Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-05

their presence will not Interfere with the
free ingreSS and egreSS of shipping.
Commodore Sutton mentions that he has
been harborma ster in the District during
the past twenty years, during which time
the salary has remained at 81 300 year.
In their reports to Congress in former
years. says Mr.. Sutton. 1.-The Commission
erS of the District have seen fit to recon-
mend that the harbormaster be made a
captain of the police department, a change
which would carry with it an increase of
salary to $500 per annum. The legiSla ticn
necessary to secure this change has not
been enacted and the salary of the harbor-
master remains the same rs 1t has been
since my assignment to that office in fSS;i.
namely, 81 200 per annum.
when ii is considered that since that
date. a period of more than twenty years.
the duties and responsibilities of the posi-
ton have increased more than fivefold. and
that to the original duties of harbormaster
there was added in 1883 the charge OF the
police harbOr boat. it will readily be seen
that the compensation received being that
of the position of harbormaster simply, is
wholly inadequate for the performance of
the duties of the two positions
Increase in Duties.
THE increased tonnage which now comes
to this harbor. the extended area which it
jurisdiction is exercised. making a total of
fiftysix miles for one entire trip. the en-
forcement of the many laws enacted by
Congress in recent years for the govern
melt Of the harbor and of vessels arriving
therein. and Of the fish and game laws
have made the duties which now fall to nv
Office very onerous and exacting They re-
qrire my presence at the river front on
every day Of the year. Sundays and holt
days included. The performance of some of
the duties can only be effectively carried on
at night, and the occasions upon which 1t
is necessary for me to remain on duty
until long into the night are numerous and
frequent For these reasons IL is believed
that the present salary of the harbormas-
ter should be increased to 81 500 ger an
mum. and request is hereby respectfully
submitted to you to incorporate in your
estimates Of appropriations for the next
fiscal year an item which will secure the
desired increase"
Estimates Submitted.
In connection with his annual report the
harbormaster submits his estimate Of
funds necessary for his department for the
fiscal year 1905. He asks for total of
$500 as opposed to $500 appropriated
for the current fiscal year. OF this amount
81 900 is asked for Extraordinary necessary
repairs to wharf and building" In this
connection Mr.. Sutton says:
THE wharf and Office building were built
thirteen years ago. and then in a cheap and
unsubstantial manner The natural decay
and deterioration have reduced both wharf
aid building to condition such that 1t is
absolutely necessary that they be replaced
As they are at present. they are in really
dangerous state and may collapse at any
time. 1t has been found that the Virginia
pine used in their construction has in many
places become decayed through three
fourth: of it's thickness. Much of the
money now spent annually in repairs and
patching would be saved by rebuilding
those structures entirely, a course which
economical than the making of small appro-
prtations from year to year. The need OF
thu appropriation cannot be too strongly
urged