The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-22
MANY IMPROVEMENTS
URGED FOR DISTRICT
Commissioners Tell Monday
Evening Club What Is Being
Done for Better Conditions.

Establishment OF a reformatory 10 be
operated along novel lines, erection Of
N adequate municipal market at the
ute OF the present fish wharves, OF
Jew municipal hospital on the site of
ne present tuberculosis Hospital, the
installation of a new system for the
objection of the city's waste-these are
few Of the Districts needs which the
commissioners expect 10 have filled by
preparations Of the present Congress.
commissioners Oliver p. Newman and
frederick L. Siddons. the civilian heads
q the District. and Major Charles W.
Gutz, the Engineer Commissioner, made
.,nown that these are n Few of the
things they are expecting for the Dis
Jrict at the meeting OF the Monday
evening Club at the Y. NJ. :. A. build
'nE last night. The two civilian Com
missioners spoke on what the District
Government Is Doing" Major KutZ
made brief talk along the same lines,
Z the request of Mrs. Archibald Hop
kins. who presided at the meeting.
After Commissioner Newman had fin
shed speaking. Walter S. Cffo-d. sec
retary Of the Associated Charities,
asked how A new municipal lodging
house could be obtained for the Dis
r-ict. stating that he thought such an
Institution one of the municipality's
-rcatest needs.
Send a small committee without a
nrass band or trumpets to Congress"
answered Commissioner Newman.
Have that committee camp at the Cap
i-ol until the thing you want is guar
snteed."
For Novel Reformatory.
Commissioner Newman. who has just
completed - tour through the South,
formatory conditions. outlined the plans
for the novel reformatory which he
n.pes Congress will make provision for
in the District appropriation bill now
being considered.
The institution planned will be a de-
LartUre from anything of its kind in
he United States" said the Commits
-Oner. 1T will be a modern penal in
>itution without bars or stockade, a
'iace where the inmates will not be re-
s1ired 10 wear striped clothes or where
silence will be mandatory. It will be
= u institution in q sense, without pun
shment. In establishing such an in
Tuition We VIII take a step forward
nat has not been attempted elsewhere
is TO be a work much bigger than /
hat which we have tried at Occoouan"
IN explaining the motives which have
7ctuated him and his colleagues on the
;oerd of Commissioners. Mr.. Newman
aid:
We cannot say that we have done
0Eerything that could be done but We
an say that we have done all We
ould TO give the District good govern |
rent Our idea has been and is. that
-"vernment, in this day and age. Is sim
~ an instrument by which the people
i've themselves. OF course, in the Dis
ret the people have nothing to say as
% how they shall he served but we /
lave tried to give them the kind Of gov
nment that we believe they would de- |
icand If they could express their de- |
sires.' -,
To Serve the People.
Commissioner Newman expressed |
the opinion that cooperation with the
new 2apers in announcing govern
mental activities is one of the ways 1
m which government may be made |
% serve the people more fully The 4
Commissioner cited the activities Of /
The District government, through the
office of Corporation Counsel SWINE 1
IN the matter of the loan law prosecu-
lions, whereby personal advice was
given victims Of the loan sharks"
lie declared that this was the sort of |!
service the government should render I
20 the people who own il, no matter \
-ules"
As another example of government |
-cndering efficient service TO the peo-,
JIG commissioner newman ClNeO the
action Of the District superintendent.
Of weights and measures. and mar
hets in organizing purchasing groups /
If housekeepers when prices began 20 /
soar at the outbreak of the European
war.
Commissioner Siddons declared that
nc present Board OF District Com
nissloners have attempted since their
assumption of office to progress on
The social side of government.
=
. no class distinction in the District
government he said, We want
very one to feel that il is govern
ment for the people and that none
VII be favored or Disseminated
Ssinst
We hope TO establish a new munich
pal market to replace the insanitary
hacks al the fish wharf on the river
'front.' We want to establish a new
municipal hospital on the site of the
we would end dreadful conditions at |
the Washington Asylum Hospital"
Would Save $4,000 Annually.
Engineer Commissioner Kutz in dis
cUEsing a municipal plant for the col
elton and disposal Of the city's waste
baid:
We should have such plant Tie
ost of constructing il would be trivial |
onIpared with the saving for the Dis {
rrict annually. 1t would not be long
u has been estimated that we can save
SoO.0e a year for the District with a
garbage plant II reducing
plant lie installed we may use prison
sbor at OccoQuan TO operate II"