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

would recomme1dIthe immediate enactment
OF q law that Will prevent the reinsurance
or any and all LOCAL insurance companies
assessment associations OF ffaternal bene-
fetal associations m any insurance company
or companies. assessment association or
associations or fraternal beneficial associa-
ton or associations chartered by special
acts OF Congress or under the general laws
o. the District Of Columbia, or the REIN
surance OF such described local companies
or associatlonsinsa company or companies,
assessment association or associations. or
a fraternal beneficial association or asso-
Citations that are chartered outside OF the
District of Colunnbia. without first pro-
curing the approval and consent or the
missioners OF the District Of Columbia.
Collection of Taxes.
Under the law creating the department
no taxes were collectible through it in
1902. Taxes collected. however, by the
department OF insurance in 1908 on BUSH
ness that was transacted in the District in
1902 aggregated $493S2.n, which was
SS6296 more than was collected in 1901
un0er the old law. Including the franchise
tax that was levied against the paid-up
capital OF local insurance companies. the
and taxes in favor of the department the
frst year amounted to $15,670.S5.
The total annual income from the depart
ment Will average about $4,000.
AosoA CApcuS9S incurred curing Tue uTSt
year. including salaries and furniture. ag-
gregated $6.608.47.
Summary Of First Years Results.
According to the number of companies
and associations that were licensed for the
first time (43). the reflections. withdrawals.
and not renewed (33 less that were Ii
censed that did not renew, equaling net PAY.
making in all 81. but ITO Of the original 237
that En- da h,,ci In ho
District in 1901 were licensed anew for the
year ending April 80 1903. The annual
revenue was increased 81 per cent.
Considering the vast amount of detail
work connected with the organization Of q
new department of insurance. also the in
suH1c1ent force Zone clerk) that Congress
provided to begin the work on January 1,
19o2 and the appointment OF only two
clerks since, the progress made in estab-
fishing and carrying on the work Of the
department has been eminently satisfac-
tory.
sealer Of Weights and Measures.
The report Of the sealer of weights and
measures, who has supervision of the in
spectors of boilers, lumber, wood and flour,
and of market masters and markets, shows
that during the fiscal year there have been
1854 scales sealed, 40 condemned for re-
pairs and so condemned and destroyed. Or
weights, 2,816 have been sealed and 125
condemned. In the case Of yard measures.
Ss2 were sealed and 4 condemned. Or
liquid and dry measures 1902 were sealed
and 615 condemned. 1t is estimated that
there are In use in the District Of Column
bia 3,73S liquid measures and 5000 dry
measures. total of $40 measures and
that 1857 business places have been visited.
Improved conditions are reported in the use
of sealed and stamped scales, weights and
measures.
Efforts Gin a measure successful have
been made to regulate the sale Of food
stuffs In the District of Columbia, and
amendments to the laws are recommended
which will give the Office additional author
ity, with view to further regulating the
sale of prov! slons so, that opportunities for
practicing fraud upon the citizens will be
reduced to the minimum. The District
markets, three in number, and the Whole
sale Producers Market were recently
placed under the Superv son of the Sealer's
Office because OF the personal knowledge of
conditions acquired by the sealer and as
sistant sealers in the frequent visits made
by them to the markets in the performance
of their official duties.
Receipts of the markets We're as follows:
Eastern, s.. 4S3; Georgetown, s1O54; West
ern' 50. 515O: Wholesale, Market Space, on
hand July 1, 1902, $361.79, receipts during
the year. $1.756.20. total, S2.11799. Thirty
five thousand fffty-two and three-eghths
cords of wood were inspected during the
year. ecS IOF inspections amounted to
$3.154.7O: expenses, S379 40; total net fees
retained by three inspectors for their serv-
ices. 50, 1928.
Twelve million six thousand and two feet
of lumber were inspected and were passed
mercha ntable; 260,3 feet were con-
demned; So. $50 y fees were collected; ex-
penses amounted to S1.136. TO- and 81, 405
was retained by the four lumber inspectors
for their services. Six hundred and TWEEN
ty-four boilers were inspected during the
year; fees collected for inspections, s.. 1885,
expenses reported. $s01.30. The sealer
states that $50 600 to 300 600 barrels of flour
are consumed in the District each year, and
recommends amendments to the act Of Con-
gress governing the inspection Of -four.
The sealer is Of the opinion that the in
spectors of lumber. wood. boilers and flour
should be salaried officers At present fees
are collected and retained by these in
spectors for their services. Under a salary
system he thinks these offices would be not
only self-sustaining. but also a source Of
revenue to the District of Columbia The
Commissioners approve that recommended
ton. Receipts of the office from all sources
amounted to $40, 1852; expenses, $13, 430 65;
net revenue. $6.31S.s7.
The Coroner's Office.
The coroner reports the number Of in
quests for the year was So The number
Of autopsies in District of Columbia cases
was 80: the number of autopsies In United
States cases was 81
The morgue building is approaching COM
pletion on the site designated by Con-
gress upon the river front. 1t will be a
creditable structure for Its purpose. It's
occupation will require an increase in the
number OF employees and in the appropria-
ton. The coroner recommends that a
morgue keeper and an assistant morgue
keeper be provided for, so that there may
be someone en- duty at the morgue day and
night and also that, inasmuch as a stable
will be included in the morgue, a hostler,
who would also act as janitor should be
provided He calls attention to the neces-
sity for stenographic reports of testimony
at inuuests, and recommends that stenog-
rapher be provided who could perform Of
flee duties when not engaged in making
stenographic reports. He reiterates his
recommendation that there be no sale of
carbolic acid except upon the order Of a
physician.
The Harbor Master.
The service of the harbor master so i'm
portant to the river front. has been faith
fully and successfully rendered. The work
has increased with the growth Of the Dis
trict and the increase in the number of
vessels, especially pleasure yachts. The
harbor master suggests that the provisions
of ract;op SO5 of the code of laws for the