Evening star., 1918-12-02
WOULD STOP ASSESSING
INTANGIBLE PROPERTY
In Recommending Increased Water
Facilities City's Population 1s
Placed at 526,24S.

the District.
Local revenues over and above all
charges made under the half-and-ha1f
act have been growing at a rapid rate
during the past three years, the re-
port shows. At the end Of the fiscal
year 1916 there was an unexpended
balance in the United States Treasury
Of $1,ss0.21s.so:- end Of 1917. $67s,-
1877 and end Of the past year, ST.
226,732.79, for a total Of $3,2so,6s ,6s5.4s.
Reason for Surplus.
The cause Of the surplus. It is stated.
is the continuance Of the tax rate OF
$3.50 and the new tax upon tntangi-
bles.
The Commissioners report is a COM
the several branches OF the municipal
government during the fiscal year
ended June 80 last. It differs from
previous reports, however, In that 1t
touches upon certain added. duties
that devolved upon the local govern
ment heads and their subordinates In
the course Of the war.
Important legislative recommends
tions, several Of which have been
contained in previous reports, are
submitted. Falling in the latter class
is the proposal that there be enacted
tax titles to, real estate to go into a
court Of equity and obtain settlement.
Such a law, It is declared. is needed
to preclude willfui evasion Of tax
payments .s sss
For New Markets Law.
sikAyisesthszNesesaaasn4atiopsfsr fsr a
new weights and markets 1Aw 50. re-
newed. Need Of a better law for the
regulation Of the sale of firearms is
emphasized. This need. however, is
no greater, say the Commissioners,
than the need Of a stricter enforce
ment Of the present concealed-weapon
law In the courts.
Another renewed recommendation
is for the establishment in the Dis
trict of an Institution for the care OF
feeble minded persons. Legislation to
provide supervision for the so-called
''baby farms" also is urged.
Acquisition Of the Klingle Valley
tract for park purposes once more is
recommended to Congress.
The water situation is discussed at
length. the report showing that the
total mean daily consumption for the
year was 59,606.970 gallons, as COM
pared with 51,454,0o0 gallons for the
preceding year. The Commissioners
say they believe the present supply
Of water to be ample only for popu-
conserved. In another section Of the
report they estimate the population
at more than 100000.
Estimate the Population.
They reach this estimate by adding
1906 per cent to the population of the
District in October. 1917. At that
time 1t was 3s5.4s7. The number of
street car fares jumped 1906 per cent
from October. 1917. to October. 1918.
and the District heads figure this
would be a fair rate Of increase by
which to determine the city's growth.
It indicates total population in Oc-
tober last Of 526.24S.
High compliment is paid by tho
Commissioners to the work of Maj.
Daniel J. Donovan. as acting adjutant
general for the draft in the District; /;
Clarence r. Wilson. as food adminis-
traitor; William H. Baldwin. as chair
man Of the District Council OF De-
in important war work in the Dis
trict.
Text Of Report.
The full text Of the report submitted
TO SOUSISSS IOQay 1OllOH6.
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives Of the United States Of Ameri-
ca in Congress assembled:
AS required by clause in section
IL Of IAN act providing permanent
form Of government for the District
Of Columbia" approved Juno II. 1873
GO Stat. 10s). and by section . Of
"An act making appropriations for
sundry civil expenses Of the govern
ment for the fiscal year ending June
30. 1915, and for other purposes" ap-
proved August 1. 1914. the Commits
sioners Of the District OF Columbia
submit herewith a report. Of the OIL
cial operations of the government of
the District Of Columbia during the
fiscal year ended June 80. 1913.
The Commissioners have prefaced
this report with an abstract Of the
portions Of the reports of the several
branches Of the District government,
which they deem Of exceptional In
terest to the public, and with COM
ments and recommendations which
the inexperience suggests for i'm
provement and progress. in the ad-
mIN19GI8Il0u' 0I tu0 HAAAE6 ISU0I9Q
to their supervision.
16r. Gardner Sworn In.
On October 9. 1917. Commissioner
W. Gwynn Gardiner took the oath Of
omce as one Of tho Commissioners OF
the District Of Columbia. for the term
ending July Is. 1919. and entered on
duty as such. as successor to former
Commissioner Oliver Peck Newman,
who had resigned to accept an APP
pointment as an officer In the Ma
tional Army. On the same day Com
missioner Louis Brownfow was
chosen president of the board.
During the fiscal year under con-
alteration the Board Of Commission
err consisted Of Commissioner Louie
Hrownlow, Commissioner John @. D
knight and Comnissioner Oliver Peck
afnoe OctohSr last Of the flret-naEned
761z11s4 q 3ssssssass '1s0s