The Washington times., 1905-12-05
MANY RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.

NDAIiOkS MADE.
: ending june SO. 1903. and for other
purposes" as follows:
Total assessed value of
r taXahie real estate s21I. COS $500
IerSonal property 1900. 2oST1 0607I
/ street railway taxes on
s'oss receipts 35,941, 1892
{ Total assessed value
or taxable real eS-
tate and personal
{ property IN the Dis
trict Of Columbia. on
( June 81. I9O9- 242.22Q.53S.62
/ The rate OF general tex on real and
! personal property by the act OF July
/ 1. 1902. above mentioned. was fixed at
$50 per 500 Of the assessed vaIua-
tion.
Population.
on March "a 1905. the Commission
ers ordered that an annual census of
/ the inhabitants of the District Of Co.
Iumbia should be taken b. tho police
department. with a view TO ascertain
ing the number Of the population, and
the sex. color. and ages. and with re-
spect to attendance upon schools. as a
/ basis for vital statistics, and for use
in connection with public school ques-
tions and otherwise The FIRST census
under this order was taken in the
second week OF April, and was salts
! factorily conducted The police de-
partment reported that the total pop
ulauon Of the District OF Columbia
was 323.12S.
City of Washington. on..25s,1 s,10e
Other portions OF the District. 64.023
Total ..-.......... .s2s,l23
OF these. 1856 were returned as
colered.
1t cannot be too emphaticaIy stated
that the Districts revenues are not de-
ficient. but on the contrary. are entirely
sufficient for all its needs. il the cost OF
extraordinary improvements is treated
as it is treated BY all other municipaI-
ties The District taxpayers are now
contributing fair measure of taxation,
and are misrepreseRted by a situation
for which they are not responsible and
f; which makes them seem unable TO pro-
vide their share OF necessary current eA-
penditUres. SO that the estimates for the
latter have 10 be reduced by the Com
! HlissiOners and are afterw;sr6 reduced b.
/ Congress. under the attempt 10 pay for
extraordinary permanent Improvements
currently out Of tie revenues.
Public Education.
The public schools OF the District Of
Columbia have maintained their high
reputation Their housing and equip
ment are better than ever This. the
most important interest of the District
Of Columbia. requires the largest
amount Of the annual appropriations.
The Commissioners would have been
glad 10 approve all the estimates of the
Board of Education for the increase and
Improvement of buildings and other
facilities. bSt felt Obliged 20 recommend
at this time only those indicated by the
/ Board of Education as the most press
ingly necessary The Commissioners will
present the desired increase in the in
adequate salaries OF teachers and other
employees in the form of a permanent
schedule in q separate bill. and not IN
their estimates for the approximation
bill They will recommend again the
proposed substitute for the ineffective
compulsory education law
The school enrolment for the year
was Sl,2SO, an increase of Al over The
preceding year or this number "a 600.
or 67.54 per cent were white. and l. CD
or 32.4S per cent. were colored. OF this
number 2i2Sl. or $3.50 per cent. were
boys, OF which 1924 per cent were White
and l4-S5 per cent cOlored, and $500. or
40 per cent. were girls. of which sac
per cent were white and 1910 per cent
colored
The whole number OF teachers pro-
vided in the appropriation act was 1.f7s
LEG white and 80 colOred This num-
Der includes So kindergarten teachers. 5s
white and 50 coIored.
The pupils were distributed as follows:
Number OF pupils in nor
mai schools Il 15S IN
Number Of pupils in high
Number OF fpupils in man
ual training sehoOlS-.--.--- SO 474 fO&;
Number Of pupils in gram
Slar and primary schools q. .5je .. As E0s7
Number OF pupils in kin
CerSarrcns ----------------.- l.e-% less 2979
Total ..............--.......ei. 81 es.ges 5.ao
The number of male teachers. in-
cluding supervising principals and
teachers, was 1Sg, and the number Of
female teachers 1.2S9 There can be TO
material increase in the number OF men
teachers until better pay IS offered
The schools were in session one hun
dred and eighty-One days.
The night schools enrolled 2.261 pupils
cnd continued sixty-cne nights, except
at Franklin and Stevens where they
we're open siXty-twO nights
We are now suffering, on the one hand
from the loss of experienced teachers
who go elsewhere to get better living
salaries. and. on the other hand. from
a diminished output Of trained normal
school graduates.
In arranging a permanent scale of
salaries FOR teachers and. school officers
K should be kept in mind that il is not
the salary paid TO the beginner thas
determines the character of the pay
schedule. but the assurance that con-
tinued and efficient service viii be re
warded by a substantial increase Of pay.
Public Fairgrounds.
Congress. at the last session. in con-
sequence OF the recommendation by the
Commissioners. made provision for pub
lie Fairgrounds 10 the extent OF ap-
propriating $500 for those connected
with the public schools, and S2.000 for
those not so connected, the former ap-
preparation 10 be applied TO equipment.
IL.