Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
the rolls by that cause alone During the
year forty-f1ve new members were elected.
Report ON Insurance.

Report on Insurance.
The report Of the committee on insurance,
H. Bradley Davidson. chairman, contained
the statement that there is still room for
improvement in the fire department, par
ticularly in those outlying stations where
the calls are so infreQuent as to naturally
result in a feeling Of laxity and security
on the part of the men: this can be greatly
improved by the perfecting of the system
of drills now in use.
1.-THE only recommendation that we have
to make as to the insurance companies Is
an increased care In examining the staD1l-
ity of these companies, particularly those
that suffered from the great San Francisco
fire.
ION the subject of life insurance we are
glad to report greatly improved con-
dition over that of year ago for the
assured; the limelight has been turned on
the great companies. and has resulted In
the enactment of laws in the great insur-
ance center. New York which cannot fail
to greatly benefit the assured. Great COM
missions to agents have been cut in half
and rebating to the assured forbidden;
while this latter may seem to him hard
Ship 1t cannot fail to improve the situa-
ton in general and check the demoraliza-
ton that was existing.
Observance Of Laws.
eff our department will see that the laws
under which these companies are operating
are observed. we believe that the assured
among us will have nothing to fear either
as to the stability of the companies or re-
turns from investment.
your committee took up with the Com
missioner of the District having this matter
in charge the subject. of diminution of risks
arising from accumulation of waste and
from defective electric wiring, and found
the Commissioners were fully alive to the
Importance of this subject and were taking
increasing care to reduce those risks to a
minimum: all that is required to make these
precautions effective is an increase in the
number of inspectors who shall be able to
examine the old as we'll as the new electric
wiring, and this need only Congress can
supply. 1t is urged, therefore, that the
Board of Trade use its best efforts to obtain
this relief.
Charities and Correction.
The report of the committee on charities
and correction, Walter C. Clephane, chair
man, set forth that most of the measures
of Importance for which the committee had
been striving have passed into history as
accomplished facts.
1--WE now have upon our statute books"
the report says efficient laws authorizing
the conversion of alleys into minor streets
and the condemnation of insanitary dwell
ings. The Juvenile Court has been estab-
lished and your committee believes that 1t
will work a great blessing to the COM
munity, particularly If additional probation
officers and other increased facilities asked
for by the judge can be furnished.
1.-THE compulsory education bill is now a
law. Public sentiment is encouraging the
work of those having in charge public
Fairgrounds. and disposition Is being
manifested among members of Congress to
further the development of these much
needed adjuncts to upbuilding the physical
condition of our children. Generous re-
sponses have been made and are being
made in furtherance of the plan to afford
I'M inoC to y,
mothers in our community. Public officials
and private citizens are .doing much to
aid in checking the spread of consumption
Our people are becoming better informed as
to the splendid facilities afforded for dis
pensing charity through the efficient sys-
TENS in vogue in the organization known
as the Associated Charities. The poor are
being assisted to prosecute and defend their
rights without an undue burden of expense
through the Legal Aid Society and the Prs-
oners' Aid Society. All of these are matters
upon which the community is to be con-
graduated.
Measures That Demand Attention.
THE following measures, however, to the
accomplishment of which your board has
committed itself, still demand the earnest
attention of the citizens of the District of
Columbia
Your board has heretofore approved the
enactment Of a law forbidding children
under the age of fifteen years to be upon
the streets unaccompanied by an adult late
at night, and prohibiting the sending of any
child under that age into any disreputable
house.
"a bill having these objects in view has
been framed and it's passage urged upon
Congress. but so far without success
''The District of Columbia finds itself be-
hind certain other communities in that
there Is no statutory power vested in our
criminal judges to discharge prisoners on
probation upon committing their first Of
Tense. Your board has approved the en-
actment of such law
Your committee has several times called
to the attention of this board certain con-
ditions prevailing at the jail and work
house, and in the report submitted two
years ago, your committee recommended
and the board approved the following
measures to relieve the existing situation
at the Jail, to wit: dining room where
prisoners may be served with food as 1T
should be served to human beings. instead
of having them fed as animals are fed as
must be done under the present inadequate
arrangement Of the building. Sanitary tot
ing Your committee earnestly repeats
these three recommendations
Prisoners Who Are "Repeaters."
1.-THE records of the District Jail show
that Is per cent of the prisoners are re-
peaters,' which indicates that imprison-
ment without employment is not reforma-
idleness, with good shelter and abundant
food at the public expense, promotes crime
1t is said that the average convict does not
know any trade and is not drilled in any
kind of labor. We therefore, recommend
that an appropriation be asked to teach
trades of different kinds to prisoners in our
JAIL and that all prisoners be required 10
do some specific work.
Experience in work among the criminal
classes has demonstrated the wisdom o. de-
parting from the old method of treating
as criminals men who have fallen victims
to the drink habit. Your committee rec
ommends that provision should be made
for establishing hospital or asylum to
which some of these unfortunates may be
sent for the purpose of receiving intelligent
treatment and help toward making them
more useful citizens"
Bridge Projects in the District.
The report of the committee on bridges
Mr.. A. NJ. Lothrop chairman. takes up in
detail the various bridge projects in the Dis
trict of Columbia. The report says in part:
Congress will be asked to appropriate
$4,000 at this session for the permanent
improvement of the approaches to the
bridge across Rock Creek valley on the line
of Connecticut avenue.
Congress will also be asked to appro-