Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05
questions were decided by the courts. The
authority of the Commissioners to narrow
certain streets was, for instance, sustained.
while another decision held that the act


while another decision held that the act
OF congress under which the board Of med
zeal supervisors was authorized to revoSe
licenses of physicians and surgeons wass
100 vague and Indefinite. and. therefore,
unconstitutional. In the litigation instr
tuteo 70 prevent the payment of any money
py the District In connection with the union
railroad depot project tho court dismissed
the complaint, but an appeal to the Su-
preme Court of the United States has been
noted. OF the final judgments rendered
were against the District and 7 were for
the District. During the year there were
20 law cases instituted against the District
for damages, 5 nandamus cases, equity
cases certiorari cases, 342 lunacy cases,
~ justice of the peace cases. while II con-
demnatfon cases were instituted by the
District. There were % cases argued and
submitted to the court OF appeals OF the
District, and cases argued and submitted
to the Supreme Court of the United States.
The routine work of the office included
4oS written opinions submitted at the re-
quest OF the Commissioners; 227 written
communications to inter eSted parties rela-
tive to pending municipal matters and
suits; numerous municipal contracts, leases,
ana ponds nave been prepared and exam
1ned, besides large number of oral opin-
ions which have been rendered at the re-
quest of District officials concerning cur
rent business of their offices. There was a
remarkable increase in the number OF tax
deeds prepared and examined, about GOO
having been submitted to this Office This
increase is largely due to the fact that the
holder Of the tax-sale certificate must now
take his deed after the two-year redemp-
ton period expires for his own protection.
and because of the fact that II cancellation
is made at any time interest is only paid
for the two years at per cent, regardless
OF the age of the certificate.
Besides the Ii condemnation cases insti-
tuted, numerous proceedings have been
taken in those already instituted, and there
are still 10 ordered by the Commissioners
hui xyAt f,rff fa1 Iyv,1A IN rNxtt-
sions contained in the appropriation act ap-
proved March 8, 1906, authorizing the Com
missioners to employ special counsel In con-
nection with the settlement of claims for
damages incident to changes of grade in
the matter of the construction of the Union
Station, the Commissioners, on May %,
1905, appointed A. Leftwich Sinclair to the
position.
Special effort has been made to collect
money from the estates of lunatics, where
such lunatics have been treated at the
Government Hospital for the Insane at the
expense of the municipality, ana many
such cases have also been transferred to
the Independent or pay roll of the asylum
and their expense paid out of their estates
through the efforts of this office. In TWO
cases it was necessary to file proceedings
In court In order to have the District re-
imbursed. 1t is also suggested that legis-
lation should be enacted allowing the ply
sicians who testify in these Iunacy cases
fee of IS for their expert testimony and
of the present fee of $1.25.
The death OF MIR. Andrew Brown Duvall,
who had held the Office Of corporation coun-
sci since June l. 1899, was severe loss to
the District Mr.. Duyall was a faithful
and wise counselor On September 49, 1906,
the Commissioners appointed Mr. Edward
II. Thomas. assistant corporation counsel,
to be Mr.. Duvalls successor.
Child Labor.
The District of Columbia IS one of only
four jurisdictions In the United States
which have no child labor laws. While
the Commissioners are not aware that any
large number of the children to be pro-
tected by such legislation are now en-
ployed in the District of Columbia and the
serious evils existing In some jurisdictions
from the employment Of such children are
not known to exist here, they believe that
as preventive measure such a law should
be the statute books, and will recon-
mend again the measure which they sub
mitted to Congress at the last session.
A Juvenile Court.
The Commissioners will renew their eff
forts to secure legislation providing for a
separate juvenile court and an adequate
probation system for first offenders SINH
lar to those which have been so useful in
other jurisdictions. While awaiting such
legislation, e makeshft arrangement, util-
izing the house of detention, securing sep
arate trials for Juveniles at the police
court, and providing as much probation
work can be done by one probation off,
Ger under the Board of Children's Guar
dams. has been in operation with good re-
suits.
Public Education.
The public schools of the District of CO.
lumbia have maintained their high repu-
tation. Their housing and equipment are
bait t|,a,, ~
tant interest of the District of Columbia
requires the largest amount of the annual
appropriation. The Commissioners would
have been glad to approve all the estimates
of the board of education for the Increase
and improvement OF buildings and other
facilities. but felt obliged to recommend
at this time only those indicated by the
board of education as the most pressingly
necessary The Commissioners win nresent
the desired increase in the Inadequate sal
aries of teachers and other employees in the
form of permanent schedule in a separate
preparation bill. They will recommend
again the proposed substitute for the in
effective compulsory education law.
The centenary OF the public schools will
be celebrated under the auspices Of fba
board of education by public meetine On
December 1s. 1905, and a public exhibitton
of the work of pupils The President will
receive those officially connected with the
The president of the board of educatio,
Henry V. Boynton, died on June 3. 1909 ana
was buried at Arlington Cemetery on J,ne
7, 1905. The Commissioners adopted me-
mortal resolutions, ordered the flags NJ tho
District to be displayed at half-stsff for
thirty days and attended the funeral AZ tba
New York Avenue Presbyterian Chlrch
The vacancy was filled by the appointment
of Charles w. Needham, IL D. nrssidont
of George Washington University.
The school enrolment for the wear w.s
81 230, an increase of !, Al over the nraoaS
ing year. OF this number 1900. or 81 h4
per cent, were white, and 16, $50 or 80 az ner
cent, were coiored. OF this number ID oe1
or 7.3o per cent, were boys, of which 10 ~
per cent were white and 1436 per cent COL
ored, and 26,9e9, 52.7o per cent wara
girls, of which 36.40 per cent were wbtte
and Is. 10 per cent colored.
The whole number of teachers nro,,iaas
In the appropriation act was i .47SSi noa
white and ATS colored. This numhar IN
cludes SO kinderkarten teachers "a white
and 30 colored
The pupils were distributed as follows.
Male Female Total.
schools ..;.;;...;;;..;;;;. IL 1853 ITO
schools. 9S2 $50 p6p
Number Of pupils in manual 1.-TWO
training schools ei2 4s4 1.o4a
and primary schools 2l,eo2 2s.4e5 45.oe7
gartens. ............-..... 1,o23 I,o56 2.o7o