Evening Star Newspaper, December 6, 1886, Page 3

_—_ , MONDAY, eS eel: ai THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. C€. UBLE SHEET THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT. THE COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. ‘They Render an Account of Their Stew- ardship. STATEMENT OF THE DISTRICT FINANCES—INCKEASE OF ‘THE POLICE FORCE ASKED—MORE SCHOOL FACILITIES \NERDED—OTHSK IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIANS. ‘The District Commisstoners to-day handed their annual report to the President. ‘The part relating to the departments In charge of Commissioners ‘Webb and Wheatley was completed Saturday eve- ning, and made public then. ‘The following 1s the text of Commissioners Webb and Wheatley’s re port, to which Col. Ludlow’s report of operations of the engineer department, printed elsewhere in ‘Tux Stax, Was appended to-day: OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE Disteicr oF CoLcMsta, December 4, 1886. The President: Pursuant to the requirements of the act of © viding a permanent form of roment for the District of Columbia approved ne 11th, 1878, the Commissioners of sald Dis- trict hereby report through you to Congress thetr oficial doings in detall for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1886. “The receipts and expenditures during that period are reported by the Auditor as follows: RECEIPTS. Balance on hand July 1, 1885. General taxes. Licenses Markets Rent of District property. | Anleomemptta Fees for tax certificates. Perinit fees, Engineers office. Building permits... Pound tees: Material turaished.-~-7~ Sale of old material. Sale of old horses. Labor and sale of prodiicti efor Sale of products, Washingion Asy- Use of steaim fire engine. -2220220102.2 Hail fees received from inspector and meters Forfeiture of recognizance. Forfeited bar deposits (license piles and has charge of the assessment records of the District, the issue of District licenses and the custody of all official bonds of the District, The appropriation for his office was $13,600; the ex. ures were $13,587.26; leaving unexpended ice Of $12.74, z GENERAL ASSESSMENTS OF REAL PROPERTY. General assessments of real property in the Dis- trict are made every three years, under act of March 3, 1883, (U. 8. Stat. at L., vol. 22, p. 568) bY twelve assessors, for a8 many assessment districts, who give bond in $2,000 each and receive % for each day they are necessarily em ‘They are required to make their returns’ ‘the first Monday of June, and for two months there- after, with the assessor of the District of Colum- bia, they compose a board of equalization to hear complaints and increase or diminish the assess- ments so made, but they must_not reduce the ag- gregate value of the real 'y below the aggre- ate of the returns of the assessors, and must nally complete the assessment and report 1t to the Commissioners before the first Monday of Au- gust. The assessed value is the determination of the assessors as to “the true value” of the pi erty “in lawful money.” From this assessmen! when thus completed and there is n0 ap peal, and it cannot be changed until the next suc- ceeding triennial assessment. ‘The valuation of buildings and other improvements in existence at the time the general assessments are made 1s in- cluded in such assessments, and the value of those thereafter erected 1s added’ by the assessor of the District under sec. 12of the act aforesaid, when they reacb an asseadble stage in thetr construc- tion. ‘There does not seem to be any good reason for the requirement in the present law that assessors shall be residents of the assessment district for Which they, are appointed: on the contrary, It ould seem to be a better public policy to requite that assessors should not reside in the districts they assess. ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY. Assessments of personal property in the District of Columbia are made under the “‘Act for the sup- Port of the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, and for other pu ” approved March 3, i877 (U. 8. Stat. at L, vol. 19, p. 396), as modified by act amendatory of said act approved April 3, 1878 (U. & Stat, at 1 vol. 20, p94) which changes dates when tax shall’ be payabie and provides for re- Yision of personal assessinents, and an order of the Com: mers of December 21, 1878, which con- Solidated the three offices of assessors theretofore into one office the duties of which are dis- Advertising... Auctioneer’s retarn. ‘Surplus from sale inty bonds. Water taxes and rents Washington redempti Spect: fund. Redemption of ates, Firemen's reilet fund, ‘act February Repayments to appropriations...... Received from United States appro- Priation February 25, 1885......... Received from United States on ac ‘count of completion sewerage sys- ‘Total receipts. EXPENDITURES. Improvements and repairs, D.C.,... Brilges, D.C. Washington Acviuim B.c: Buildings Washington Asyi jum, D.C. Georgetown Almshouse, D.C...7...... 1,788 50 Government Hospital for Insane, D.G. 52705 30 Reform School, D. =. 36,616 00 oners, D.C - 3193 51 Reltet of thi = =. 14,198 05 Columbia Hospital id children, D. 15,000 00 Women’s Chri 1G, 5,000 00 ational Association for Destitute Coi- ‘ored Women and Children, D.C 6,500 00 Building for National Assoctatio Destitute Colored Women and Chil- ren, D.C. Children’s Hospital, D.C. Saint Ann's Infant Asylum, i Maintenance of Church Orphanage, D.C Industrial Home School, D.C........... Building tor Homeopathic Hospital, Salaries” and Contingent“ Expenses Offices, D.C estccerecscesceese 151,975 50 Expenses of assessing’ Heal Property, ie cae 5 Bullaiags Stetropouitan Police, Be 0 0 jetropolitan Poilee, D.C. {000 00 Malntenanee Public Order, D.C ONG 0 Fire Department, D.C & 106,762 97 Telegraph and Telephone Service, BUG. “14,564 si Courts, 14,308 69 Pubite Schools, DC aa % Buildings and Grounds Pubile Schools, D. a Misceiianeous Expenses, D.6 ‘Health Department, D.C. Interest and Sinking Fund, Di Contingent Expenses, D.C. Completion of Sewerage Systel ‘Redemption of Certificates of edness, D.C. existt changed by the assessor. GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF 1886. ‘The assessor reports that the valuation of prop- erty in the District according to the assessment of 1886, Was, on June 30th, 1886, as follows: Property of the District columbia. City of Washington: Real property ajd improvements thereon. 388.486 Personal p - 11,865,705, City of Georgetown: Real property and improvements s thereon. 4,741,540 Personal > "35,530 os tarnan Portion of District teal property and improvements, agri- eeu . 9,729,731 roperty in icultural. 3,442,348 Personal property. 33010 ‘The non-taxable property is located as follows: city of Washington: Property of the District i ES Gi rty exempt.-.00000. 5,23 Property Ce $109,062,787 City of town: Property of the District of Columbia... $165,839 SB 488 132,987 Suburban portion of the District: rty of the District ‘BUILDINGS. ‘The assessor reports that there are 34,750 houses in the District, excepting government buildings, located as follows: : City of Washington......... 