Evening star., 1922-12-04
City Heads Report
Stresses Needs
for Funds.
PUBLIC WORKS LAG
AS DISTRICT CROWS
Buildings Overlooking.
Equipment Lacking,
Park Sites Going.

Modification of the Borland law,
which requires property owners IN
the District to pay half the cost OF
street paving, is urged upon Con-
gress by the Commissioners in their
annual report, laid before the Sen
ate and House today.
The city fathers do not outline III
detail just how they believe the OBJ
jectionable law should be revised,
but they characterize it as IN
equitable in its present form.
Enacted in 1914.
This burdensome street paving tax
has aroused the opposition of prac-
tically every trade and civic organiza-
ton in the city since it was enacted
as a rider to an Appropriation bill in
1914
Necessity for larger appropriations
for maintenance of the Free Public
Library and for development of the
branch library service is called to the
attention of the lawmakers by the
Commissioners.
In reporting on the activities OF the
police department the city heads in
dorse the recommendations OF MAI.
Sullivan for more stringent law TO
curb the sale and possession or deadly
weapons.
Hospital Buildings Urged.
Under the heading of charities the
Commissioners pass on 70 Congress
these four recommendations:
Enactment of a comprehensive
statute governing the penal institu-
tions and providing for an indetermi-
nate sentence and parole system.
Additional appropriations for build
ings at the new Gallinger Hospital.
The first buildings, recently COM
held for observation and treatment
because of mental condition. Addi-
tional buildings should be erected un-
til all the patients housed in the old
Washington Asylum Hospital are pro-
vided for.
1T is urged that a nurses home be
erected at the tuberculosis Hospital.
as the nurses and staff must now live
in the general hospital building where
the patients are housed.
1T is recommended that authority
be given the Commissioners to receive
pay pdllcuIS dl luC 4ubS1SoiOciS 4AoS-
pital and at the psychopathic wards
Of the Gallinger Hospital"
Ask Highway Repairs.
Prompt improvement Of the main
suburban highways with sheet asphalt
on a concrete base is declared by the
Commissioners to be the only adequate
for the present unsatisfac-
tory condition of these macadamiZed
arteries of travel.
hv. nf q r
reminded that unless steps are taken
soon to acquire park sites in the
newer portions of the District all of
the desirable land beyond Florida ave-
nue. will have been subdivided for
building purposes.
sioners tell Congress. when the Dis
trict building must be enlarged either
by the construction OF an addition to
the present building or by the pur-
chase of adjacent property.
With the growth of the city. the
activities of practically every depart
ment of the municipal government
have increased, and floor space in the
building is now at premium. With
in the past year each of the three
has given up a part OF
his suite of rooms to make way for
Sewer ExtensiOn Lags.
AS evidence OF the TACT that DIS
trict appropriations have been made
quate in the past few years. the Com
missioners declare in their report that
extension of the sewer system has
been allowed to lag considerably be-
hind the growth of the community.
Touching upon the continuous and
rapid increase in automobiles. the
engineering problems which
will make the regulation of traffic
easier. 1t is understood they have in
mind the appointment of an advisory
of District officials and
citizens versed in traffic problems to
handle the situation.
The report states that the fire de-
partment Is badly in need Of more
motor apparatus, and the hope is ex-
pressed that Congress will make gen.
erous appropriations for this purpose
in the near future.
for the fire department to maintain
sixty horses for emergency service
when the motor engines break down
or become in need of repair. While
all but few of the companies have
been motorized. the department has
no relief motor engines.
Would Centralize Authority.
The Commissioners tell Congress
they believe a lack of centralized au-
at the District building was
the cause of the controversy during
the year between the Board of Chill
dren's Guardians and the Industrial
Home School trustees, which resulted
in the closing Of the latter institu-
tion.
They recommend that all charitable
and correctional work, including the
work Of these child-caring agencies.
should be co-ordinated under the di-
rection Of the Commissioners. so that
when differencies arise 1t will be pos
sible for the Commissioners to secure
action.
The Commissioners incorporate in
their report the contention of the
Board of Charities that ''it was a fatal
error to provide for the erection of
the proposed institution for feeble
at Blue Plains, adjoining the
Home for the Aged and Infirm. It is
that Congress recon-
slider its decision in this matter.
Cash Receipts. S2s,104,7es.
The report shows the District Roy.
ernment was In excellent financial
at the close of the fiscal
year on June 30 last. On that date
the city had a net bonded indebted
ness of only $l66,234.38 and surplus
revenues amounting to $4,677347. 90.
after making all bookkeeping adjust
ments.
The cash receipts of the District of
Columbia for the fiscal year ended
June 80. 1922, amounted to $23,104,-
1886 made up as follows: Revenue
II the District Of Columbia from taxes
and miscellaneous sources. $1a.s17.-
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