Evening star., 1907-11-12

done so will give to this committee their
actua' as well as tacit approval of this
undertaking. by promptly sending in their
names subscribers.
The special committee on the Abraham
Lincoln centennial believes that exercises
should hc held throughout the country on
the one-hundredth anniversary of the
birth Of our martyred President In View.
however of the fact tnat the inauguration
of the President of the United States Will
take place in Washington shortly after
February u. 1902. the date of the LIN
coin centennial the committee deems it
inexpedient to endeavor to have two such
important ceremonies dates
together. Your committee recommends
as local feature that the board Of educa-
ton be requested to have suitable
Early in January. 1907, 1t submitted re-
port upon the proposed credit currency
bill approved by the American Bankers
Association. The committee also consid-
cred and acted upon the proposed law
regulating the milk supply in the District
of Columbia, favoring the general pro-
visions of the bill. 1t approved the pro-
vision for a meteorological laboratory in
the District under the control of the Com
missioners.
Your committee reports that the books
and vouchers of the secretary and treas
urer respectively, have been examined
audited, and found correct, and that dur
Ing the year some unusual expenses were
incurred which materially reduced the
available funds on hand
Your committee bridges gives US a
graphic resume of the work in progress
and completed during the past year. and
that deemed necessary 10 be done in the
near future.
In closing its report your committee
again expresses the hope that Congress
will authorize the construction at an early
day Of the great Memorial bridge across
the Potomac.
Your committee on charities and cor
rections invites special attention to the
great work in progress in connection with
housing the poor of the District and the
action taken under authority Of the act
of Congress of July !, 1905, in regard to
the condemnation of insanitary buildings.
1t tells us that under this act, up to June
20, 1907. attention had been given to iI9
houses, of which DOB had been demolished
53 properly repaired, and notice given to
the owners of the remainder that the
buildings must either be demolished or re-
paired without delay.
The committee urges attention to the
subject OF the necessity of furnishing the
poor with facilities for obtaining, at a
reasonable rate of interest loans upon
personal property pledged or mortgaged
as security for repaNmentS.
The committee earnestly recommends
the appointment of a commission of COM
petent men, who shall, after a systematic
study of Criminoiogy. as applied to our
local conditions compile criminal code
which shall not only prescribe the laws
relating to crime, but shall inteligenty
deal with criminals after their arrest.
Committee on Insurance.
The committee on Insurance. IN its re-
port refers to the last published report
Of the department of insurance covering
the year 1905, whrein il appears that al
though the collections for license fees
(S16,3Io.2t and taxes tS1,t",'S), to-
gether amounted to (s73, 937 l2l for the
calendar year 1905 vet for the same
period the total expenses Of conducting
the department amounted to S966o39, the
collections thus exceeding the expenses
by $6G &c. 53. The committee thinks that
so great a disproport ion between the cost
OF conducting the insurance department
and the amount realized by the govern
ment in license fees and taxes is wrong,
/ and that the business OF Insurance, par
tiCularly in the case of mutual companies.
should not pay in license fees or taxes
greater sum than IS necessary for that
effective municipal or state supervision
which is nece ssary.
The committee on membership has
performed its duties most satisfactorily,
and reports that the active membership
Of our board is now 106 81 new me- mbers
have been elected during the year, and
the loss by death resignation, etc, was 81
Your committee on mercantile inter
asts renews its recommended .ons, special
~ urging upon Congress the Introduction
of high-prcSsure water service for more
complete fire protection in the business
section Of the city
Attention is invited to the report or
We are on record in urging upon Con-
gress the necessary Appropriation for the
proposed addition 10 Rock Creek Park OF
about 100 acres of land bordering on
Massachusetts avenue northwest at a
price averaging about 10 cents per foot.
This purchase Was urged upon Congress
at its last session. and met with the ap-
provaI of many senators and representa-
tives but failed 1t the last moment In be-
ing Incorporated in the general law. 1t
will again be presented during the coming
session.
Public Buildings.
The report Of the committee on public
buildings shows the progress made upon
the structures in course of erection in
our city and the necessity for other build
ings for school purposes, for an armory
for our splendid militia. and for the re
quirements OF the general government in
the capital city Of the nation.
Your committee expresses the belief
that The triangle between Pennsylvania
avenue, the NAL and 18th street north.
west. not already acquired by the genera
government. should be secured either bN
purchase or condemnation, a site foI
other national municipal buildings.
Your special attention is invited TO the
Continued on Fourteenth Page.l