086 City of Coorgetown 2,540 Suburban. 3,115 LICENSES. He also reports that 3,948 licenses were issued during the year for which $156,455.72 were re- ceived. This was an increase of 257 licenses and 1,809.72 in revenue over the preceding year. Of {hese licenses sao were for retall and 506 for whole. sale liquor dealers. The office also prepared 5,604 certificates of the condition of tax accounts pro- Yided for by act of Congress of February 6, for which the District received $2,802. Water Department, D.C. Guarantee Fund D.C.act June 11,1878 Refunding Erroneously Paid Taxés..... ‘Washington Special Tax Fund. ‘Redemption of Tax-Lien Certificates... 5,636 99 ‘Redemption of Assessment Certieates "216 54 ‘Washington Redemption Fund....-.... 97 28 Policemen’s Rellet ae 2534 241 De ‘Guarani Fund Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1885, Omitted from Statement for ‘that year... ‘Net Balance... as foil Subject to general expenses. $04 890.53: completion of sew, erage system, $41,435.99; Water fund, $53,546.70; cial tax Tund, '§4707.07; Washington redemp- m rund, $1.2 redemption of tax-llen cer- Uneates, £2Nine3; redemption of assessinent cer. Ufleates, $272.53; guarantee fund, D. C. contract- rs act Sune 11, 1878 $11,374.74; policémen's re- ef fund, $4,878.29; flremen’s relief fund, $2,063.57; redemption of Peunsyivania avenue paving cer. tiflcates, $919.29; filling grounds south of the Capitol, 3, Sales of public property, $449.12; expenses, act March 3, 1873, $20.31; fire department, 49 cents; Surplus fund,’ $5.50; total, ‘The drawbacks recelved in payment of general taxes for which the District clalins credit have not ‘Deen entered as part of the Distriet revenues, be- eause the Commissioners have not yet been in- formed by the First Comptroller that credit there for had been given, and they therefore are not in cluded in the above statement; but the provision An the District appropriation act of July 9, 1 ‘seems to have so plainly indicated the purpose o Gongress in the premises that the Comialssioners anticipate no objection by ghe accounting officers Of the Treasury to this credit. ‘The justice of this legislation and the tntention of Co: in passing it seem very clear to the Commissioners. "Under the system of taxation the Works the private propert? ‘aijeining ons 01 wate’ pro) adjoining and. Gialiy "benefitted by’ those improvements. tes charged, pursuant to law, with one-third of the cost thereof and the District of Columbia and the United States were equitably chargeable, with the remaining two-thirds in equal parts. These Special assessments, as ‘tmade, contained so me" ¥ errors that Congress, In response to the Sets June 1) 1978 (U.S. 8 at Large .e Sets gune ior 1978 (U-S. State Pol. 400), and Juke 27, 1879 (U.S Stats at Large, VOL 21, p. 30), which authorized the Commissioners to ‘and all general taxes due to July 1, 1877. Congress also, by a clause in the District appre: Priation act of March 3, 1881 (U. 8. Stats. at Large, ‘VoL. 21, p. 466), and subsequent District “appropri. ation acts, provided that one-half of the umount of these drawbacks received in payment of gene fe3 shall be regarded as part of the reve- ques of the District. Every dollar of thes drawbacks used tn pay- ment of general taxes prevented the payment of That amount in cash, and as those drawbacks $0 used were afterwards valueless to the District, the revenue from taxes was thereby reduced to that extent, and the District was thus compelled to ome eters enna ee Serene acters, eno @rawbacks nted, while it was justly cl Stic with ony one‘halt of thar seuss oes most. It was in recognition of this injustice and Of the obligation of the United States to assume at Jeast an equal amount of that loss with the Dis- trict, that Congress the provisions to re- Yor the quarter ended June ‘30, 2800) which 18 a that said ‘on’ that date amounted to $21,379,400. All of this debt was in- Hi garred betore the caabinhmest ot ao forin Tnment for the District, ‘under which $1,004,000 of eas boea ‘Tue only unsettled debts of the District incurred uring the extstence of the present form of gov- i 8 F fa i 4] HG oie HE i fae LIQUOR LICENSE LAWS. ‘The law respecting the issuing of Hcenses ré mains unchanged and is subject to the same criti- cism that was meted to it in our report for the ear ending June 30, 1886. It is imperatively ecessary that something should be done to make this law more eae to the condition of things in our community or that such matters and others of simflar character should be in some way laced in the hands of the Commissioners that Fhey would have the power to make proper regu- lations concerning them. ‘SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS. ‘The special assessments with which the Com- missioners have to do are for municipal improve- ments of highways under contracts of the late corporation of Washington; contracts of the Board of Public Works, the successor thereof, from its organization April 25, 1871, until its ‘abolition, June 20, 1874; extensions of Same by the Commis- sioners who succeeded that Board; assessment for cost of paving contiguous to street railroad tracks; assessments for benefits from opening alleys, assessments for improvemeat of sidewalks and al- legs under the permit system. ‘The assessments for work done under contracts with the former corporation of the city of Wash- {ngton, and those under contracts with the Board of Public Works, and extensions thereof, are as follows: The others are comparatively ihsigniti- cant in amount, and many are of questionable validity. ‘The ainount of uncollected old corporation as- sessi..cnts can only be estimated, but will not ex- ceed $60,000. They are, with a few exceptior security for an equal amount of “scrip” held by rivate parties. The District has no responsi- ity in the other than that of trustee to collect the assessments from the property against which they are levied, and the pro- ‘ceeds to the holders of the “scrip” which they can- cel when so redeemed. ‘The uncollected ‘assessments for work done under contracts with the Board of Public Works, and extensions thereof, to which the Dis- trict also stands in the felatfon of trustee only, amount to $497,157.36. $405,503.64 of this amount, ‘bearing interest at 10 per centum since 1876 on an. average, are held by the Treasurer of the United ‘States as security for certain: ere cene certificates of indebtedness, called “green! "and all col. lections of such assessments are transferred by the ‘Commissioners to the sald Treasurer, tobe applied in the redemption of those certificates, of which there were outstanding on the 30th of June, 1 with accrued interest thereon, estimat at 180,000. ‘The remainder of the $497,157.38 of special assessments, namely, $91,653.73, with interest at 10 per cent since 1873, on’an average representthe nice Of those assessments, Which are held by private parties, When payments of the debt they Tepresent are made the Comuissioners redeem ‘them upon presentation. If the holders are known, hotice to present them for payment is given, DRAWBACK CERTIFICATES. ‘The gort of the officer in charge of special assessments also includes a statement in reference to the drawback certificates issued by the District, the history of which in general is set forth in thé Preceding part of this report. ‘The total amount of drawback certificiites issued ‘to June 30, 1886, 15 $941,604.48; awaiting evidence of ownership, $11,775.7 & fo: general tax netss79.905 26 as payment fo: genel €8. 