The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-07
Legal Standards Urged.

| these cases are undisposed of and &C
| ton i'm many others is suspended await
Ing the result.
Legal Standards Urged.
80 far as the cases have proceeded.
. there has been demonstrated the need
for a law better regulating the milk
| supply of this District. When the milk
! dealer defends himself in court by evil
! denco undertaking to show that even
the vilest forms Of fifth may properly be
! introduced into milk in any quantity
! so long as their detection is Impossible
! by the senses of sight, taste, and smell,
it is manifest that statutory definitions
| as to what constitutes adulterated milk
would be of great advantage"
Attention is again directed to the
| need of legislation providing for the
payment of police and fire pensions.
90 the total deficiency in the pension
| fund amounted to s55.629.96.
Immediate and permanent provision
should be made for financing these
funds" the Commissioners say. "the
benefiCiSTies being. for the most part, |
dependent upon these pensions for
support, feel keenly the loss necessi- |
tated by reason of the insufficiency
Of the sou!1:s OF revenues to dis
charge in fun the pension allowance
New Pension Law Asked.
II il had not been for the collec- |
tions during the fiscal year of over
$4,000 through the enforcement of
the new excise law. there would have |
been a much larger deficiency. 1t is |
believed that the present laws should !
be amended so that hereafter the |
Commissioners will be authorized to |
include in their annual estimates such 4
sums as may De needed for the pay |
ment of police and fire pensions"
Recommendation is again made that 4
all the appropriations for the eN-
renses of the District Government be !
included in the District appropriation \
bill. Under existing practice District |
Items appear in many bills, and in no |
one can ne FOUND the total amount OF |
local appropriations.
The total amount of assessment for
the year, it is stated, was s377. 4iS. $3.50 1
On real property the assessments |
amounted to $G45. I2i1A. and on person. /
al property. 81, 219. 1880.
Tho Commissioners recommend that /
persons engaged in business whose
stock and implements of trade are less !
in value than 81. 900 be exempted from
taxation on such property. This. they !
say. would place the small dealer on |
the same taxable status as the small !
householder whose property enjoys an
exemption of $1,000 under the personal
tax law.
Salary Increases Recommended.
Directing attention to the magnitude /
of the work of the office of the Cor
poration Counsel, the Commissioners
recommend the following salary in
creases: First assistant from $500 to .
5000; second assistant from $500 TO
$500; stenographer from $500 to 81,
Coz. Recommendation is made also
that two assistant corporation counsels
be provided for at $500 and sl.4Oo re-
spectively, and new stenographer at
LOO.
Insurance business in the District. the
report states, is constantly and steadily
increasing. During the calendar year
1913 there was paid by residents OF
the District for all kinds OF insurance,
81. $40. 7Gs.G Tho losses paid on District
property amounted TO S2.576.1O9s9.
Attention Is directed to the recon-
mendation of the superintendent or po-
lice that four additional privates be APP
pointed and detailed to special service
crime. There has been, ii is stated. an
increase of but two I'm the police force
in tho last eight years.
Fire Apparatus Needed.
Liberal appropriations are urged for
the purchase of motor fire apparatus.
The Commissioners say that while GER
tain progress has been made along this
line. the project has not been as lib
orally appropriated for as the neces-
sitv for such improvement warrants.
They declare also they feel that the
officers and men of the Fire Depart
ment. who at present are allowed only
one day off in five, should be granted
more time II fifty additional men were
provided for, one dav off in every four
could be allowed. and il is tho desire OF
III" Commissioners TO accomplish this
result.
Additional bathing beach facilities arc
recommended. in tn" event II is decided /
by Congress TO retain the present plant. |
Declaring that a new municipal hos
pitst' is tho most urgent need Of tho
whole system OF charitable and correc-
tionsA institutions the commission OK
presses the hope that during tho pres
nnt session Congress will provide for
beginning work on the buildings.
Attention is directed TO an item In the
estimates for the preparation OF plans
for the Improvement OF the harbor
front. It will soon become necessary to
rebuild the whaTves along the Washing
ton channel. II is stated. and when this
is done It should be along definite
lines.
Freight Trolley Service.
Approval is given by the board to
the recommendations OF John H. Sher-
man. superintendent OF weights. meas
ures. and markets concerning the ss-
adjustment OF freight trolley serv-
ice for bringing produce into Wash
inEton from neighborinS states,
new fish market and a District news
agency whereby the public may he
kept promptly and accurately in
formed of the true state of the mar
ket. The board recommends also the
enactment OF Legislation authorizing
them to adopt regulations governing
the weight, quality. and manner OF
delivery Of bread.
Following are the Commissioners
recommendations in regard to the
Fairgrounds department:
That the Fairgrounds department
be made department of recreation
Of "A public welfare department.
That swimming pools be established
in several sections of the city, and
that more attention be paid to teach
ing boys and girls to swim.
That the salaries of the employees
be increased to correspond with the
salaries OF the public school teachers.
That authority be obtained to make