Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-28
BENEFIT OF DISTRICT
Liberal Provision Made in Leg
isIation by Congress.
MONEY FOR IMPROVEMENTS
The Municipal Authorities Express
Their Qualification.
ENUMERATION OF MEASURES
Items Which Commissioner Macfar-
land Regards as of Most Value
Bills Specified.
MONEY FOR IMPROVEMENTS
ENUMERATION OF MEASURES


of the present session of Congress, many
friends of the District both in and out OF
the lawmaking bodies, beside prominent
discussing with expressions Of qualification
the success attained in legislating for the
District this year. Long desired reforms In
several much-needed lines have been gained
while material provision has been made for
such physical improvements as extensions
of the suburban sewers, the construction of
new school houses, the installation of water
meters in private houses, the laying of new
asphalt pavements, etc, while some of the
new laws for the District have direct bear
Ing upon pertinent social questions.
In an interview today Commissioner Mac
farland gave a resume of what has been ac-
complished in the way of legislation for the
District at this session of Congress. and
pointed out the value both of the new laws
and of certain features of the District ap-
preparation bill.
District legislation is practically finished
for this session. with the inclusion in the
general deficiency bill of the new pay for
the members of the fire department which
guarantees that they will get the Increased
salaries together with the teachers and
policemen from the first OF July" said Mr..
Macfarland. THE District is certainly to
be congratulated upon what Congress has
done for 1t In general
Number of Measures Enacted.
More Commissioners bills have been
passed than at any former session. and in
them and in the appropriation bills are
more valuable results in certain lines than
in former years. 1t is Of course, the har-
vest of years of effort on the part of the
Commissioners and the community. 1t Is
also, of course due In large measure to
our friends in the Senate and House. par
ticularly on the District and appropria-
tton committees one Of whom. Senator Gall
Hnger, had this year the unique oppor-
tunity for serving the District of being
chairman. not only of the District commit
tee, but Of the District subcommittee of
appropriat ations in the regretted absence of
Senator Allison, We cannot be too grateful
to our friends in Congress.
ITO many minds the increased appropria-
tions for the suburban sewers. new asphalt
pavements and other physical improves
ments seem the most important while
others regard the so-called social legisla-
ton for the betterment of social condi-
tons such as the Juvenile Court law, as
OF greater Importance, and all agree
believe. in rejoicing that justice has at last
been secured in the compensation of teach
ers, policemen and firemen.
Enumeration of Good Things.
There are many good things in the ap-
propriation BILL such as the better pro-
vision for street lighting and for street
cleaning, the site for Normal School No l.
the extension of the Mckinley Manual
Training School, the new school buildings
for Anacostfa, Brightwood Park and Dean
wood, and to relieve the Mccormick School,
and the provision for the metering of wa
ter in private residences at the public ex-
peDse which will be more just to the con-
sumer and better for the public
In aid of the Commissioners effort to
do away with alley and other slums and i'm
he
special appropriations they recommend of
$50, eco for opening alleys and minor streets,
$500 for the enforcement of the act for the
condemnation of insanitary buildings and
$500 for the enforcement of the act for the
abatement of nuisances and that for the
connection of premises with sewers
Regarded as Most Valuable.
THE Commissioners bills for the con-
demnation of insanitary buildings and for
the abatement of nuisances, with special
reference to the property of non-residents,
are the most valuable legislation of their
Kind in recent years, and together with the
act and the appropriation for the CONVEX
SION OF Alleys into minor streets will enable
the Commissioners to carry out their long
cherished plans for the Improvement of
sanitary conditions. 1t Is regrettable that
Congress added only one new sanitary in
spector, when SO much new sanitary work
has been put upon the already over-bur-
dened health department But we have ar
ranged for a special examination by the
United States civil service commission
tary inspector
The Juvenile Court bill, presented by the
Commissioners and adopted by Congress
with some amendments, is a notable step
forward. In our special report to Congress
on the care of delinquent and dependent
children three years ago we summed up
the recommendations we had been making
and made the proposed Juvenile Court the
rlr ndrlxr al
classes OF children, and 1t Is personally par
tfcularly gratifying to me that the Juvenile
Court is to begin its work next Monday with
such good judge and under such favor
able auspices.
Praise for the Judges.
II feel that thanks are due the Judges
OF the Police Court for their extra labors
In hearing the juvenile cases separately
during the past five years. at our request,
since We established the house OF detention |
for separate care of juveniles and women. |
and while we were waiting for the Juvenile |
Court. Incidentally, the Police Court has !
done, and the Juvenile Court will do Inn |
portant work under another Commissioners |
Dill to punish for nonsupport Of wife or |
children and provide for such support
The compulsory education law Is am |
other Commissioners bill of which good |
results are to be expected.
Another which has an important social |
side 10 the new law for the regulation of |
the sale Of poisons and the practice Of |
pharmacy taking the place Of obsolete and /
insufficient laws and already helping to /
restrict the temptations to the terrible |
drug habit.
The Commissioners have endeavored for I
years to secure legislation regulating en-
ployment agencies, and are gratified that i
what promises to be an effective law has /
been passed -
The Commissioner bill to provide for
the supervision OF the controller or the cur 1
rency tor the savings banks, hitherto With
out governmental supervtston, has passed 4
hanks Similar legislation to cover other 4
financial institutions not now inspact6d +
should be provided