823 In payment for special taxes... ++ SASS 74 37 Leaving outstanding. . 3 85 ei dahon i bia ll on si and favorable ‘action is is also required to make out all tax bills. req al ‘The ay itions for his office for the ‘year end-d June 20, 1880, were. ‘4 fe attax ‘The: should be author. szed to ‘this tax with such an abatement of the penaltié interests and costs as would bring it within wer oF Interest of the owners to ay It, or else: should pass such a law as enable the Commissioners to avalid eed. to those Who purse St sales Tor those arrears, “Another ‘of the balance is excessive and ties on the assessment of which was on the it Of the assessor. This officer 1s required by law, in cases where parties subject to assessment fall’ to ‘a@ return of their assess. able , to ite from the best information he can obtain what such return should have been, and to add fifty thereto and collect the amount 80 ‘These estimated assessments form a part of the uncollected taxes, and, as their collection 18 al- most it would seem CAT rea th making up the off of ‘The Commissioners hope to be able to have a critical revision of the tax list, which will elimi- hate all errors correctible without legistation, and that such legislation will be had by Congress as will enabie them to enforce payment of all gen- uine arrears, RECORD OF TAXES IN ARREARS. ‘The lack of a well-arranged record of taxes in arrears is a cause of much inconvenience to the Public by reason of the delay and errors conse- quent u the extended and complicated search necessary in the present state of records to ascertain the condition of unpaid tax sco ‘and also a cause of loss to the District government which cannot lect any arrears overlooked in those examinafions and consequently omitted from the certificates given by the collector in the ‘The have given the subject earn- Commissioners est attention and hope soon to have these records arranged under a conventent system. AUDITOR. ‘The report of the auditor, herewith appended, exhibits in detail the financial transactions of the District, exclusive of those connected with the funded debt during the year and special assess ment lens held by third parties and wholly or Partly paid to the collector of taxes in cash. ‘The appropriations for the support of the audit- or’s office for the fiscal year June 30, 1886, were: $16,200 '300 $16,500 $16,113 05 300 oS Fy ——— 16412 7 Leaving an unexpended ‘ATTORNEY. ‘The attorney for the District of Columbia 1s re- quired to have “charge of and conduct all law business of said District tn all suits instituted by and against the government thereof,” and to “fur- nish opinions fn writing” to the Commissioners whenever requested to do So, and also to, perform Such other professional duties as they may re- quire of him. He has the professional aid of an assistant attorney and a special assistant attor- m ‘The appropriation for his office for the year amounted to $712. The expenditures were AKGL, Unexpended balance $16:.:30, Phe attorney in his report, which ts herewith appended, gives a synopsis of the leading cases to which the District 1s a party hich have en- aged him during the year, and floss still pend- ing, and makes a statement of the other transac- ‘ons of his office. Thirty civil District cases have been disposed of 1n the District supreme court during the year, and 29 new civil cases added during the same period. Eight thousand five hundred_and. twenty-three cases were tried in the Police Court by the special assistant attorney, and 7,733 convictions resulted, ‘The amount of finés imposed was $45,300, further details of which are contained in the ‘accompany- ing report of the special assistant attorney. CORONER. Itis the duty of this officer to hold inquest over persons found dead in the District of Columbia “when the manner and cause of death shall not be already known as accidental or in the course of nature, and to make certain investigationsin cases of abortion.” ‘The appropriations for this oMce for the year were— Salary. Contingent: ‘The expenditures were. Unexpended. seeseee $236 05 le reports that he gave certificates in 491 cases. hese, 139, or 28.31 per cent, were white, and or 71.69 per cent, were colored. ‘The causes of death were as follows: Suicide Homicide. Infanticid Acetdent Diseas>.. He or ‘THE WASHINGTON ASYLUM. ‘The Washington Asylum includes the municipal almshouses and the workhouse of the District. ‘The first embraces accommodation for the care of and the second for confining and utiliziny Brisbnets committed thereto for taltsevions of ae nictpal ordinances of the District. i abpropriation for the support of thisinstitu- tion for the year under consideration were as fol- lows: jupplies and contingen ‘New female work-house. . $11,680 00 ‘38,000 00. 20,000 00 $89,680 00 69,129 02 ‘Tnexpended balance............... $550 98 ‘The inst!tution should be credited with the work done by its inmates. This work mainly consisted of Grading: graveling and cleaning streets, anount- ing to 25,188 days’ labor, worth to the District at least $1 per day; the cultivation of the garden and dairy: the making of 3,700 pieces of wearing ap- parel and bed clothing by female inmates; the re pair by male inmates of 1,204 pair of shoes and 30 Sets Of harness; the making of 444 coffins for burial of paupers, and other {tems amounting in all to $29,686.42 Value in labor. ‘The new female work-house, made by the adap- tation of one of the old naval magazine buildings on the grounds, is admirably suited for the pur- Pose. {t not only furnishes better accommoda- Uons for this class, but relieves the over-crowded main building and removes the evil of confining the male and female prisoners in the same quar- ters. This Work-house 1330x102 feet and three- stories high. Another of the old butldings has been refitted for carpenter shop, and all the out-buildings put in first-class repalr. MILDLY INSANE. ‘The care y the municipal authorities of the mildly insane of the District, as a more econom!- cal means of treating them than in the Govern- ment hospital, and to make room in that institu ton for the treatment of more violent cases, has been mooted, and led to the suggestion that ac- commodations for the purpose be established as a art of the Washington Asylum. ‘This can be readily effected at a small expense by converting one of the magazine houses into fit ‘hospital accommodations for the persons referred to, One of these magazine buildings, as stated above, has been converted into a work-house for female convicts and answers the pu admir- ably. With comparatively littie ‘outlay another of these buildings can be converted into an asylum. for the weakminded and moderately insane. In all work of this kind the labor of inmates of the ‘Work-house is utilized. Work-House.