Evening star., 1919-12-01

ceding year was $2s2,4s0.ss. 1t was
derived from the following sources:
Motor vehicle tags, $1s2.057: oper-
ators' permits. $34.42o; miscellaneeun n
licenses. $1176so.03: transfers, $s1.so;
steam engineers. $123.
Work Of the DisbursinE Once.
The total amount expended by the
disbursing office of the District dur
ing the year was $14.132.733.9b. the
report says the work Of this office
shows a steady increase. A total OF
119.047 checks were issued during sne
last fiscal year, an increase OF Ao''S9
over the preceding year. ~.
The total expenditures OF the DIS
trict purchasing office during the last
fiscal year amounted to $2.549 .695. 3d.
This Office buys all supplies. materials
and equipment for the Dfstrict gov.
ernment. An inventory on June ~
last disclosed that the city had stock
to $272.791.39.
Special Statute Of Limitations.
In connection with the annual re-
port of the corporation counsel, the
Commissioners renew their recon-
mendation for a special statute OF no.
tice and limitation in personal injury
cases. such as exists In other cities.
"Such law" the report states.
works no injustice to the persons
injured and will result in great saw
ing to the District of Columbia.
Report ON Insurance.
The superintendent of insurance re-
ports that the total amount OF pre-
miums paid in the District 1o1 tne
total losses paid, $4.269.7s7,25. This
total of premiums is an increase OF
s1434.18022 over 1917. and the losses
Is an increase over the same period
of $977,6s1.43.
s,,hneits dne p table showing the total
amount Of fire insurance premiums
and losses in the District from l9OZ 10
1918 The total Of premiums Is given
as s13.116,94422, and the losses PAID:
s4.1s9.9l9.0S This is percentage VI
80.
Increase in Insurance.
Continuing, the report of the su-
perintendent of insurance reaas:
"The amount of insurance written
during the year exclusive OF casuai.S'
se.so2.575sss oe: TINS ssa sao"S 81 over an 1917.
The assets of all insurance companies
and associations transacting business
in the District of Columbia on De-
cember 81, 1918, amounted to ~ zoI.-
eeO.1S7.77: liabilities. $8,056. .sl1.SS3:2
surplus, including capital, $l'2oo'4's'-
794.50." -r-
wefrhts and Measures. @
The Commissioners transmit to
Congress in their report the recon-
mendation of George M. Rooerts, su-
perintendent of weights ana meas
ures. that the law under which MS
office operates be revised. His recon-
mendation follows:
..The weights and measures law lor
the District is in need of revision. Tho
pr esent law, passed more than twenty
years ago. is inadequate, for the pro-
lection of the public. There are now
pending in both the House and Sen
ate measures that, if enacted into
law without impairment, will correct
many of the weaknesses. denciencles
and omissions of the present law. The
present system of charging fees 1or
making inspections of Weighing ana
measuring devices is especially OBJ.
should be repealed at the earliest date
possible." The Commissioners pre-.
cede this recommendation with the
following excerpt from Mr.. Roberts
report:
Forty-Six Prosecutions.
.'On account of the high cost of
necessaries of life much time was de-
voted by this Office to the work of
making investigations. regarding the
sale of commodities by short weight
and measure, and inspectors paid
close attention to this branch Of the
sonal property, the report says:
.EAL PROPERTY. -
ation act approved September 1, 1916
tate in the District of Columbia shall
estate assessment for the fiscal year
.....,................ 2O6. .513 .666 90
...... 414slo. es1 90
o,<AS'1o0.od
ID public utility plants made
It in 1OSO. o,lo<'Ssf.W
!. .................... $lo5,.W
-. .................... 11,5A49O
improvements of.............. 7.424. .s77.00
.soNAL PROPERTY.
three different classes Of assessment.
# n per cent on household furniture
welry. boats, vehicles, horses. etc, or
: personal property. Second, from
ust companies. and on gross earnings
operations. The third, from the tax
leys loaned and invested, bonds and
nown as intangible personal property.
Mount of tax levied on personal prop
1919:
Assessment. Tax.
assessed valuation. $56. .226, 51O50 $S43, ,397 SO
gross earnipgs...... 1,32S, ,6O2S3 26,572.O0
gross earnings less
+. oSo,411.S0 S4,SS0.4o
earnings. s............ 2,23S, ,72900 89.549.16
fnings. ............, 2,491,245O0 90, $50 so
nings. 1,761. .06471 sS, ,053.24
Company, at 8 per
lz,Uot.tl OU4. 10
observation-disclosures. 2.Sl1,31 los, ,6T9. .02
1SS. Z,SUU,5O.SS
gross earnings from
1S.USO.UO .4S5.OO
IS receipts. s.......... Till. 80 r2S4, ,443. 81
le personal property
4SS,0JU.l0 LIZ ,0Sl.V
OF per cent on
2e3, sos, 1850 $50, o,519.34
al property. s7o. ses 1s 2.ez5;151o4
-, a~ ----. --------
. OlS,S44.fS
. 1U,S
spection Of weighing and. measuring
devices. There were forty-six prosecu-
tions, and fines or forfeitures amount
ing to $735 imposed in forty-five cases.
Much fraud in, the sale Of ice has pre-
vailed, but this department made every
possible effort to correct the evil. 1t
is believed that a law prohibiting the
sale Of ice in any manner other than
by weight would do much to remedy
the matter. ,..--
>. Much deception in the sale of GER
tain foodstuffs has resulted from the
fact that the weights and measures
law does not contain provision that