Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-06

37782s: net fees retained 81 inspectors for
services. S2sss7 IS. There was no serious
accident acc. rom defsftiys boilers during the
The sealer reneus his accommodation
that the ONCE Of einspector Of boilers BE-
made salaried one, which the Commits
sioners approve. Receipts OF the Depart
asHs We Western sn l assFs 49,
town Market. $1,OS1: wholesale Producers
Market, on hand Miys1. 1908. $So664: re-
cspit. for 1904. $1,5a7i: total; Slss2 g.
of the public hay scales, S1,725; sale fish,
wharf privileges. $g10; showing net gam
OF $I1SO7 10 In total receipts for the year.
At the last session of Congress Dill was
cipal objects Of which were to confer upon
the Commissioners of the District OF Co
lumbia authority to regulate the sale or the
use OF the public hay scales; the sealing
the ispection and sealing Of milk bottles
used In the distribution and sale OF milk
and cream. and to more fully prescribe
penalties for the sale Of short-measure lu-
bricating and Illuminating oils, ana also 20
define more clearly penalties TOR the SAFE
Of short-weight provisions. NO action
was obtained upon the bill before adjourn
ment, but It Is to be hoped that favorable
action Will be given at the coming session
of Congress.
Coroner.
quiring the attention Of the coroner was
1.023. an increase of over 30 per cent OF
preceding year. Number Of inquests Al, an
increase Of over 25 per cent. Number of
autopsies 76 The new morgue occupied
July /, 1904, seems to be admirably adapted
for the purposes designed. There are now
on the rolls Of the Office two men, morgue
keeper and assistant morgue keeper. no
experience of the past five months mas
,I,, &I,rA d., EDrn 80
recommended that in addition janitor or
hostler be appointed. Two men shoulo al
ways go with the morgue wagon. ana as the
morgue building is entirely OF wood anu
tention to the fires in winter is necessary
for the safety Of the structure. TINS JAM
tor or hostler would look after the morse
and wagons and keep the building, which IS
a large one. in clean and sanitary coHui
ton.
Department Of Insurance.
This department, which went into effect
January 1. 1902. has been put on SYSTEM
attic working basis, and its establishment
has resulted advantageously to the pubic
Comparatively few complaints against COM
panies are now made for any reason what
ever Prior to It's establishment such COM
plants were frequently made to the police
department. A large number Of companies,
both life and fire. of doubtful financial re-
sponsibility have either been refused licenses
or compelled to withdraw from the D. strict,
as result of the establishment of this de-
partment.
Licenses and License Fees.-During the
calendar year ended December 81, 1903, ~
licenses were issued to companies and as
sociations, the fees upon which were
50 ,963. 81, and 1.193 licenses were issued to
principal agents. solicitors. and brokers,
fees for which, including assignments,
amounted to $24. 1928, making total of
Taxes.-The amount received for taxes in
1908 on 1902 net premium receipts aggre-
gated $40. 367.66.
Total Collections.-Total license fees and
tax collections in 1908 were $17, 543.92.
Premiums Observation-Disclosures paid by
insurants in the District of Columbia In
1903 amounted to S4,206. SO698.
Losses Paid.-LoSses paid by insurance
companies and associations in the District
of Columbia in 1903 amounted to $1,616,-
445.73.
Assets, Liabilities and Surplus-The ag-
gregate amount Of assets of all companies
reporting to the department was $2,57O,S5o,
26234: liabilities. 46.935.94; surplus.
$5O4 351 ,326.4O. - -
Change in Law Recommended-SectIon
ga of the Code fixes the time at which all
licenses expire as May l. The same section
provides for the payment of license fees In
the month of March for the forthcoming IL
cense year, which is from one to two
upon the time in March
that they may be paid-in advance of the
time (May u when they can be used by the
District The law does not permit such
funds to be held by the collector of taxes,
and this state of affairs has subjected the
department of insurance to much extra
work. Changes are apt to occur, among
agents especially, between March and May
/, and to be compelled to pay license fees
from one to two months in advance OF the
expiration of their existing licenses works
a hardship on them. and besides licenses
may be refused, when such fees must be re-
turned.
In view of this we would respectfully
recommend that the law in this respect be
changed so as to make the fees payable on
May 1, and, as the law is silent on the SUBJ
ject as to who Is responsible Tor the pay
ment of agents license fees, we would also
recommend that the law be further amend
ed, requiring the companies and associa-
lions to pay all such license fees. Without
any one having raised the question as to
who Is responsible for the payment OF
agents and solicitors license fees, it is safe
to say that the bulk of them are now paid
by the companies.
Second Years Results.-At the close OF
the calendar year 1903 there were ~ more
insurance companies and associations IL
censed to do business In the District than
at the end Of 1902, and the increase in col
lections on account of license fees and
taxes, including 1902 back fees, amounted
to $11, 466.45.
The Harbor Master.
The services of the harbor master have
been faithfully and successfully rendered.
His duties have been materially increased,
due in part to the extension of the harbor
laws to all navigable waters within the,
District Of Columbia, which was done by
Congress upon the recommendation Of the
Commissioners in their last annual report.
During the last winter, which was I'M
usually severe. 5000 was expended by him
in clearing the river of ice. two appropria-
lions having been necessary for this pur-
pose. For this year only 5000 has been
asked.
The narbor master recommends legislation
which will require small craft navigating
the waters Of the District of Columbia to
display proper lights. All boats under ~
tons. whether under way or anchored,
should be required to display from sunset
to sunrise a bright white light, visible all
around the horizon. ALI sand scows, barges,
and other vessels while lying at anchor
should be required to display white light
also.
The Commissioners repeat their recon-
mendation that the harbor master be made
a captain in the Metropolitan police depart
ment, and that his service be brought d.
rectly under that department.
Excise Board.
For the year ending October 81, 1904, 513
barroom licenses and 1875 wholesale liquor
licenses were grantedsby the excise board.
To-