—2,758 prisoners were received in the work-house during the year, with a daily average for the year of 223, niu oa at ot with a dally average of 136, Hospital.—The hospital contained a daily aver- ageot re patients during the year. ne Commissioners have to report again that the site of the asylum 1s unfit for the purpose to ‘which it 1s devoted. Aside from the gurroundi the public fall being on one side. and the work house on the other, the location 1s very unhealthy. ‘No one who visits this institution will hesitate to conclude that a cl to @ more suftable and healthy situation would be much for the better. In addition, the place 1s objectionable to the re- 5 poor wl Such near proximity to the work-house and District jail offensive. A sa- lubrious, retired suburban situation should be se- lected, and a plain, comfortable bull erected, suitably a the comfort and health the unfortunutes Who ure tebe. ite ‘occupants, ‘This can be done without great ex; and the Denefits to be derived from it would be in Ssetal either as am uaaition to the wort-oces ae an ion to house or asa home for inebriates and incurables, INDUSTRIAL HOME SCHOOL. ‘This institution 1s located east of the Tenley- town road, near the city of Georgetown. Its ob- Jeet is toeducate in the elementary principles of hand! in connection with ordinary mental studies, i between the ages of & and 15 ‘without sucli instruction, asa Such children are admitted upon order of the court or request others, after due itvestigation as 10 merits of each case. ‘The institution was ‘March 12, 1872, under the act of May providing tor the creation of corporations In the t by general ‘The sites for the Of this institution and the contiguous land used by 16 to the Dis. trict of Columbia. This Was ree Toad, about two miles north of ‘the city of Wash- ington, and has for its object the reformation of Yearsof age liable to punishment by boys under = Se coven a earthy rk rea ieee enema che Heerm earl te May 6, 1870 (VOL 16, p19, US ‘Stat. at L.). Itis Fe A Ae a eS of Col cou consisting of even persons ated lum! mi of by the President of the Unit ‘States, on recom- Mendation of the Attorney General (VoL. 19, p. 49, Era giao Ly and te conmaling re officer of the Senate ae of four years, and Polnted by the (Zb-y P. of Columbia ez officio. ax ‘The ation for the support: ‘Of the institution for the year ‘amounted to.......... ‘The expenditures Were... Leaving an une: ‘The school should be $2,111.26, which has been ury to the credit of the Uni trict of Columbia in equal ‘as required the District appropriation act February 2° 2885, and was derived from the labor Perfo on the farm and in the shops connected with the ‘An a) jon of $15,000 was also made in suid act of Pebruury 28 seo; for the erection of & Rew family building, and an appropriationot #4,500 for a tank-house, aid the improvements will soon ‘One hundred and six boys were received during the year, and 73 have become entitled to an hon- ‘Eleven hundred and eighty-five boys have been Tygclved into the institution ‘since its incorpora- balance of, further credit ited in the Treas- States and the Dis- 5 with ‘RELIEF OF THE POOR. The $15,000 appropriated for the reliet of the Poor was applied as follows: Pay of physicians to the poor. + $5,160 00 Medicines for poor... 0 ee Sis oe Central dispensary..-- 2,400 00 Women’s dispensary...2 000000000000... “7150 00 Homeepathic dispensary medicines... 240 00 Aged Women’s Home.. + 250 00 Right lodgt zing. ech as an 8 nevolent Soclety of Washington, Pollce distribution... ot 2,000 00 House of Merey.. 00000000112 100 00 Miscellaneous individual eases by: Com: missioners... 3 2 358.12 i 5 E : 3 3 ' E E g Z i 5 z Z : DISTRICT REVENUES. A clause in the District appropriatian act _ap- Proved July 5, 1884 (U. 8. Stat. at L, vol. 23, P. 127), prescribes that the Commissioners shall thereafter investigate the management of all in- stitutions of charity within the Distriet whic may be appropriated for out of the District re hues, in whole or in part, and require an ttemt: Teport of receipts and expenditures to be made to them to be transmitted with their annual report to Congress, with such recommendations as they mnay deem ‘proper concerning the necessity for Such institutions, together with a plan for thetr onganization and’mahagement and extent of ap- Propriations necessary tor thelr maintenance. For the purpose of obtaining information as fully tn detall as posstble concerning the tnstitu- tions designated in the act_of Congress, the Com- inissioners seiected an officer and sent him to those several institutions, with instructions to in- vestigate their operations and make report to them. ‘The officer in question has made his report, and tt 1s appended to and makes part of the pres: ent report of the Commissioners, and fs referred to as a very complete and rellable’statement ot the condition, management and possible capacity for good of ‘the institutions mentioned. In com- pleting his report this officer makes use of the following language, and attention 18 particulariy Anvited to it us a Very clear statement of what is Tequired In order that all of the charities included in the provisions of the act of Congress referred to have proper supervision: “The foregolng are ali of the institutions which have furnished me with detafied reports, and which T have examined personally under your direction. I would call the attention of the Com- missioners to the fact that many of these institu- tions are duplicating each other's work, and, as a necessary consequence, are inuch more expen- sively managed than they would be if the efforts infavor of the objects were more concentrated. It {s my opinion that some plan of general control and unitication could be adopted whereby the large amounts appropriated out of the District revenue for these Various charities could be more rudently, more economically and more satistac- plied to the objects for which the money ‘Was appropriated.” PUBLIC SCHOOIS. No public interest of the District of Columbia 4s watched with more soilcitude by our citizens than are the public scliools; no trust’ demands more wisdom tn its management. More than twenty-five thousand representativesof the hearts and homes of the District seek instructions in these schools every school day of the year, many of whom receive no other seholastte training. Year by year the schools not only increase in number, but the Commissioners belleve that they also improve in thelr methodsot doing work, en- large thelr sphere of activity and usefulness, ‘and gonsequently Occupy a more prominent place in the public mind. ‘Their pecullarity and efficl- ency are shown. alike by the number attending them and by the character