest. Tho president of thu
| Board of Commissioners. who Is president
of the library building commission, pre-
sided, and formally delivered the building
| to Mr.. Theodore W. Moves the presiden1
| Of the board of trustees who made an
| appropriate address. President Roosevelt
| then delivered q speech, and was followed
by Mr. Andrew Carnegie. who came to
| Washington for the purpose Of being pres.
emit upon the interesting occasion. Mr.
| Carnegie increased his previous munif1cent
donation by the sum of $4,000. which sum
| ing the interior Of the new building 1t in
also proposed to establish branch libraries
| in various sections Of the District. these
| subordinate libraries to be erected from a
| further donation which Mr.. Carnegie has
offered. The new building will sheIye
2s3,21O volumes The popularity of the
the average withdrawal of books being
LOCO per day. Inasmuch as the library IL
being admirably managed by a board OF
trustees composed Of the public-spirited
gentlemen whose services are freely rem.
dered, 1t Is hoped that Congress will an.
prove the estimates of expenses which
have been submitted
The Bathing Beach.
During the year the work Of transferrinn
the bathing beach to the inner basin on th4
Potomac Flats was completed and two
floating baths constructed and located In
the tidal reservoir and placed in use during
the greater part Of the recent bathing sea.
son. Both Of the floating baths were 10.
Gated on the northern border Of the resers
voir contiguous to the inner basin, and the
| service rendered by them was entirely sat.
isfactory.
The total attendance during the season
was SO. 496 registered patrons and a patron.
age during the hours when the Office was
closed Of one-third of that number. The
diminution in attendance was due to the un.
usual GOODNESS Of the summer. which n ade
the water too cold for comfortable general
hot