Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05

Columbia were inspected on which were
1870 cows. 1t = desired that the est.
work of inspecting these dairy farms IN
the adjoining states be granted.
The department has experienced en1bar-
rassment again under the weed law. GEN
eral complaints were made. but there could
be no general enforcement Of this act De-
cause of the absence of an appropriat ton.
There should be provided available lunos
belonging to non-residents. and IL Congress
should make such an appropriation the rec
ommendation Is renewed that said law De
amended so as to increase the permissioie
height OF weeds from to Is inches or more
The measures introduced In the last Con-
gress for the condemnation of insanitary
buildings unfit for human habitation, and
for the abatement of nuisances on properly
owned by non-residents, are of vital 1mpor-
tance to the community, and II Is earnestly
hoped that favorable action Will be taken
thereon at the coming session or congress.
The operations under the smoke law dur
ing the year have produced marked I'M
provement. Many plants have installed
understanding devices, others have SUD-
stituted anthracite for bituminous coai,
while at nearly all OF the plants greater
care is being exercised In stocking the fur
nRces. Daily observations have been made
and the Offenders have from time to time
beeen prosecuted. One Inspector or the
health department, detailed from the sani-
tary inspection force, has continued to per-
form this duty, but the clerical work re-
Qutred. together with his frequent attend
ance at court In prosecution or cases. pre-
vents his giving daily a full working day
to actual observation OF stacks. More ef-
fective service could be rendered II two or
more special inspectors were engaged upon
this work, and II is recommended that Con-
gress make such provision.
The District OF Columbia lacks law
providing for the registration OF profess
sional nurses and the regulation OF ,h .s
work such as is found elsewhere. and the
Commissioners will recommend again the
bill which they recommended for that pur-
pose at the last session OF Congress
For the year ending October 81, 1903, 5lo
barroom licenses and 136 wholesale liquor
licenses were granted.
For the license year beginning NoxeEnber
l, 1903. 5l5 barroom applications and l34
wholesale liquor license applications were
filed.
At the request of the Commissioners the
board of pharmacy. after It's reorsanizatioh
last year, prepared draft Tor a new ID" 70
regulate the practice of pharmacy ana the
sale OF poison modelled upon the best Ideas
of experts here and elsewhere, to take the
place Of the antiquated and inadequate
statutes. The bill prepared by them win
great care was approved by the Commits
sioners and introduced at the last session
of Congress, but was not reached IL is
now being revised by the board SO as 10
utilize the latest Information on the SUD-
iect and will be again presented by the
Commissioners. In view of the increasing
need for It shown in official reports ana IN
unofficial but important statements. II is
hoped that It may receive prompt anu la
yorable consideration.
The coroner reports that the numper VI
deaths from all causes requiring MS atteh-
ton was 800. including 50 cases OF SUICIDE
of which ~ were due to poison. The num-
her of inuuests was 40 and the NUMBER OF
autopsies 20. The number OF BODIES re-
ceived at the morgue was 44o. Inc ne"
morgue building has proved generally sat
tsfactory. 1t requires an additional attend
ant in view of it's character and needs
The coroner advocates a more stringent
law regulating the sale of poisons, because
of his experience with cases of suicide due
to the ease with which poisons can be OBJ
tanned from some dealers.
Under the operations of the regulations
governing Automobiles G6I applicants were
examined, recommended and given permits
to operate motor vehicles; 46S motor We
hicles were assigned Identification numbers;
1873 motor vehicles, to which identification
numbers had been assigned, were trans
ferred to purchasers of them, and 50 motor
vehicles from different States were regis
tered. The total number of permits issued
to operators since the regulations went into
effect on August %, 1903, Is 1,519. while
numbers have been assigned to 1.247 ma
chimes.
Several amendments were made during
the year to the regulations, the most i'm
portant being q provision requiring profess
sional chauffeurs to file certificates of good
character. Endorsed by three citizens. This
amendment has been beneficial and those
to whom permits have been issued have
been, in the majority of cases, careful to
observe the regulations. The provision
which allows tourist Automobiles to i'm
mediately secure the necessary permit, pro-
Vided they are registered under the laws of
their respective States, has also been great
~ appreciated. 1t is the desire of the Com
missioners TO treat the automobile question
in the most liberal spirit consistent with
public order and safety. 1t is realized that
the motor vehicle is an established institu-
ton and that as its use develops either for
business or pleasure, many problems as to
its relation to the public will arise In the
settlement of these problems the Commits
sioners will give every consideration to the
automobilists. while at the same time pre-
serving the rights of the public.
Gas and Meter Inspection.
The inspector of gas and meters reports
that S31 official photometric tests were
made of the gas supplied by the Washing
ton Gaslight Company, with a mean of
22e5 candles. which is O95 of one candle
above the legal requirement. The gas sup
piled by the Georgetown Gaslight Com
pany was tested photometrically 3O4 times
giving an average of 23.45 candles
The gas supplied by both companies was
tested daily for impurities, with satisfactory
results.
The report shows that 5.62s gas meters
were tested during the year, an increase
of lT9 meters over last years record The
fees collected for testing these meters
amounted TO 81 3440, which sum was paid
over to the collector OF taxes.
The Inspector reports that each month
one OF the assistants verified the statements
Of all gas meters in District buildings and
later certified to the accuracy of an gas
bills rendered 10 the District government.
Weights and Measures and Markets.
The report of the sealer of weights and
measures. who had immediate supervis on
also of the inspectors of steam boilers Iurn-
Der, wood, -four. and market masters. mar
ket houses, public scales and We gh-masters
shows that during the fiscal year u. 239 n
spec;ions of scales. weights and measures
were made.
OF this number. fees were collected for
sealing 1888 platform scales 61o counter
platform, .2o3 spring balances, ), 1876 coun-
ter scales, 45i wagon scales / railroad n
abattolr. IL butcher and beam, and dor
mant scales- The seaIer condemned and
destroyed % spring balances and SO coun-
ter scales, 1893 weights 16 yard measures
l2I liquid measures, 400 dry measures: 267
scales were condemned for repairs and ~
sealed down. having been reported as not
in use. Upon request and within the time
limit - inspections We're made for which
no fees were collected and 56S inspections
and tests were made for the United States
and the District of Columbia
AS compared with the fiscal wear 1904
there are shown an increase of 234 inspec
lions, a decrease of 81 scales seized and
"A OF