of those who seck thelr benefits. During the past year the schools have had a high d of prosperity, doing effi- clent Work WIth little to disturb their quiet pro- gress, ‘The Commissioners have been pleased to Hote the harmonious working of the different de- partments and various kinds of schools and to.ac- cord to those Who do the work in these respective Places the credit which they richly merit. During the year a manual training depart- ment bas been added to the Washington high school, which, though small because of the amount of money avafiable for its establishment and main- tenance gives great promise of future usefulness. ‘Three hundred boys now receive systematic trai ing In the use of wood-working tools each week. Itis proposed at an early day. out of and as far ag ‘the means at their disposal will permit, to extend the advantages of thls manual training to the scholars of the colored high school, ‘Thirty-two thousand three hundred and thirty- ‘six (2,336) pupils were enrolled in the schools dur- ing thé year, of which twenty thousand six hun- dred and sixty-six (20,666) were white and eleven thousand three hundred and ninety-three (11,393) were colored, ‘The average enrolment was twenty-six thou- sand nine hundred and eleven (26,911), and the average attendance twenty-five thousand and twenty-nine (25,029). Many details of interest are given in the reports of the superintendents. Of Particular interest are the tables that show the Telations of the different departinents or kinds of schools, both for white and colored pupils. Appehded to this report ag part thereot will be found the report of the trustees of public schools and of the superintendents of white and colored schools in this District. ‘These documents ebal- lenge the most careful consideration of Cony because from them it appears that there exists a startling inadequacy of School-room accommoda- Uon for the needs of the District, ‘The Commissioners believe that every child seek~ ing admission to the schools should be provided with a seat, ‘The nation's capital should not, be behind other cities of corresponding size in fur nishing educational facilities to its children, COLORED HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. Arrangements must soon be made for other ac- commodations for the colored high and normal schools, as the Commissioners have Deen notified to surrender possession of the leased buflding on 27th street, between P and Q streets northwest, in ‘which those schools are located. ‘The Commissioners contemplate the construc- ton of a school building on the lot upon which the Sumner building 1s situated. If this should meet the approval of Congress the schools now occupy- ie Sumner building could be transferred to rd new building, leaving the Sumner building to be occupied by the high school, + FIRE DEPARTMENT. ‘The appropriation for the support of the fire de- partment for the fiscal year ended June 90, 1886, were— 4,035 34 18,352 81 $106,762 97 ‘Leaving an unexpended balance of.. $1,387 03 ‘There are seven engines and two hook and lad. der companies in this department, which are housed in a8 many buildings. The chief engineer recommends that houses for companies No. on near 12th street northwest, and on Vir- inia avenue, between and 6th streets south- West, be provided, on thé ground that the house Of the first-named company 1s inconventently sit- ouse mpany van- tageor ted with reference to the Balti- more and Potomac Faliroad tracks tn front of tt e personne department consists of 101 ofthe apparatus of the departm “The apparatus of the ent consists of sg steam fre engines in good ‘condition, oxcspeing ‘Nos, 1 and 2 which are undergol re ng: 3:8. ci in condition; two Rook ana adder trucks fuiy sguiopeds sata oS ‘old one without equipments, an minor appliances; 19,100 feet of lc ‘2,900 feet of which is unserviceable, and 4¢ horses. . ‘The report of the chiet depart- ment herewith submitted gives rull detalls of its perations during the year, and the Commission. ‘TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE police and fire ees neat DN, oe 4eeeee 7,000.00 Commissioners, are now obliged to rely_upon th Legislative Assembly of August. Which merely limits the amount that shall be Kept to repulse tie ee, Rey ta Pe, Bore an ES fluids, and prohibit the sale of spurious and low- ‘There 13 now pending tn Congress @ Dill to au- thorize the District authorities to make neoos- regulations on the sul Com- missioners hope will recelve early and favorable action, PoLicr. ‘The appropriation for the support of this de- Partment for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, Were as follows: SALAMIS oo. .0s erne0 +2 $308,000 Y Rent of headquarters Ane tions......... Buel sciidicos nos cen and building new station. 000 Repairs to stations. ss 17300 Miscellaneous and cont nt.. 11,000 Police signal telegraph, seventh PFeCINCt.........406. ‘2,600 $342,320 00 ‘Theexpenditures were.. $341,571 97 ‘Leaving unexpended balance of......... $748 03 PERSONNEL. ‘The personnel of the Police Department ts as fol- lows: One major and superintendent, one captain, One inspector, one property clerk, one clerk, one clerk, four surgeons, nine Heutenants, twenty ser- geants, ninety-five privates, class 1, one hundred und forty privates, class 2 seventeen statton-keep- ers, eight laborers, one messenger, one messenger, oné driver, one ambulance driver, one assistan ambulancé driver, one assistant driver. Of this foree the superintendent, captain and twenty-five others are mounted. ‘The force also has, in common with the fire de- Partinent, the benefit of the professional advice and service of four surgeons, who are appointed by the Commisstoners, They examine all applicants for positions on the force and respond to all de~ mands for thelr professional services in all cases of Sickness or injury of members of the foree. ‘Th Tecelve $480 each per annum from the District revenues, which 1s very moderate compensation for the services of physicians of the professional standing of those now filling these positions, and At would be unwise and inluman to entrust thts responsible duty to any but thoroughly competent physiclans, ‘The District 1s divided into elght police districts, each of which 1s In charge of & Heutenant. POLICE SIGNAL. AND PATROL SYSTEM. ‘This system has been in operation here forabout ars. It facilitates concentration of the force in cases of emergency, relieves officers fro: dragging prisoners great distances to station- houses and leaving thetr beats meanwhile unpro- tected, and greatly Increases promptness in re- sponding to demands of almost, every character upon the foree, ‘The Commissioners became so favorabl pressed with the reports of this system by the officers in charge of the first, fourth’ and sixth S, Where it 1s in operation, that they in- cluded an item in thetr estimates for 1888 to pro- vitle for its extension to the second and. iitth pre- cinets. ‘They know of no branch of the public ser Pics Mat etter justifies the expenditure required for