Evening star., 1920-12-06

1
law:
The Commissioners believe that the
passage Of the coming law and the
adoPtfon of regulations thereundel
marx a most important and far
reaching step. in the advancement OF
the National Capital, as this law and
tne regulations adopted Hereunder
by conservation Of property values
prevention OF undesirable encroach-
ment Of one class of building upon
another, and consequent promotion OF
the general welfare will better both
the living conditions and commercial
conditions Of the city and aid in its
ment."
$174,219 in Fines.
The report of the corporation coun-
ing $174,219.42 were collected in Po-
ice Court during the fiscal year, as
the result of 36.96G informations
filed against offenders.
The Juvenile Court collected $51,-
960.14 from delinquent husbands for
payment to their families. The cor
porat1on counsel expressed the belief
that an equal sum probably was paid
during the year direct to the families
In cases where court action was sus-
pended.
The report Of the insurance super
tntendent shows that the people OF
the District paid the following
companies during the calendar year
1919: Life, $8.546,205.45: fire and ma
rtne. $2,208, 1850; miscellaneous, ST.
125. 1880. Total, $11,sso,41s.25.
The amounts paid to the people of
the District by insurance companies
were: Life, $s.565.4S4.46: fire and ma
1888. Total, $4.721.5s5.52
The amount of insurance. exclusive
Of casualty, written in the District
during the calendar year 1913 was
$3,ss4,4sS.37s.s5.
Miscellaneous Revenues.
There was collected during 1919
for license fees and miscellaneous
revenues. including reinsurance, $685.
25S.19 and for taxes $133,385.53, max
ing a totalsof $156,643.72.
1.-THE reinsurance tax of $9S7.11 was
the first reinsurance tax collected
partment. It Is creditable to say
that every bill sent out for reinsur-
ance by the department was prompt
ly settled in full, thus bringing into
the revenues Of the department over
$1,000 from these two sources"
Referring to the work OF the
weights and measures office. the Com
misioners urge that Congress enact
at this session the new weight and
measure law for the District, which
passed the House at the last session
ana was favorab1y reported to the
Senate. In regard to this legislation
the Commissioners say:
fhA hi11 hAA4vnom 1a-
now seems likely to do during the
next session, and is Justly enforced,
it will prove OF much benefit both to
consumers and to merchants Of the
District. The bill fs based upon the
principles Of fair dealing. and is in
enforcing by enabling the dealer to
know the quantity Of a commodity he
sells for a given price apd the Gus
toner to know the quantity he re-
ceives for the money he pays. There
are several important provisions In
the bill which are not covered by the
existing statute which will reduce to
the minimum the chance for fraud,
deception. doubt. misunderstanding
and dispute. It is urged that It be en-
acted into law at the earliest date
practicable"
Public Sehool Enrollnenf.
The. total enrolment Of the public
schools during the last school year
was 65,29S. OF this number 45,775
were white and 1s.523 colored. In the
white schools there were 22.Ss5 boys
The total enrolment il an increase
OF 3,05s over the preceding year. The
average daily attendance for the year
During the last school year seventy
eight portable school buildings were
NvaA -.
structures were rented for schools.
The number Of pupils enrolled in
the night schools was 1921.
The outstanding fact in regard to
Fairgrounds here is the eagerness ex-
pressed by the people Of the District
for more Of them." IL the opening
paragraph of a statement on the
quests for additional Fairgrounds
have come from all sections Of the
District.
Pressing Responsibilities.
ITO meet this need is q pressing
responsibility Of the municipal gov
eminent. The development Of whole
some recreation for the children and
youth Of the District is not limited
by lack Of eager desire for it, but for
the lack Of facilities.
Salaries are provided for twenty
two. Fairgrounds for ten months of
the year only. There are no salaries
for directors for January and Feb
ruary. Yet in 129 cities Of the United
States the Fairgrounds are operated
for full twelve months. The nations
capital should not lag behind in this
respect The Fairgrounds should be
open the year round. Through the
generosity Of interested business men
and some volunteer work on the part
of directors this past year four of the
twenty-five Fairgrounds were kept
open on pleasant days during the