Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-01

Tor work OF extending the sewerage system
as 1t was thought could be expended
The erection of additional poles sn,1
strfng1ng Of overhead wires outside of the
fire limits and east Of Rock creek was AL
lowed oy Congress for electric light pur-
poses.
A site for the Business High scboo, .u,.s
provided for, with authority to prepare
plans and Specifications for a building not
70 exceed 115,0OO in cost. The present SEES
SION OF Congress has been asked to in
crease this amount. as 1t is not regarded
az sufticient to provide suitable building.
Inc fire department was given a new
truck house and the police department a
new station house, both in the southeastern
part OF the city. The health department
was given substantial allowance to en-
force regulations against the spread Of
scarlet fever and diphtheria in the Dis
trict
The construction Of buildings for the on
gineer school Of the army at the arsenal
was provided for and the work has been
begun.
The bill to exteno the 18th street line of
the Anacostfa and Potomac railroad was
passed.
The District Government.
The past year in District government cir
cfes has been one OF moment. The munich
pal affairs of the national capital have at
tanned to an Importance end have been
the subject of more widespread interest
than ever before known. The dignity of
the capital city has forced itself upon the
national legislators, and the welfare Of
washington. the home Of the national gov
the people Of the republic Congress has
come to recognize the demands Of the capt.
tai and giant strides forward are now being
taken every twelvemonth
One eh Of much has been
provision provision. BY CONGRESS for a municipal
building. The District governm has long
wanted home and Is at last to have one
Cramped, rented quarters have long been
endured, the affairs Of the capital city
being carried on not only under difficulties
but amid undignifed surroundings
In personal sense the year was one of
bereavements as the District lost three Of
Its very best friends. Senator James Nc
MILAN, chairman Of the Senate District
committee; District Commissioner John W.
Ross and former Governor Alexander r.
Shepherd. Ali OF THESE deaths occurred
within few weeks and the District flags
were at half-mast for period of ninety
days out Of respect to the memory of these
three men who each In his time labored so
energetically and successfully for. this city.
One OF the most important undertakings
to which the Commissioners have given
their attention Is an endeavor to induce
Congress to provide for scheme Of long
term payments on projects Of extraordinary
and permanent Improvement. All such
projects at present must be paid for out
OF the current revenues. which are not suf-
ficient to stand such heavy drain. The
Commissioners desire to secure advances
from the United States treasury to pay for
these improvements as they go on, the
money thus loaned to the District to be re-
paid in instalimentS, with low rate of in
terest If they succeed in securing a con-
gressional adoption of this plan, it will
solve the serious financial difficulties that
now exists and insure not only the needed
improvements. but a maintenance Of the
institutions and departments as their i'm
IA dom v1dc
Commissioner John w. Ross, after
twelve years of servfce-a longer period
than that of any other Commissioner-died
on the 10Th Of July. after an illness which
had connned him to his room for several
weeks. There was a general manifestat ton
of sorrow by the people Of the District Of
Columbia, a large attendance at the funeral,
held at the Church Of the Covenant The
Ross Memorial Association has been or
ganized by officials and other employees Of
the District of Columbia.
Henry Litchfield West, well-known
newspaper man, was appointed the sue
cessOr of Commissioner Ross on the 18th
day Of October, and qualified and took the
oath Of office on the 18th day of October.
The provision for municipal building at
the last session Of Congress came as a de-
lightful surprise. 1t was contained In the
omnibus public building bill introduced by
Representative Mercer The sum of $780,
600 was appropriated, with the provision
that the total appropriation should be
should be the square bounded By 1917 and
14th and D and streets northwest, for
merly occupied by the power house Of the
Capital Traction Company. The sum t. be
paid for this site was fixed at $500 D..
After some hesftancy the company agreed
to the terms and title to the site was taken.
On his advice the Commissioners selected
the plans of Frank Miles Day & Bro. of
Philadelphia for the municipal hospital
buildings. and appointed these gentlemen
architects of the buildings.
The policy of the Commissioners In favor
OF putting all overhead wires underground
as rapidly as possible has been advanced
by the action Of the last Congress- which
authorized the building Of additional un-
foreground conduits by the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company. AS this
conduit is built the District will be able to
avail itself Of considerable portions OF 1t
for placing the District wires underground.
| 1t seems but a question Of a few years
when most Of the wires now overhead will
be underground. .-..
Congress at its last session made many
changes In laws relating to taxation.
BY act approved February II. 1902, 1t
was provided that hereafter the first half
| OF each years tax should be payable in
| November at the option OF the property
| owner. the whole tax being due and payable
| the following May, and no penalty accru-
| Ing until June l.
! Congress passed last winter q license law
| to take the place Of the old statute. This
| law goes into effect with the beginning of
| suit in a considerable increase In the reve-
| nue. of the District. One Of It's features
| Is the Increase Of wholesale liquor licenses
| from $3.50 to $500. and OF retail LIQUOR
| licenses from 800 to $500.
| In the fall OF 1901 the assessor by direc-
| ton. of the Commissioners. made every ef-
| fort to enforce the personal tax law as It
| then stood. The law In force at that time
! was the act Of March s. 1877. which in the
| course OF years had nearly fallen into dis
use. BY a decision Of the Supreme Court
Of the District OF Columbia, rendered on
December 20. 1901. this law was declared to
| be invalid. In consequence Of this decision
no further steps were taken to enforce said
act, but the assessor drafted by direction
OF the Commissioners and at the request
Of committees OF Congress. a personal tax
bill which, after a great deal of debate and
many changes. was passed by Congress
| This law took effect tne LIST OF July. 1902,
and 10 expected to be the means Of raising
/ considerable revenue. For the purpose OF
| enforcing this law two additional members
i OF the permanent board of assistant as
| SCISSORS were appointed. making said board
| consist OF i've members, all Of whom, with
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