its introduction and maintenance, INCREASE OF THE FORCE. ‘The superintendent of poiice recommends an in- crease of the force by one hundred men, and sup- Ports his recommendation by impressive data and argument. Wiile the Commisstoners are of opinton that an increase of the force to that extent, at least, 15 necessary for the adequate protection ‘of the Dis- tet, the present District revenues will not admit of provision for such an increase without too greatly linpairing the utility of other departinents Of the District government In view of these considerations, the Commission- ers, in their estimates for 1888, which were sub- uulited to the Secretary of the ‘Treasury on the 1st of October last, recommended an inerease of ten sergeants and forty-five privates as the best that could be done with due regard to other District in- terests, and know no reason for modifying that Judgment. ‘The existing laws (vol. 22, p. 412,U. S. Stat. at L), Umiting the number of privates tb two hundred and fitty, should be moditied to admit of an Increase of the’ force. MILITARY RECORD OF APPLICANTS. ‘The department suffers a serious drawback in the requirement that appointees thereto shall have served in the Army or Navy of the United States. ‘This restriction was originally a as a means of rewarding those who had been in the military and naval service of the government during the civil war; but as nearly all who belong to that class are now too far advanced in years to avail themselves of this preference, jts present effect is merely to confine selections for this to a class of persons neither specially qualified for Such duty nor sufficiently numerous to present a Satisfactory scope of selection, and ft ought to be Tepeale I'he department maintained its reputation dur- ing the year for efficiency and devotion to duty. HEALTH OFFICER, ‘This officer, under the direction of the Commis- sioners, 1s charged with the execution and enforce- ment of all laws and regulations relating to the pubile health and vital sbtistios, c..being princi. pally the impounding of domestic animals 1m- properly at large or Without Mcense; removal of garbage, night-soll, and dead animals; medical treatment of indigent sick; registration of births, deaths, and marriages: issue of burial permits? inspection of plumbing; inspection of f00d, ani abatement of nuisances. The appropriations for the support of his office during the year were: Salaries $23,080; contin. nt expel } Temoval of garbage, $15,000. Ffotat ets,130° Peskin ‘The expenditures were: Salaries, $23,978; con- tngent expenses $4,608.32; removal of garbage, $15,000. Total, $43,646.33. Leaving an unex: etided balance of $483.68. REMOVAL OF ASHES. ‘The health oMicer recommends that ashes be removed at public expense. As the accumulations of ashes generally recetve additions of refuse organic matter, and thus often become highly deleterious to te public health, It would seem that they should be removed by District’ authorities at public expense, COMMISSIONERS OF PHARMACY, ‘The commissioners of pharmacy are three phar- macists and two physicians appointed by the Com- missioners of the District under act of June 15, 1878 (vol, 20, p. 137, U.S. Stat. at L.) It is thelr ‘duty to decide upon ‘the professional competency of persons desiring to conduct. the business of compounding, retalling or dispensing drugs and medicine in the District of Columbia, and keep a register of the names of those qualified to do busi- ness as pharmacists here, ‘They ure entitied to receive $3 from each person they register without examination as a. phar- tmaclst, and $10 from each person they exalnlne, which amount 1s applicable to the expenses of the commission, es er financlal statement for the year, which 18 made an appendix of this, is as follows: Balance on deposit... For 21 examinations... For 23 registrations without €x- aminations.... im. Salary of secretary, 2 years......$150 00 Stationery .....- 2.2.02. Rent, ight, fuel and labor. 286 50 Balance... $374.19 ‘The total number of registrations to J 1886, was 350, bile) CEMETERIES. ‘The proximity of several cemeteries to the cities of Washington and Georgetown will soon require the interdiction of interments in some of them in ‘the interest of the public health and convenience. DEATH RATE. ‘The health officer reports the death rate for the year to have been 17.96 per 1,000 for the whites, and 92.35 for the colored population, or 22.80 per 1,000 for the et as against a death rate of 24.99 per 1, during the preceding fiscal year. INSPECTION OF PLUMBING. ‘The report of the inspector of plumbing demon. strates the value to the public health of this de. partment, not only in tts capacity as a remedial nt, but asa means of developing amo! all ra ot ple a higher appreciation of sanitary considerations in construction and buildings. ‘This efficer has recently, at ‘the request of De- partment officers of the General Government, ex- amined some of the buildings under their charge, found them in a deplorably insanitary condition, and submitted plans for the improvement of their drainage and plumbing, which have been ac- ce ‘The proper performance of the duties of this office requires a thor ractical know! of sanitary laws and meckanksmn, and. it 10" satiace tory to a8 due to this service, the Gevrense in the death rive of the District reported ‘by the health. Po ‘ & : 5 5 i fi i | pegs e ¢ He ite ; INSPRCTION AND MEASURING OF LUMBER: ‘There are five inspectors and measurers of lum- ber in the District, whose duty ft 1s to Inspeet and measure all boards, plank, joist, scantling and and sold inthe District, not ‘measured and marked’ pur- Suant to law, and mark thereon the number of square feet they contain, and who receive pay- ment therefor in fees trom'the buyer and seller in ‘equal parts at Fate of 30 cents per 2,000 feet, board measure, ‘They report the quantity measured by them dur. ing the fiscal year ended June S0tb, 1886, to be 25,461,678 square feet. SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. It is the duty of the sealer of weights and meas- ures to examine, at least once every six months, every scale Weight and measure in every store, shop, market of other place where goods are sold, and brand the same, and it 1s not lawful to use any scale, Weight or measure not properly branded by'said inspector, who receives payment for his services in fees, ‘This officer recommends the of a law Wuiring all vegetables and fruit to be sold by wee ‘and. thai timbers brought to previously i the cans containing canned is should have the quantity contained in each can plainly marked thereon, witha penalty of fine and confiscatioa for deception in this respect. MARKETS. The District government owns and manages three markets, two of which are In Washington, called the Eastern market and Western market, respectively, and one in Georgetown. ‘The reports Of the officers immediately in charge of them are herewith appended. ‘The Eastern market ts situated on the northwest corner of 7th and € streets southeast Its receipts for the Year were... And its expenses— Salary of marketmaster Repairs... Balance....... ‘The Western market ts situated on the southeast corner of Twenty-lirst and K streets northwest. Its receipts for the year Were.........