Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-06
THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6,


a part of Washington. earnestly rec
out this plan.
Public Utilities.
There are a sufficient number of cor
iporations enjoying the use OF public
utilities in the District Of Columbia to
Justify and require the enactment Of
"a 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 corporatio wit, the
street railways-have 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 its other
and more important duties make it I'M
possible for it TO give the requisite su-
pervision. 1t seems to me wise to
place this general power Of supervision
and regulation in the District commits
Siouers. 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 are
peculiarly fitted to do this work, and
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.
I do not think the present control OF
the school system Of Washington com
mends itself as the most efficient 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 it is not apparent that the re-
suits are in general more satisfactory.
The average cost per pupil per day in
Washington is about 80 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-
erage G.S days of instruction. For the
current fiscal year the estimates of the
board Of education amounted to about
three quarters of the entire revenue To-
cally collected for District purposes.
If ! 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
ony in the use of these buildings that
indicates the necessity for the concen-
fratiOn Of control. All plans for inn
proyemcnt and expansion in the school
system are with the school board.
while the limitation of expenses is
with the District commissioners.
think it would he much better to put
complete control and responsibility in
provide a board of school visitors. to
be appointed by the supreme court Of
the District or by the president from
the different school districts of Wash
inCton, who. representing local needs,
shall meet and make recommendations
20 the commissioners and to the super
intendent OF education, an educator Of
ability and experience who should lie
IN appOintee Of and responsible 10 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, a playground with
building containing baths. Cymna-
SUM and other helpful features. and l
hope congress will approve this esti-
mate. Fair as Washngt 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 insanitary
congestion of population, there are CEN
tiers in the interior of squares where
the very poor and the criminal classes
rs we'll huddle together in filth and
noisome surroundings and ii Is 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, is the begin
ming of movement that ought to at
tract the earnest attention and support
of congress. for congress cannot es-
cape its responsibility for the exist
ence of these human pestholes
The estimates for the District of
Columbia for the fiscal year 1912 pro-
vide for the repayment to the United
States of 100000. one-fourth of the
floating debt that will remain on June