The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-06


islature Of Virginia would in all proba-
bility so enlarge the jurisdiction 40 to
enable congress to include 1t within the
control Of the government of the Dis
trict Of Columbia and actually make Il
part OF Washington. / earnestly rec
ommend that steps be taken to carry
out this plan.
Public Utilities.
There are sufficient number Of cor
porations enjoying the use OF public
utilities in the District OF Columbia to
justify and require the enactment OF
law providing for their supervision
and regulation in the public interest
consistent with the vested rights Sc
cured to them by their charters. A
part of these corporations-to Wit. the
street railways-haye been put under
the control of the interstate commerce
commission. but that commission rec
ommends that the power be taken from
it and intimates broadly that It's other
and more important duties make 1t Inn
possible for II TO give the requisite stl-
pervision. 1t seems to me wise TO
and regulation in the District commits
sioners. 1t is said that their present
duties are now absorbing and would
prevent the proper discharge by them
of these new functions. but their pres
ent jurisdiction brings them so closely
and frequently In contact with these
corporations and makes them to know
In such detail how the corporations are
discharging their duties under the law
and how they are serving the public
interest that the commissioners ara
peculiarly fitted to do this work. and I
hope that congress will impose It upon
them by intrusting them with powers
in respect to such corporations similar
to those Of the public utilities commits
sion of New York city or similar boards
in Massachusetts.
School System.
do not think the present control OF
the school system Of Washington COM
mends itself as the most efhcient and
economical and thorough instrument
for the carrying on Of public instruc-
ton.
The cost Of education in the District
Of Columbia is excessive AS compared
with the cost in other cities Of similar
size, and 1t Is not apparent that the re-
suits are in general more satisfactory.
The average cost per pupil per day In
Washington is about 3S cents, while
the average cost in thirteen other
American cities fairly comparable with
Washington In population and stand
| ard of education Is about 25.5 cents.
For each dollar spent in salaries Of
| schoolteachers and officers In the Dis
trict about A. days Of instruction per
pupil are given, while in the thirteen
cities above referred to each dollar ex-
pended for salaries affords on the av-
| erage 6.S days Of instruction. For tho
| current fiscal year the estimates of tho
board Of education amounted to about
three-quarters of the entire revenue To-
cally collected for District purposes. |
II may say so, there seems to be .
lack of definite plan in the expansion
of the school system and the erection
of new buildings and of proper econ
omy In the use Of these buildings that
indicates the necessity for the concen-,
tration Of control. All plans for Inn
provement and expansion in the school
system are with the school board.
while the Limitation Of expenses Is
with the District commissioners. I
think 1t would be much better to put
complete control and responsibility In
| the District commissioners and then
provide board of school visitors, to
| ho Snf hxyt ho -
the District or by the president from
the different school districts OF Wash
ington, who. representing local needs,
shall meet and make recommendation
to the commissioners and to the super
| intendent Of education, an educator Of
ability and experience who should be
an appointee OF and responsible to the
| District commissioners. !,
Permanent improvements.
Among other items for permanent
improvements appearing in the district
estimates for 1912 Is one designed to
| substitute for Willow Tree alley, no.
torious in the records OF the police and
health departments, playground with
a building containing baths, q gymna-..
SUM and other helpful features, and I
hope congress will approve this esti-
mate. Fair as Washington seems with
her beautiful streets and shade trees
and free as the expanse of territory
which she occupies would seem to
make her from slums and insanitaryl
congestion Of population. there are CEN!
tiers In the interior Of squares whero
the very poor and the criminal classes
as well huddle together In flth and
noisome surroundings, and 1t ID OF
| primary importance that these nuclei
Of disease and suffering and vice
| should be removed and that there
should be substituted for them small
parks as breathing spaces and model
| tenements having sufficient air space
and meeting other hygienic require
| ments. The estimate for the reform
| OF Willow Tree alley, the worst OF
| these places in the city, il the begin
ming OF movement that ought to at
| tract the earnest attention and support
OF congress. for congress cannot e.
| cape its responsibility for the exist
ence OF these human pestholes.
| The estimates for the District of