--. $6,327 82 Its expenses Salary of market master....... al oa 1,906 79 ‘The Georgetown market 1s situated on M, oppo- site the southern terminus of Potomac street, in Georgetown. Its receipts for the yé Salary of mark Repairs..... «$1,208 18 “1300000 r were, master... 935 42 Balance... eee During the year embraced in this report the Dis. trict employed an ofiver at a salary of $1,200 per annum, styied the clerk and ma aster of the Center market, a private corporation, but It was Found the duuies of The position were not import ant enough to Warr: nt the payment of a salary ‘The office was theretore abolished, and T formance of its duties {imposed upon_another Dis- trict officer, who discharges Uhein without addi- tional compensation, WASHINGTON MARKET FUND. District also receives $7,500 per annum from et Company as rental forthe its buildings, This rental but was reduc nt between the authorities on was origina to the afore an agree r and the District March 18, 1873. CODE OF DISTRICT LAWS. Every branch of the District government, the courts, and the business portion of the public gen- erally suffer great inconvenience from the lack of a well-digested compilation of the l the Dis- Urlet. The laws affecting the District have ema- nated fro forms of government in the territory comprising the District or Columbia, ‘They tneiude th and statute Lat land and tie laws of Mary- lana when the tsr- coded bY the Government, of the corporations of Washington, nd the levy court, laws of the legis! of the Distilet, orders of the Cu missioners, and ucts of Congtess. Many of the Toregoing are obsolete and Others conflicting or useless. “Several attempts have been made to get a code enacted, but so far no measure of this kind has met the approval of Congress coe THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR. Annual Report of Secretary Endicott. ARMY APPROPRIATIONS—THE INDIAN CAMPAIGN— NEED OF FORTIFICATIONS—A NEW SIGNAL SERVICE G IN WASHINGTON ASKED FOR—LOCAL ‘WORKS OF IMPROVE? T, ETC. ‘The annual report of the Secretary of Warstates Uhat the appropriations for the War department for 1887 are $46,027,550.85, and the estimates for the next fiscal year amount to$48,268,835,81. The principal increase for salaries and contingent ex- penses over the present yearts for furnishing the ‘West and center wings of the State, War and Navy department butiding, $130,000. In the army esti- inates that for pay, &., of the ariny 1s tncreased $365,000. The estimates for public works include for armament of fortifications, $4,645,000; Improv- ing harbors and rivers, $10,175,870, and $150,000 for a building for the Signal oftice. INDIAN AFFAIRS, ‘The Secretary states that the constant presence of troops is necessary to preserve peace in the Indian Territory and to prevent the selzure of land, It 1s earnestly hoped that speedy action will be taken by Congress In the matter. He refers at length to the Apache campaign, and states in relation to the attack on Capt. Crawtord’s command on January 11th by Mexi- feans, that the Mexicans deny all the statements made by our oficers, and say that they were the attacked and not the attacking party, The Mexi- can government demands indemnity for depreda- ons alleged to have been committed by Craw- ford’scommand. The negotiations are now pend- Ing between the Department of State and the Mexican government In reference to the killing of Capt. Crawtord, and the return of the horses and muies loaned to'the Mexican troops or payment of ‘their value. IN RELATION TO THE SURRENDER OF GERONTSO to Gen, Miles, the Secretary states that from the first information, the surrender was supposed to be unconditional, but later, Gen. Miles telegraphed that the Indians surrendered with the understand- ing that they would be sent out of the country, and that he had ordered them to be taken to Fort Marion in direct opposition to the President's. orders. These terms and conditions were sueh that Geronimo and those of his band who had committed. mnurders and acts of violence in Arizona and New Mexico, could not properly be handed over to the civil authorities for puntshinent, as was intended by the President, and they Were sent to Fort Pickens, Fla. ‘VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS. ‘The Secretary recommends that the retired Ist be increased, and that all ofticers permanently in- capacitated for active service, be Included upon it, He recommends that the army be increased by 5,000 men, and two compantes be added to each of the infantry regiments; also that a general law be enacted, with provisions for the examination of army officers for promotion sinilar to those which govern promotions in the navy. Attention 4s called to the condition of the law with regard to civilian witnesses before courts martial, and it 4s recommended that a statute be enacted whereby an attachment against such witness for contempt ‘would issue upon application to a United States court. Itis also suggested that a statute be en- acted applying the common-law Tule to deserters, authorizing thelr arrest by private citizens or lice officers. The Secretary recommends that legislative authority be granted for theenlistment of one cook for each troop, battery and company, and each general depot of recruits, and of a baker for each garrisoned post. IN RELATION 70 SRACOAST DEFENSES the Secretary says that immediate action should be taken to prevent the disastrous and humiliating results that might follow a declaration of war ‘with the most insignificant of foreign pos- sessing guns and ships of modern construction, and recommends that New York, San Fi Boston and Washington be fortified at once. WASHINGTON'S WATER SUPPLY AND THE RIVER IM- PROVEMENT. In regard to the increase of the water supply of ‘Washington, the report states that the sum pro- vided in the general deficiency appropriation for continuing the work on the tunnel 1s $395,000. ‘The ultimate cost of completion, -however, ‘Will rovably exceed this amount, in’ consequence ot Ere suspension of the work six’months. Ie 13. be- Meved that the amount appropriated in the deficiency act, ‘will be sufficient {Eeomplete the reseevokr it all’ tts: easentiny fea, In relation to the Potomac river improvement, ‘opinion that large ap: in the early stages work. ‘The sum of§700,000 could be profit- ably expended during the fiscal year ending June ‘THE FERGUSON HOUSE FOR THE SIGNAL SERVICE, VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE IXDIANS— THE CATTLE BARONS AND THE FENCES—THE SRO- RETARY'S SHARP REVIEW OF DORSEY'S LETTER— OTHER MATTERS. ‘The Secretary of the Intertor in hts annual re- Port says that there has been a steady, though not, rapid, improvement in the moral, material and in- tellectual condition of the mass of the Indian pop- ‘ulation during the past twelve months, The