Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07

Of way. in accordance with the act of
congress relating thereto it has been
necessary to institute suits to recover the
cost of this lighting Pending the decision
IN these cases, the District is compelled
to pay for their maintenance, which has
caused deficiency in the appropriation
for street lighting for the fiscal year end
ing June 30 1903, and which will prevent
The extension of the street-lighting sys-
tenn during the year 1910 beyond the addi-
ton of more than so lamps.
Inc work of the eleCtrc-wiring inspect
ors has increased during the year over
/ IS PEI cent in the number of permits is
| sued and over % per cent In the number
| OF inspections they have made. There
mas eeen, too corresponding increase in
the amount of Office work which has
| taxed the clerical force almost beyond its
capacity This increased inspection work
| mas been carried on without any inter-
upton TO the regular weekly theater In
! spection, although the latter has been
! greatly extended by the rapid increase in
| the number OF moving picture places.
With such a showing as this, the estab-
lishment of the service and the spending
upon 1t of such amounts as have been
| appropriated has certainly been more
than justified. and the possibility of good
| in event Of the extension and improve
ment of the service is apparent
Insurance
The insurance department. established
| in January. 1902 has been Of great serv-
ice in preventing bad insurance concerns
| from doing business in the District of Co
| lumbia and in regulating the business
| done by those of good repute. Starting
with only the superintendent and one
| clerk and under provision in the Dis
| trict Code which required the same kind
| of work as that of state insurance de-
rfr1Yn ftn Iny, w ant n
| arrears. which the superintendent has
| struggled to bring up with the assistance
, OF a slowly growing staff not yet ade-
quate. He has not been able, therefore,
| to prepare code of insurance law for
| the District of Columbia such as is
greatly needed. although he was able to
draft bill for the regulation of assess
ment life insurance. which specially
needs attention. Therefore the commits
sioners have approved the bill prepared
| by the American Bar Association. author
| izing the appointment of a commission to
| draft model code of insurance laws for
the District Of Columbia. which might
afterwards be copied by the States. In
this work the superintendent of insurance
VIII be able to cooperate
During the calendar year there were
223 licenses issued to companies assess
ment associations, and fraternal bene
fetal associations. and 1903 licenses. in
Guiding 40 assignments or licenses maxi
ing a total of 1856.
The total amount paid out for premiums
during the year for life and casualty in
amount paid to policy holders for losses
| was 1914, 154.39.
| The license fees and taxes collected by
the department aggregated $76.637.53,
while the total expense of operating the
department was S9.6JO.s 5.
The assets of all life and casualty
companies transacting business in the
District on December 81. 190S amounted
~ Tl } It,,
50, 100. 1872 5t4.92 and SURPRISES amount
ing to $53S. 451 ,954.34.
There was paid for premiums on fire
and marine insurance $7129O4.60 while
the companies paid for losses 1927,
The total amount paid to insurance
companies of all kinds for premiums
during the year was $4.976, 473.22. while
the total paid to policy holders was ST.,
1876 905.S So
The amount of insurance written dur
| ing the year. exclusive of casualty insur-
ance, was s149.473. 7O696, which is less
than the previous year in the amount of
1852, 69S Of
An investigation instituted by the de-
partment in 1907 Of the Bank Depositors'
Insurance Company resulted in fraud
order being issued against it on Novem
Der II, 1908. and certain Of it's officers
were indicted on July "a, 1909.
Bathing Beach.
ne experience WIN the small Drlek-
lined pool at the bathing beach during
the season Of 1908 encouraged the Com
missioners to increase the bathing facil-
tiles at that point by the erection of a
larger bathing pool of the same construc-
ton, which was done during the spring
of 1909 at an extremely low cost. for the
reason that it was found practicable to
utilize the service of the worl1house In
mates and old material.
The new pool and the one constructed
during the previous year have proven SO
satisfactory in every respect that the
Commissioners have included in their
estimates for the fiscal year 1911 an item
for two larger ones.
These bathing pools are supplied with
filtered Potomac water, and were used
by about 81, 900 bathers during the past
season. The number taught to swim
there was more than 1000
1t is not the primary purpose of the
baths to provide diversion. but to fur
nish instruction in swimming, and es-
pecially to the young.
The Commissioners favor the location
of small houses along the riverside, with
competent attendants, where expert
swimmers may securely deposit their
clothing while they battle in the river.
In view of the strict prohibition against
bathing in the river without suitable at
tire and the inability of the public bath
ing pools to accommodate all who wish
to avail themselves of them, the Com
missioners believe that it is the duty of
the District to afford opportunities OF
that sort to skillful swimmers.
The commissioners desire to commend
the valuable services rendered by DR..
William B. Hudson, the superintendent
of the bathing beach, in the construction
and management OF the plant under his
charge. The discipline and spirit among
the bathers and attendants, due to his
influence, has greatly increased the popu-
larity and efficiency of this branch of the
service. and not only established it's value
as a means of instruction in the art of
swimming, but as an agency in the de-
velopment of principles of right conduct
in the younger patrons by impressing
them with the fact that the enjoyment of
the highly priced privilege Of using these
pools depends upon their good behavior
and the practice of seemly personal hab-
it's.
The commissioners commend these fea-
lures of government to the liberal in
terest of Congress. They renew their
recommendations that provision be made
for the teaching OF the practical fea-
lures of the art as a part of public
course be adopted by those in charge of
| private schools.
Public Fairgrounds.
A larger use Of public Fairgrounds was
made during the past year. and the
Georgetown playground was put in opera
ton. Such satisfactory results have come
from this form of public education as
justify the appropriations which have been