Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-08
FOR SINGLE CONTROL
Recommendations of Secre-
tary Hitchcock.
WOULDCHANGESYSTEM
OPPOSES DIVIDED JURISDICTION
OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.
Favors Transfer of Some to His Depart
ment and Others to the
Commissioners.
WOULDCHANGESYSTEM

Secretary Hitchcock's report
favors the transfer of control of GER
tain local charitable and reforna-
tory institutions partly supported
by Congress to his department, and
the supervision of railways and the
gas company to the Commissioners.
The most important features, locally, of
the annual report of the Secretary of the
Interior, made public today are the recon-
mendations 1t contains for the administra-
ton and management of several institutions
In the District over which there is now a
sort of divided authority. In the act of
Congress establishing the board of chari-
ties of the District there was contained a
provision which directed, among other
things, that the board of charities shall
visit, inspect and maintain a general super
vision over all institutions, societies or as
soclations of a charitable, eeemosynary
correctional or reformatory character which
are supported in whole or in part by APP
preparations of Congress made for the care
or treatment of residents of the District of
Columbia
This, 1t was thought at the time gave the
board general supervision over all the insti-
tutions of the District which might coma
under the several heads mentioned in the
law. An opinion by the ATTORNEY General
of the United States. rendered shortly after
the act became a law, however defined the
status of the board as merely supervisory,
though by authority of the District Conn
missioners it could make Investigations and
submit reports and recommendations but
the authority of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior over certain of the institutions in the
u~h oh ~, H.. IL.
unchanged.
The Secretary's Recommendation.
Secretary Hitchcock says in his report;
'> considering the character and purpose of
each institution, and the extent of the SD
perVlsory authority of the Secretary of the
interior over the same prior to the passage
OF the aforementioned act probably the
lest results could be obtained If the admin
1stration of the affairs of the Government
hospital for the Insane, Freedmen's Hos
pltat and the Washington Hospital for
fouhdnngs were placed exclusively under
the supervision of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior. A form of bill, which if enacted by
congress will effectuate this recommended
uon, is hereto appended"
The Secretary renews the recommended
ton MADE last year to provide for the dis
pGrsement of the appropriations for the
Government Hospital for the Insane
through the disbursing officer of the In
discusses the affairs of each of the institu-
tons under his charge and indorses the
recommendations of those in charge there
of.
Supervision of Railways.
In the articles Of Incorporation granted
the Washington and Georgetown Railroad
Company by Congress In May 1867 provi-
sion was made that the officers of the rail-
road company should file a report of the
operations of the company each year to the
Secretary Of the Interior, and that the
rails to be used upon its line should be OF
an approved pattern to be determined by
the Secretary. The charter granted the
company, which now operates as the Cap
ital Traction Company. the successor of
the Washington and Georgetown Railroad
Company, provided that nothing contained
therein should be construed as releasing
the company from any of the obligations
incurred in the original articles of incor-
poration, and consequently the company
has ever since been required to report to
the Secretary of the Interior and to submit
samples of rails for approval. Secretary
Hitchcock recommends that Congress take
such action as will relieve the department
OF supervision over this matter as IL has
absolutely no other connection with the
street railway systems of the city and
that hereafter the report and rails be sub
mitted to the District Commissioners. In
the case OF the Columbia Railway Com
pany. one of the constituent companies of
the Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany, which was also required to report to
the department. the Secretary recommends
that Its report be hereafter made to Con-
gress in connection with the report of the
syndicate to which II belongs
Control of Gas Company.
Another matter which the Secretary de-
sires to have transferred to the District
Commissioners for supervision relates to
the price paid for coal by the Washington
Gaslght Company and the annual report
which the company is required to submit
to the Secretary to insure compliance with
its charter.
In the charter granted this concern by
Congress provision is made that when the
price OF gas Goals delivered at the works
OF the company in this city shall advance
TO S.5O per ton the price of gas to con-
sumers may advance ten cents per thou-
sand cubic feet. and ten cents per thousand
cubic feet for each additional dollar per
ton the price of coal may advance. Pro-
vision was also made that reduction in the
price of gas be made at the same rate
when the price of coal was reduced Sub
sequenuy Congress provided for the APP
pointment of an inspector of gas and meters
in the District and directed that this in
spector should make report TO the Secre-
tary of the Interior Further legislation
placed the appointment of the inspector in
the hands of the District Commissioners.
lnasmuch as neither the inspector of
meters nor the gas company has further
connection with the department the Sec
rotary has recommended that the reports of
both be hereafter submitted to the District
Commissioners.
Departmental Affairs.
With regard to the general condition of
the affairs of the department the Secretary
reports as follows:
The volume OF the public business requir-
ing consideration has materially Increased
during the past year, but through the earn
est and commendable interest in the service
manifested by the officers and employees the
work has been eXpeditiously dispatched In
some of the branches of the service how
ever additions to the force will be neces-
sary to the proper handling of the work.
and the required accessions will be brought
to the attention of Congress through the
channels prescribed by law"
The University of Pennsylvania debating
team last night won the debate with the
team representing the University OF Vir-
ginia. The subject was: Resolved, That