The Washington times., 1910-12-06

be threvsoId control. legislative, ad-
nlnistrative, and accounting; Tie first,
exercised by the legislative power In the
enactment Of specific acts appropriat tins.
limiting and determining public receipts,
expenditures. and Indebtedness; the sec
ord exercised by the administrative
officers charged with the duty OF carry
ing out the directions OF the legislative
power, and lastly, that exercised by the
accounting officers to see that there IS
r. faisapplication or diversion Of funds
from the uses outlined by the legisla-
tive power. and that, bOtH from a
nduclary and economic standpoint. all
expenditures are wen made and ac-
Realizing tie importance and value
OF WeIi-defued and scientifically
Classi5ed bulge. the Commissioners
are constrained 20 again recommend
special consideration by Congress
The report shows the increases Of real
estate assessments and taxes IN The
District IS follows
The assessed valuation OF real es-
tate n the District Of Columbia for
the fiscal year ended June -, 1893, was
S-if,59i.173, giving real estate tax Of
For the year ending June 50. 1910.
the total assessed value was S2S5,I5S, al.
giving real estate tax OF Sl,Z77 ,5gi-5I-
For the year ending June 3ll 1911.
the total assessed value VIII be $50
5s<-sS3. or a tax OF s4.411S47-59-
The yearly increases noted above
are those arising from erection Of new
buildings, the subdividing- and improv-
Ing Of vacant ground. and various adj
dirions added 20 old buildings Begin
ming with July =, 1911, the new trleu-
Nal assessment viii go into effect. and
it is estimated that there viii be an
increase over the year 1871 OF thirty
i've or forty millions Of dollars This
increase is due 10 the extra ordinary in
crease in values in various suburban
sections in proximity to electric lines
and 10 an equalization of assessments In
the business portions Of The city"
Changes IN Assessment.
It IS recommended mat the assessor
be authorized to maze yearly changes
IN assessments as changes in the value
OF property occur. In discussing in
CTeaSinE assesssble values, the Com
missioners point out that the taxes
collected in the District for the fiscal
year ending June g, 1910, were S1,1IS.-
o55-22, an increase Of $3.50, 1,2-Z1 over the
year previous
Emphatic recommendation for the
passage Of a number OF pending bills
IS made by the Commissioners III their
report. Among them are the bill Civ
ing the Commissioners the powers OF a
public utilities commission. cHe remedial
loan zGency bill. the resolution crovid-
ing change in the date Of inauguTa-
tor, 5e licensing Of guides who con
vey visitors over the District. the re-
comforting upon the Commissioners Of
authority 10 regulate tie speed OF Vehi-
cIeS, and the licensing OF drivers OF
vehicles for hire
The report cOmmends the free public
library and shows that $4,000 people
patronize II every year Appropriation
Tor the erection and maintenance OF
branch Libraries are recommended In
~ Hr0 hot
Commissioners say the pools have been
a great success. that 5, COS people OF
whom 2-546 were women, patrOuized the
pools during the year, and that loo
taught to swim Appropriations for
more pools. in other parts OF the city
and for the construction Of bath houses
are recommended
Without recommending any specific
SUM for public Fairgrounds, the Com
rnissionerS urge that the plan y
the Fairgrounds Associ@tiCn TO have
the grounds put under control OF the
Commissioners be approved and that
provision be made for their mainte-
nance
tons of the Department OF Insurance.
showing the extent to which companies
and agents have been scrutinized and
the business Of insurance regulated
Police Department
The Police Department IS highly com
mended in the Commissioners report
and recommendations concerning it are
made as follows;
1T is again earnestly recommended
as It has been for many years past that
Congress provide for the reconstruction
Of the cell corridors and the installation
Of cells with modern cages in several Of
the citation houses to remedy prevailing
conditions which have been condemned
not only by the Health and Building De
parCnents. but by public opinion gen
orally
sioners be given fuller authority than
the present police censorship cOmpre-
bends for controlling the display OF
molten pictures and the appurtenant Ia
ciIfties. The law does not sufficiently
provide for the elimination Of scenes OF
crime and others having q perniclOuS
influence, which some mana gers might
refuse to suppress, though those operat-
i~eE such houses in this jurisdiction have
.e-9dests made by the police. The work
OF censorship has been conducted by
the captains, HeuteDants, and SergeantS
in the several precincts, and the Sxhlti-
lions have. with a few exceptions, been
Objectionable
Full power should be accorded the
Commissioners to regulate lhe character
Of Illuminated pictures Oh billboards.
having for its aim the suppression Of
scenes having a perniciOus influence
The Commissioners recommend. being
IN the public interest, thas Congress pro-
vide for the establishment of a hospital
for the treatment of inebTiatss habitU-
ally 50 afflicted. as provided for in Sen
ale bill No. 7662s Making drunkenness