The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-02

crete, brick sidewalks were laid, parks were sodded and trees planted.
 The acts of the board brought forth bitter condemnation, which had much to 10 with the abolishment of this new government. The panic of 1873 was al- So instrumental in causing the change as the bonds issued could not be sold and the board was deeply in debt.
 The 1871 form was established in 1873 and a temporary form established. It was in the hands of board of three commissioners to be appointed by the President It was followed by the pres ent arrangement, provided by the act of June il, 1878.
 This form, which Is municipal gov ernment similar to that of 1871, has worked well, and according to the ma jority opinion is the best municipal government in the United States. The board consists of three members, two of whom are appointed from civil life by the President, the third being an officer from the Engineer Corps of the army not under the grade of Captain
 In the District of Columbia all real and personal property, except the prop erty of the United States and the Dis trict, property of foreign governments used for legation purposes, church property, property used for educational purposes and farm land are taxed at the rate of one and one-half per cent. Lend used for farming purposes is taxed at one per cent. The law pro- vides that to the extent congress shall approve the estimates made by the commissioners it shall appropriate one half thereof from the revenues of the District of Columbia and one-half from the Treasury of the United States, so that the general government pays one-half, the other half being raised bX taxation.
 The board organizes by electing an- nually, CT whenever a vacancy occurs one of its members as president. Their various duties are divided into three groups, one group being assigned to each commissioner, He has no absolute authority over matters assigned to him, but must present all new ques- tions and all matters of policy Or ex- pediency to the board of commission CTS sitting as such.
 The District has no delegate in con gress, as the territories have. The commissioners appear before the com mittee of the house and the committee of the senate on the District of Col umbia to urge the legislation hey think necessary, and before the appro- priations committee to explain the financial needs of the District.
 The schools are under a board of ed ucation appointed by the Judge of the Supreme court of the District and con- sisting of nine members, three of whom must be women. There are twelve med ical inspectors for the schools, working under the health odff1cer of the Dis trict.
 The water supply Is controlled by the government. It comes from the Poto- mao River at Great Falls, about sev- enteen miles north of the city, the con- duir being under the charge of the chief of engineers of the United States Army The lighting system is owned by private corporations
 A geological park was established by congress in 1889 and is under the di- rection of the secretary of the Smith, sonian Institution Rock Creek Park, a reservation lying north of the city and containing 1,6OO acres, was laid out pursuant to an act of congress, passed in IS90, It is under the joint control of the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. The char itable institutions of the District gen erally receive aid from congress and are under the supervision of the Board of Charities, appointed by the Presi- dent
 The judiciary of the District of Col umbia consists of court of appeals, which is composed of chief justice and two associate justices; a supreme court, composed of a chief justice and five associate justices a police court of two judges; justices of the peace, and several United States commission CTS, All of these judges and justices of the peace are appointed by the Presi- dent. The judges are confirmed by the senate and hold office during good be- havior. The justices of the peace are appointed for term of four years.