Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07

of births; regulation of employment
agencies; regulation of savings banks
regulation of sale of posons and the
pharmacy business: law for the removal
of nuisances from the property of non
resident owners: registration of tubercu-
losis cases and provision for free exam
ination of sputum: abolition of track
gambling.
Examples of Governmental Improve
Observation-Disclosures of a department OF
insurance: reorganization of police, fire
and electrical departments and improve
ment OF other municipal departments; es-
tablishment of board of examiners in
veterinary medicine.
Legislation Recommended.
So much has been done by Congress
through its legislation and appropriations
since 1900 in improving social and educa-
tional and public charity conditions in
the District of Columbia that the program
of the Commissioners for such legisla-
ton has been largely completed. There
remain to be enacted. however, some
measures which the Commissioners have
recommended for the betterment of af-
fairs in the District of Columbia They
earnestly renew their recommendations In
favor Of
Public school buildings and grounds 81, 2Is 500
dien pressure fire protection service for
Improvement of Rock Creek valley. :Oo'oSO
improvement Of Anacostia river and
Washington harbor front. ......... Jos. 900
Additional suburban sewers..... 34S 3,:.yn
Addition to District hospital. ...... 400. 900
completion OF Piney Branch bridge. 5000
Legislation recommended and not yet
granted and to be asked again.-Civil
service law; regulation of assessment life
% 1nxry 4l,~,~ S-s, f1,0
watering Of stock of the gas companies !;
reduction in the price of gas; authority
for branches OF public library under the
Carnegie promise of branch buildings;
further improvement of charity system;
regulation of public corporations; i'm
provement Of the liquor law. Milk COM
mission of experts created by Commits
sioners to study local milk supply recon-
mended these measures: Increased force
and facilities of health department, in
and legislation for additional protection Of
milk supply.
Comparison With Other Jurisdic-
tions.
With these measures in operation the
Commissioners feel that so far as laws
are concerned the District of Columbia
will bear comparison with other jurisdic-
TONS They believe also that the public
sentiment will support the thorough and
reasonable enforcement of these and other
laws providing for the general welfare
They believe, also, that in all those mat
tiers which are beyond the province of leg
islation the citizens of the District of Co
lumbia will do everything in their. pow
er to make the National capital all that
1t ought to be. They believe that no.
where is there greater civic pride or pub
lie spirit nor greater willingness to make
sacrifices in the public interest. The un-
usually large number of men and women
engaged in unpaid public service. the gen.
even such municipal undertakings as pub
lie Fairgrounds. show that the people
Of the District have the same spirit which
In the past has sent more than their quota
to the army and navy in every national
war and contributed more than their pro-
portion of the relief funds in every ma
tional calamity. The Commissioners re-
cord also their obligation to intelligent
and organized public opinion.
The meeting of the governors OF the
states and other representative men.
called by the President of the United
States at the White House May b. 1905
to consider the conservation OF the natur-
al resources of the country, in which the
District of Columbia was represented by
the president Of the board of Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia,
brought together the largest number OF
governors ever assembled in the National
capital. who were entertained by the
Washington Board of Trade at a ban
quet This convention and other con-
ventions throughout the year furnished
opportunity for reminding the people of
the United States through their repre-
sentative men and women the plans for
the development of the National capital,
for the conservation of its natural beau
ties, and for the perfection of it's laws
and customs. The interest of the country
in it's capital. especially marked and in
creasing since the centennial celebration
of 1900, has been quickened during the
year by these meetings and similar eff
forts to inform representative gatherings
elsewhere. The sentiment in favor of all
reasonable measures for the advancement
of the National capital is stronger every
year and will support any steps that Con-
gress may see fit to take in that direc-
ton.
Sense of National Greatness.
The sense of the national greatness
seeks expression in the expansion and
Identification of the National capital.
The park projects. the improvement Of the
Rock creek valley and of the Anacostia
BASIN, the conversion of the property be-
tween Pennsylvania avenue and the Mall
into a park where the national govern
ment may erect the buildings which It
will need in the future. the latter project
already begun by the timely appropria-
ton OF $2.JOU,UOU Dy congress at the iaSt
session for the acquisition of the squares
between 14th and 18th streets, and every
other similar proposition. are heartily in
dorsed by all intelligent Americans. The
Commissioners, in making their recon-
mendations for such improvements, have
the assurance of representative men and
women of every state and territory, and
in large numbers, that their senators and
representatives I'm Congress will be heart
lily supported in whatever they may do in
furtherance of such plans.
Every visitor to the National capital
manifests a pride in what has already
been accomplished. The Union station.
which is the noble gateway for those who
come over the railroads. gives a fitting
introduction to the city: the completion
OF the Improvement of the plaza, de-
layed by the necessary arrangements for
the electric railways, will add to its at
Effectiveness. The Commissioners heart
lily approve the plan to have the United
States purchase all the land between its
present holdings around the Capitol and