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

the favorable recommendation OF the poalco
stead of owners. This change would neces-
State an amendment to the existing license
law. In view OF the approaching construc
ton of a new railroad terminal these ques-
lions are of the utmost Importance 10 inc
citizen and travelling public at this Time
Itsis gratifying to observe that there mas
been some advance made in the metnoo OF
posting bills. In view of the fact that the
presence of Illuminated posters Is becoming
an Objectionable feature in many munich
palities and elevated advertising Is receiV-
ing attention, adequate laws Tor proper TO
striction are subjects Tor turtner cohsiueio
The need of legislation for the suppression
of unlimited .es of certain drugs as uIseu
by the police department Is lmpoi .an. -
order that the use of cocaine ana othei
narcotics may be properly restrained.
The public and pol .ce frequently are EN-
barrassed because it is impossible after
business hours al the Police Court to pro-
cure warrants for violations OF the ia~
Remedial amendment to the law WIN ne
suggested by the Commissioners 10 n,ee'
this defect In this connection the aoop
lion Of a fugitive Inv under which the de-
tention of escaIing criminals may be nao
nendtng the arrival of requisition papers, -
recommended and would be IN Keeping WIN
similar provisions in other cities
While in full sympathy with the eHoI,S
Of the police court 10 dispose OF the mutt
plicity of cases there presented, the Co na
missioners desire to note the 1act Una. ,o
avistirg system presents some undesiraDie
features. Uniform ates. charged with trlv,
ial offenses should not be Transporter 80, az
concentrated with the more harueheu q .
nails while awaiting trial and Delhg coh.es
"a IN court while it Is not wise 10 dAo"
life and property in extensive ponce Ierl.
tory to remain unprotected Wnie men or.s
of the force are detained as witnesses. -,
subject Is one worthy Oh eaiei"i ~
TIC draf of n resolution making certain
provisions for the maintenance OF pcau1 1
~ forfh
neriod involves a slightly increased appro,
priation made necessary by the lncreaSeu
demands for labor and the reconsIIucl,o.h
of the railroad approaches IN the Dis $50.
II ia most important that the many intSi
asts affected at that time be surrounded ps
every safeguard and precaution In oroer "
prevent loss or embarrassment.
Washington Public Library.
within the five and half years OF l's
We. the Washington Public Library has IN
creased the number of Its volumes iroii'
1900 to more than 10000, and the huHoer
of its employees from to 80. The aVerase
daily circulation of books has grown uhui
today II approximates thousand. and the
rented overcrowded library buiioIng OF
1890 has been replaced by the attractive ana
SPACIOUS structure of marble, costing $Sfo'-
900 and donated by Mr.. Carnegie
The library was created for the special
children and department clerks. IL Is
the peoples .-rary; and an urgent invita-
ton is extended by the library trustees 10
the people of the District to MAKE t me
greatest possible use of 1t, to enjoy us
reading room and reference library TO utii-
ize its open-shelf rooms. to draw DOCKS LOT
profitable home reading, to see that the
Young folks of the family profit by the IA
cIlities of the children's room, and 10 IN
crease It's value as an adjunct of the
schools.
In rendering the books of the library
most accessible and most beneficial 10 all
the people of the District 1t Is planned that
the aracteristics and exclusive features
OF the library shall be primarily rostered
In Its circulating feature. In It's cmldren ;
room and school work, and in its open-shelf
room II fulfills functions not shared by the
Library of Congress, and special attention
Is to be given to the wise development or
these departments. Increase Of book cfrcu-
lation Is to be sought by the establishment
at suitable points OF substatlons and of
branch libraries as rapidly as Congress
may permit acceptance to be made in spe-
cihc cases of Mr.. Carnegies conditional
tender of funds for the erection Of branch
library buildings. The use of travelling col
lections. not tonly in the schools. but for
hremen, policemen and others is to be en-
couraged a slight increase of force. the
appropriation for which purpose the Com
mlssioners warmly approve, will permit the
partial opening of the library on Sundays
and legal holidays. when 1t will be most
useful.
The simple design of walks and stone
curbings constituting the approaches to the
building has not been carried out either to
the east or west of the library. and 1t is
earnestly hoped that Congress will this
year grant the appropriation Of $4,000
which the office of public buildings and
grounds asks to complete this work
The immediate urgent needs of the library
are an increase in its working force and in
few salaries especially that of the libra
rian). as set forth in the annual estimates,
which the commissioners commend n the
favorable consideration of Congress. and
an enlargement of its supply of books by
private donation. by Congressional appro-
priation, and by securing. for public use
more of the miscellaneous circulating books
in the Government collections in Washing
ton, including the Library Of Congress.
Health Department.
Vital statistics-The vital statistics en-
bodied in the report of the health officer
are based upon an estimated population OF
295 193 the white population being esti-
mated at 204. $40 and the colored population
as 9O,353. There occurred in the District
during the calendar year 1903 5.944 deaths.
3.39S of the decedents being white and
2.5i6 being colored. The corresponding
death rates per 1000, based on the estimat-
ed population set forth above, were as fol-
lows Whites. 1859; colored, 2S.1S; all.
20.14. The death rate for the entire popu-
taken alone were slightly higher during
1903 than during the preceding year. Only
twice however. during the decade ending
with 1908 have lower death rates been re-
corded The death rate for the colored race
was lower during 1903 than during the pre-
ceding year. and during only one year OF
the decade Just referred to has a lower
death rate prevailed.
The decrease in the number OF deaths
among children, which was referred to In
the last report, has continued One thou
sand five hundred and fourteen deaths of
children under year OF age were recorded
In 1894, while during 1908 only 1902 deaths
were reported among this portion of the
population. In the earlier year the names
OF 1850 decedents under > years of age
appeared on the records of the health de-
partmeut. while during 1903 only JOT
deaths of this class We're recorded. The ex-
tent to which there has been an actual
diminution OF the mortality of infants and
children is best comprehended when IL is
borne in mind that the decrease Just men,
toned occurred Notwithstanding a steady
Increase in the population. The fact-that
OF children in the community is Indicated
by the returns of births, which in 1894
numbered 1865 and in 1903 numbered 5.i24
While the returns of births certainly do not
indicate the actual number of births that
occurred. yet they may be regarded as af-
~, "A i,Ia