The Washington herald., 1914-12-08

. departures, financial or leSlSldINe' arc
contained in the annual meport OF the
District Commissioners to Congress, made
public yesterday. Recognizing the neces-
sity for sweeping economies which Con-
! gress will face, and the slight opportu-
/ nifty for discussion of controversial ques-
tions, the commissioners confine them
selves to careful review OF the work or
the various departments and occasional
suggestions for improvements.
Combining estimates for all expendl-
! lures under a budget to be prepared by
the Commissioners Is one recommended
tion. the Commissioners pointing out the
confusion OF accounts and the diffculty
of complying with financial restrictions
| when independent charges are to be
dealt with Urgent recommendation for
the increases in the police force and
| for adequate police and fiTemen's penT
| sion fund also arc found.
Deficiency in Pension Fund.
Here are some of the high points in
the report:
! Revenues collected during the fiscal
year ended last July, amounted to S..29,-
0lO.2o, exceeding the appropriation charges
! for the year by Sl.S5l. 4sl.49 This cash
| balance was expended In the discharge
| OF several kinds of Indebtedness.
The total deficiency in the police and
firemen's pension fund was SIS. .692.96 and
the Commissioners say:
III 1t had not been for the collection
| during the year OF over $1,000 through
the enforcement of the new excise law
there would have been a much larger
deficiency than that reported"
OF total population in April. 1913
CpOlice censusl. of 353.297 persons, S.lH
are given as coIored. The Commissioners
estimate the total population today to be
| something more than $4,000.
Recommendation for annual instead OF
| triennial assessments. a reform the neces-
sity of which is obvious, is renewed by
the Commissioners. who also recommend
increases in the number OF field assist
ants. The true consideration deed bill.
passed by the House. receives the in
dorsement of the Commissioners.
With a view to extending the same aid
to small business men as is received by
the small householder, the Commissioners
recommend n 5000 exemption limit be
fixed for stock and fixtures.
Review LOAN shark" Work.
Referring 10 the administration Of the
loan shark law. the Commissioners
say:
THE loan shark Law" occupied
great deal OF time and Occasioned weeks
OF incessant labor in this office. Test
| cases were brought and taken to the
! Court of Appeals. which sustained con-
victions in the Police Court Every viO-
lator of the law was informed against.
and fines were imposed upon a plea OF
guilty in the sum Of 500 in each case
and a Jail sentence of thirty days sus-
pended on condition usuriOus interest be
refunded and three-fOurths of the prin-
cipal be accepted In payment of usuriOus
loans. This office gave individual atten-
ton to each victim OF the loan sharks"
visiting the office. and 1900 or 500 vic
tins were saved between $4,000 and
$4,000 without cost to themselves
The recodiication OF the insurance code.
or an entirely new code. is recommended,
with the statement that the present in
surance laws are Inadequate. and in
many instances, ambiguous"
Regulation of the weight. quality and
manner OF delivery of bread in the Dis
trict is recommended by the Commission
ers, as is the tranforming Of the George
town market into a wholesale point of
distribution for produce brought into the
District by trolley freight from Mary
land and Virginia points.
Under the heading. Municipal Fish
Wharf and Market" the Commissioners
echo these recommendations Of Superin-
tendent Of Weights and Measures Sher-
man:
THE year has shown an increase II 10
per cent in the wholesale trade and 40
per cent in the retail trade over any pre-
v!ous year at this market. Large guam
titles of other food products are available
for this market as soon as adequate
market facilities can be secured. Few OF
the present buildings are fit for business
occupancy, and several are dangerous to
life and limb. new market building /
adequate to accommodate all the %hoic- |
sale business and such retail business as
may develop at this point, having -aii- |
road connection, chilling. freezing and |
storage rooms should be provided.
"It is proposed that the Commissioners |
take such steps as may be necessary to |
secure trolley freight service on all cleo !
trio lines in the District at least between |
midnight and a m, and during such |
other hours as may prove advisable !
Washington's local produce markets are |
now supplied. In the main. by wagon from
a radius of about twenty miles. With |
trolley and freight and switches to every |
market we can feed the markets by troll |
ley from a radius, in some directions, OF !
fifty miles. with a greatly increased sup |
ply of goods at lower cost.
Savings in Markets.
1.-THE greatest savings to be made for
the consumers Of the District are TO De |
gained through better organization OF the
wholesale markets. The wholesale dis !
trict is now badly located, being isolated
from either railway or water transporta'
tion facilities. location should be
found where both railway and water
transportation are available. and ade-
Quate and up-tO-date facilities for stor- !
age, refrigeration and delivery OF prod |
ucts should be provided.
The District should maintain an agency |
whereby the public may be kept promptly |
and accurately informed of the true
state Of the market for foodstuffs. Such |
a service would enable the public ~
buy far more itnelligently than Is now
possible, and will be welcome to the
better class OF dealers of the District, |
who, II they undertake to conduct such
a service for themselves, do so at con-
siderable personal risk
Treating of Fairgrounds, the report
contains the following recommendations:
That the playground department be
made a department of recreation OF
public welfare departments in the DIS
trict of Columbia.
That swimming pools be established In
several sections of the city and moro
attention be paid to teaching the ooys
and girls to swim.
That provision be made for indoor
and evening work"
Fire Loss Increases.
The fire loss for the year was $54.llS' |
an increase of S5I0 al over last year.