Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-05

prosecution could be obtained, were pre-
scented to the Police Court. law should
be enacted requiring the ice dealers and
helpers to obtain a license before they
enter into the business. which could be
revoked for cause. and ii is believed this
would solve the question Of short weight
Ice and insure better service to patrons
Cond. lions relative to the use of stand
ara Ice cream measures and cans were
found very much improved over the pre-
vious year. The larger manufactures.
VINO supply probably % per cent OF the
Ice cream sold I'm the District. are most
ment before and after they have placed
orders for boxes In an endeavor to use
only those of standard capacity. These
boxes are Furnished, in most cases, gratis
10 their customers, thereby putting into
use thousands of boxes which are stand
ard.
The annual inspection OF the dairies
Tor the purpose OF ascertaining the ca
pacity Of milk bottles showed that lsss
| than L per cent Of the bottles In use,
estimated at 100000 were short: also
| this shortage was reported very small in
each bottle. The Office has been inform
ed by manufacturers of bottles who
furnish about 81 per cent Of the number
used in the District that they have not
had a. request from Washington dealers
for bottles less than standard measure
In capacity for "A number Of years, con-
dition due to the activity Of the depart
ment.
An investigation into the manner OF
the sale of olive oil has resulted in .ae
general marking of cans Full measure
or Short measure" as the case may be,
SO that the purchasing public knows
what it is receiving.
The weight of bread is reported rs
varying from twelve to fourteen ounces
in a loaf investigations and complaints
relative thereto show the necess ty for A
regulation fixing a standard weight. The
department has had the cooperation OF
some of the leading bakers In preventing
the twelve-ounce loaf to be generally
offered for sale in the District.
The district markets are reported as
being in a prosperous condition. The rent
for stands and collections at the far
mers street markets and the wholesale
an increase of $761.96 over the receipts
for last year. Much care is exercised
in keeping these markets In a cleanly
condition, and they have been on this
account favorably commented upon by
patrons.
There were 12.675.637 square feet OF
merchantable lumber reported Inspected
during the year: gross fees collected for
said inspections amounted to $3.eS7.S7;
expenses. $1.303 O3; net fees. retained
by the inspectors for their expenses and
services. $2,6S491. The wood inspectors
reported 1880 3-S cords of wood mea-
sured: gross fees. $1,253.64: expenses,
$S4: net fees. 81, 1864 Few complaints
were satisfactorily adjusted.
The use of abe public scales for one
year from August 1. 1910. was sold At
public auction for $l,iJO.
Department Of Insurance.
Shortly after the beginning of the fiscal
year. Mr.. Thomas Z. Drake. who had
been in charge of the department OF in
surance since its creation on January ],
1902, died, and Mr.. George w. 1ngham
was promoted to the vacancy.
II is the duty of the superintendent of
insurance to examine into the financial
condition and affairs Of all insurance
companies and associations organized un-
der the laws of the District Of Columbia,
or chartered by special act OF Congress.
and within. the fiscal year twelve OF such
corporations have been examined. some
of them more than once. This does not
include the assessment companies. De-
cause Of the suit which is still peno1pg
in the Supreme Court OF the Dtsfrict,
viz. the American Home insurance Com
pany ct al agt. Thomas E. Drake, to see
whether they shall pay taxes on their
premium receipts or whether they come
under the supervision OF this depart
ment. and which was referred to IN the
report for the preceding fiscal year.
Several bills have been introduced In
Congress regulating insurance companies
and associations In regard TO annuai
statements and other matters, ana oehh-
ing the status Of these assessment COM
panies and associations. two OF which
were passed at the special session OF the
present Congress. One of those laws re-
quires the publication OF annual state
ments by insurance companies. and the
other that health, accident and life fnsur-
ance companies shall be under the depart
ment of insurance.
II is hoped that further legislation Will
be secured along these lines.
At the close Of the calendar year ended
December 81, 1910, 227 insurance com.
panies, assessment associations and fra
ternal beneficial associations were lie
censed to transact business in the DIS
tricI Of Columbia. Licenses to transact
business here were also issued to 100
principal agents. 20 brokers and ,l62 So
licitors.
During the calendar year ended Deceni-
Der n, 1910 the total collections OF the
department on account Of taxes and liz
cense fees amounted to $61 .4lO.34, OK
which $65,6S6.5S represents the tax ON
the premium receipts Of the companies
and associations. The total expenditures
OF the department during the year. con.
sisting Of salaries and contingent exa
penses, amounted to SO. lOo.41.
The Free Public Library.
The report Of the trustees Of the freo
Public Library with which IL included
the report Of the librarian) shows thaA
the progress Of the past year In local
public library development has consisted
chiefly Of the intensincation Of the prae.
tical usefulness Of the existing library