The Washington herald., 1915-12-09

Debt So
| Amendment Of the loan shark law,
better control of washington's milk
supply, an adequate police and frs-
mans pension fund, regulation Of
hucksters. and better organisation Of
the Wholesale market district are the
main recommendations In the annual
report Of the District Commissioners.
| submitted to Congress yesterday.
They renew the recommends ation
made In their annual estimates. that
| they be vested with all the authority.
power. duties and discretions'' now
divided between the Board Of Educa-
tion. Board Of Charities. board of
children's guardians, and. several other
legislative branches Of the District
government The Advancement of effi-
cheney and economy are given as the
reasons for these changes.
Assert Lean Law Teo Rigid.
In the number Of services. such as
the Public Library, the Industrial
Home School. the Temporary Home
for former Union Soldiers and Sailors
and the National Training School for
Girls. the Commissioners ask that they
be clothed with the power of making
al appointments, IeaOU tno report.
A feature of the report Is the recon-
mendation that the loan shark law be
amended 20 as to provide for the
carrying on Of the business under
strict regulation. Although the Dis
trtct authorities played an important
part in having the loan shark bill en-
acted. they now feel that It 10 too
rigid. and that the business can be
made legitimate under careful SUPER
vision.
The strict enforcement of the loan
shark law" reads the report. has
worked a great hardship upon many
needy persons. There 10 no place with
in the District to which such people
may apply for . small loan"
The indeterminate sentence and parole
OF prisoners sent OccoQuan are urged
by the Commissioners. In referring to
commitments to Occoquan, the report
states: Recommendation Is made that
the law be amended to authorize di.
rect commitments to the farm in place
OF the present method Of round about
committent through the Washington
Asylum Hospital and jail As in form
er reports. emphasis Is laid upon the i'm
portance Of the indeterminate sentence
and parole law, in place OF the present
unsatisfactory system of short definite
sentences, which result frequently in the
same person being sentenced a number
Of times within a year"
In renewing recommendation for an
nual instead OF trienniai Assessment of
real estate. the report states: THE
Commissioners are In favor Of and rec
ommend legislation providing for yearly
assessments A triennial assessment or
an assessment over any series OF years
Is applicable to localities where values
change but little from year to year. In
all the larger cities. however. 1t has been
found to be better administration to have
yearly assessments.
Pension Funds DeplorabIe.
"Is property be assessed each year. |
the period Of appeal will become well
known. and in case of any unequal as
sessments or changes in values, the |,
remedy can be applied the following |
year instead of waiting three years. as
Is now the case" |
The board also recommends a law to
require the true consideration to be ex-
pressed in deeds and the actual loans |
secured by real estate to be recited In |
deeds of trust. such deeds not to be en-
tered Of record in the ONCE OF the re-
corder of deeds unless this Information
be contained therein in the form Of af-
fidavits.
iremen's pension fund Is characterized
as "deplorable" by the Commissioners.
rhe report says: THE insufiiciency OF |
he fund provided for the relief Of those. |
Who. after years Of self-sacrificing devo-
ion to the public service. should be able |
70 depend upon q grateful community to |
'pare them the privations incident to
heir disability. Is a continual cause Of |
iistress.''
On recommendation Of Health Onicer
Woodward. the Commissioners urge Con-
sress to enact better legislation for the
control OF the milk supply Of the Dis
rict."
THE unorganized and uncomfortable
activities of hucksters is causing a seri-
,us waste Of food products. resulting ulti-
nately in higher prices to consumers"
he report states in recommending that
he huckster be placed on an equal foot
ng with the retail grocer.
Removal OF the wholesale market dis
rict to the vicinity OF the water front In
he southwest section of the city is hint
I'd at in the report, which condemns the
resent location as too far from railroad
II waterway facilities.
Recommend Feeble-minded Colony.
The Commissioners recommend the an
ual registration OF motor boats launches
nd other craft. In addition to the similar
in regard to automobiles.
They point out that a personal tax is
evied against automobiles and other
rotor vehicles in July of each year, but
$ these taxes do not fall due until the
blowing May. many persons dispose of
he vehicles In that time. With an an
ual registration law, such evasions
-ould be practically impossible. 1t is
ointed out.
The annual report of the Board Of Chill
ren's Guardians called attention to the
eed for an institution for feeble minded
hildren in the District. and the Com
nissioners recommend the establishment
of an independent colony for this class
( children"
The Commissioners urge upon Congressl 1
he need for a new Acqueduct Bridge
yer the Potomac and new bridge overi !