Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07

eompanies nay . tax Of ~ per cent on
their net premium receipts. which are
calculated ~ . fonow LII LIZ - os .oiscv-
holders in the District of Columbia;
nniscellaneous and fire, gross premiums
less return premiums and reinsurance on
District business.
Department Of Markets, Weights
and Measures.
Dealers are coming to realize that the
main function Of this division Is to pro-
tect from mistakes and ignorance in the
use Of weights and measures, rather
than tho mere detection Of fraud. The
dealers now demand an extension OF the
scope Of this work. Duo to lack Of ade-
quate force or equipment, tho weights
far behind the standard Of the times.
Coal.
With the coming Of the auto truck,
scales Of greatly increased capacity are
required IN the coal industry. Most Of
the scales now being put in are twenty
tons capacity or over We have no
apparatus for testing beyond one ton
Apparatus for tests up to sixteen tons
is needed
Bread.
There is demand for regulation gov
erning the weight, quality and manner
Of delivery Of bread in the District, and
the superintendent recommends legtsla-
ton establishing standards of weight.
and giving the Commissioners power to
regulate qualities and methods Of de-
livery.
Inspection Work and Revenue.
The scales. weights and measures
sealed numbered 21,2S7, for which fees
amounting to $S.428.05 were collected;
1913 were condemned and destroyed; 514
scales were condemned for repair; 3S8
inspections were made on request and
within the time limit, for which no fees
were collected: 100 inspections were
made for the United States government
and Lightweight for the District of Co.
Conditions Of Work.
Conditions of work are extremely I'M
favorable. The force is inadequate in
spectors are poorly paid. and forced to
give a great deal Of overtime work for
which they receive no compensation. No
in any year since 1907. In addition, they
must work with inadequate and anti
quated equipment.
Prosecutions.
Iwenty-six cases were presented to the
Police Court for prosecution, and fines
to the amount Of $s05 were imposed.
which is an increase of six in the num-
Der Of cases and SOS in fines as COM
pared with the prosecutions and fines
for 1913. During ten years 554 cases
have been presented to the court. and
the total fines and forfeitures amounted
to 1924.
Markets.
The Georgetown market is badly sit
uated for retail purposes and should be
transformed into wholesale receiving
station and market for the handling of
produce received from Virginia and I'D
per Maryland by trolley freight The
Eastern and Western markets are doing
a reasonably satisfactory business, han
dicapped by lack Of adequate funds for
maintenance and repair. Conditions at
the Haskell Produce market are most
excellent. New market shelters RECENTLY
provided at that point are already over
crowded and an appropriation for adoi-
tonal shelters is needed.
Municipal Fish Wharf and Market.
The year has shown an increase Of
Is per cent in the wholesale trade and
40 per cent In the retail trade over
any previous year at this market.
Large quantities Of other food prod
ucts are available for this market as
soon as adequate market facilities can
be secured. Few of the present build
fngs are fit for business occupancy. and
several are dangerous to life and limb.
A new market building adequate to
accommodate all the wholesale BUSH
ness and such retail business as may
develop at this point, having railroad
connection. chilling, freezing and stor-
age rooms should be provided.
Trolley Freight.
1t is proposed that the Commission
ers take such steps as may be neces-
sary to secure trolley freight service
on all electric lines in the District, at
least between midnight and am, 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 freight and
switches to every market, both mu-
nfcfpai and private, we can feed the
markets by. trolley from a radius, in
some directions, Of fifty miles, with a
greatly increased supply of goods at
lower cost.
Wholesale Markets.
The greatest savings to be made for
the consumers Of the District are to be
gained through better organization of
the wholesale markets Tho wholesale
district Is now badly located, being iso-
lated from either railway or water
transportation facilities. A location
should be found where both railway
and water transportation are available,
and adequate and up-to-date facilities
for storage. refrigeration and delivery
OF products 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 food
stuns. Such service would enable
the public to buy far more intelligent
ly than is now possible, and will be
welcome to the better class Of dealers
OF the District. who, II they undertake
to conduct such service for them
selves, do SO at considerable personal
risk.
Financial Summary, Markets.
Income from all the District markets
combined amounted to $31.356.76: ex-
penses for lighting, hauling refuse, re-
pairs to markets, fuel, cleaning, sup
niles and Ralarfea amounted IN e1o