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

Board of Children's Guardians.
The Commissioners commend to Con
gress the work and recommendations of
the Board of Children's Guardians, which,
since its establishment on July /, 1883.
TO care for dependent and delinquent
has rendered most henehcent
and valuable service. 1t was the first
agency of its kind i'll the country, has
been the example to other Jurisdictions,
and has cared for over seven thousand
children, placing them far as possible
in family homes, a Il minimum expense.
OF all the large number of wards of this
BOARD only about one-tifth have cost the
FOR maintenance. A sufficient
time has elapsed since inc beginning of
its work to make possible reports from
number of wards who have attained their
majority. all OF whom have been reported
as doing we'll where they live. The un
paid service of the members of this board
deserves the gratitude of Congress and
the community.
This board had under its guardianship
and care, June 50. 1908. 1,52o permanent
and 1856 temporary wards and 81 feeble
minded children. 1t received by commit
ment during the year ending June 30.
1909. 2i2 permanent wards and 266 chill
dren for temporary care and were add
ed to the number of feeble minded chill
of 400 children passed from the control
of the board during the year. leaving
under it's guardianship and care June 30.
1909, 1925 permanent and 49, temporary
wards and GO Predetermined children.
The board presents with special en-
phasis the necessity of more liberal pro-
vision for the important work of placing
and supervising wards in private homes.
and in this connection urges its need OF
larger force of competent placing and
wi In N1oA ~ 10
ton of an accounting clerk to its clerical
force is also emphasized and is based
upon the Importance and extent of the
work necessary in connection with the
maintenance funds required at the hands
of parents and guardians of wards under
the act of March 3. 1901. and funds aris-
ing from the assessments provided for by
the compulsory support act of March %.
1906; also in connection with the inden-
ture and apprentice funds of wards of the
board
The decided opinion of the board that
In the best interests of the children tenn
porary commitments should be made only
to meet temporary emergencies is reaf-
firmed, and it again asks that Congress
be requested to incorporate the following
provision in acts relating to the board.
viz: mo temporary commitment of chill
dren to the care OF the Board of Chill
dren'S Guardians shall be made except in
cases of emergency nor for a period OF
more than six months"
Pending the anticipated early establish
ment by and within the District of Co
lumbia Of a training school for its feeble
minded persons. the board again recon-
mends and urges adequate temporary pro-
vision for the care of colOred feeble
minded children, as there is now no place
available for their proper care and train
ing
Work of the Coroner.
The end of the fiscal year shows a
large increase in the amount of work
performed by the coroner's office. The
total number of bodies viewed and GER
tifcates given or approved by the coroner
was LAP; autopsies performed. 90: num-
Der of inquests. "a. deaths by natural
causes, 145; deaths by violence, 35S; still
births, 309 number OF bodies received at
the morgue, S27.
The number of bodies received at the
morgue, S27. represents an increase of
more than 60 per cent over the number
received the preceding year There are
only two men connected with the morgue
and in view of the amount of work
they performed last year it seems that
an extra man. or hoStler, is very much
needed: also a stenographer or clerk in
connection with the work of the coroner
office. Notes of inqueSts are now taken
in longhand. except upon occasions of
unusual Importance, when outside
stenographers are employed. Frequently
at inquests the testimony develops that
some branch of the District government
is particularly interested or concerned
and a stenographic report would be of
much value.
Assessment of Property.
The assessed valuation of real estate
in the District of Columbia for the fiscal
year ended June 60 1905. was as fol-
lows:
Washington city:
Assessed va ua ton
of land. ....... sos $40, $500
Assessed va lua ton
of improvements a3. 435. 045.0D
Total assessed valuation. $3.50. O05 724 90
Washington county:
Assessed valuation
of land. 81. GIG, $1,000
Assessed valuation
of improvements n 6Ss, 200.U 90
Total assessed yalua ton. -. 56.319, 90
Total assessed valuation of
real estate I'm the District
OF Columbia for the fiscal
year ended June go 1905. .$255, 324, S34 90
REAL ESTATE TAX FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDED JUNE 50. 1908:
Washington city, $685.. os5 So
Washington county. ............ S4.1S6G Go
Total real estate ta1........ So, 500, S72 So
The trennial assessment of 1909 1911
has been on the books of the assessor for
one year and work is now in progress for
the triennal assessment for the years
1912-1914. The yearly assessment against
all new buildings and resubdivisions OF
land amounted to little over eight and a
half million dollars. which will be in
Guided in the assessment of 1910.
Provisions of law requiring assessments
to be made every three years have been
in force in the District ever since the
present form of government was institut-
ed and suggestions have been made from
time to time that the methods OF a tri-
ennial assessment be abandoned and that
taxes be levied each year, as is done In
most of the cities of the United States.
Some Of the objections against the pres
ent method are that ii is impossible to
cover the ground with the force allowed,
that the same men who make the assess
ments are allowed to serve on the board
of review, that the present board OF re-
view is too large for the expeditions
ments fixed for the first year Of any
period are apt to become unequal by the
time the total assessment is finished. and
that the time of hearings is d1n1cult for
the public to keep in mind.
One remedy suggested Is TO nave the
civ divided into three or more sections,
with two assistant assessors for each.
who would make both real and personal
assessments: to have the board of review
consist of the assessor and two deputy
assessors; that the assessment Shall be
made each year for the entire D1strlct,
nersonaI notice being given of any change
of assessment from the previous year
1t is thought the yearly assessment will
tend to a nearer equalization, that every
hody will become better informed OF the
date of appeal, that the appeal period can
he shortened to the advantage of every
hot rxrifl tom In,