aver- age attendance of children in the schools 1s about 1,600 greater than heretofore, and many more of the parents are anxious for the education of their children. “As I'stated in my last report, the only alternative now presented to the American Indian Tace 1s speedy entrance into the pale of American civilization or absolute extinction, In onder to escape the latter and attain the former, three con- ditions of preparation are indispensable, The first 4s to get established in this race the idea and hab- iuude of individual pr holding, thorough re. Hance upon {ts inviolablity and a perfect sense of security In the enjoyment of Its benefits. Second, an education of the entire massof Uhe youth of this Tace, embracing a thorough knowledge of the use of the Engiish fai in the dally affairs of Iife, arithmetic, and. the mechanical arts among the males, and among the females the domestic artsin use with that sex. ‘Third, a substitution of the universal operation of law among them in the en- forcement of Justice and the protection of person and property, and the puntshment of crimes for the agenctes Of force and superstition, ACTIVE WORK AMONG THE INDIANS. The Secretary renews his recommendation of last year, Which was introduced in the House in the shape of a Dill for the appotntment of a. com- mission to inspect. and report upon the condition of the Indians. ‘The work of locating the Indians on lands in geveralty has, however, been pushed forward, and during the’ year about 800 Indians have received ttle, "There are now 214 schools of different Kinds maintained, ata cost. of $87,881 for the Indians, and the ‘average attendance 18 9528, Tt is recommended that Congress enact Such legislation as will authorize the Indians to take cattle from neighboring cattlemen to pasture on the surplus lands of their reservations, the In- dians to herd and care for the cattle and to receive @ fair compensation, It should, however, De so restricted and regulated as to prevent white men from upon the reservations, and 80 as novto tard or Interfere with the development of the ricultural and other industrial pursuits of the lidians. ‘The Secretary urges that Congress take some action relative to the construction of rall- roads through the Indian territory,as Wey will ald iu breaking down the natural aversion of the In- dians to the division of their lands for Individual holding and the sale of their surplus territory, ‘The report is an additional appropriation tO 1 band of Cherokee Indians to be It ts recom. mended that the salary of the Commissioner of Ln- dian Affatrs be Increased from $4,000 10 $5,000, SOME LAND RECOMMENDATIONS. The Secretary renews his recommendation of last year that the minimum price for sales of land at private cash entry be increased, and also re- commends the enactment of a law barring the n of claims founded on alleged Mexican grants, after such Ume as Congress may de- termine, to the end that the incentive for the pre sentation of false claims may no longer exist, and that those which are bona side may the more readi- ly and speedily be adjudicated. Congress sees ML to modify the desert land laws so as to render them less liable to abuse would renew his former recommend. itt these laws be repealed. He also renews, his recommendation that the timber culture Laws. ed. He recommends legislation to pre- rve the public Umber and the modification of the of Sune 3d, 1878. The repeal of the relingulsh- Ment act of Junez2d, 1874, and the law authorizh ) Sen of deposits forsurveys 1s recommended, A VIGOROUS FENCE POLICY. The statement made in the last annual report ‘that Large bodies of land were unlawfully enclosed for private purposes by Individuals and corpora- tons engaged in what they call “growing lve stock” and “ranching,” has been verified by the reports of special agenss from that tine until now, ‘The President's proclamation and the action of the agents of the departinent have arrested the further appropriation of the public lands by these unlawful enclosures. They have also produced a more tolerant feeling towards actual settlers, Whilst, however, i 1s clalmed that many trespass- ers on hotifieation have removed their fences, it 18 undeniabiy true that a larger number still Inain- tain them, and will refuse to obey the law except under acthal compulsion, ‘Thesccretary says that tn order that the case of ‘these trespassers, called in some of the Territories and n others, Who thus stand in open and avo ved violation of the laws of the land and de- clar? thelr intention to continue In thelr course as a necessity of the detlance of the authority Of tae Government, inay be fairly prevented, he presents a letter written by 8. W. Dorsey, under date of October 16th, 1886, to an Inspector of the department. In this’ letter Mr, Dorsey gives an account of ‘why fencing was employed, and says Uhat the cattlemen have no Wish nor Inieution to violate the law, |The Secretary reviews thls letter in a rather caustic style. LAMAR ON DORSEY. He says: “It will be perceived that there ts no denial by the writer of Uhis letter that the public domain has been unlawfully fenced, and no apology 1s suggested for the unlawful acts. The ingenu- ‘ous simplicity which, without concealment or de- fense, admits the violation of the law, and the naive frankness Which asserts that reasons exist ‘why the violation should be continued, are equaled only by the innocent unconsciousness of any moral Wrong in thus deliberately disregarding the laws of the country. * * * ‘The necessity which is urged in defensé of the unlawful fencing of public lands can, with equal justice, be urged in extenu- ation of "unlawful acquisition of Utes to these lands. There 4s, in my opinion, no difference be- tween the two. ‘In either case it is the necessity of personal aggrandizement at the expense of the public interest and in violation of public law, * * What has been accomplished hitherto has been through the efforts of the agents of this Department and by process through the civil tri- ‘Dunals. Belleving that the military should be sparingly used in a Government Uke our own, I hesitated to advise the use of this arm of the Gov- ernment Where the civil power could be effectively fnvoked; and so far the mulitary power has not been brought into requisition. Whatever appli- ances, however, the law has placed in the hands of the Executive will hereafter be invoked, if neces. sary, to put a final end to this enormous plunder- ing of the public domain, MORE LIBERAL PENSION LAWS, The report then gives brief statements of the work of the various bureaus, and recommends in connection with the pension bureau, such a change in the law as that In the case of parents Of increasiug years, or children of tender years be- low the age of sixteen, where thelr condition of physical dependence 1s’ not due to their fault, or bits, but 1s merely a matter of misfortune’ or time, that they should be allowed penston from the date at which the dependence tn the natural and ordinary state of human affairs would be- gin, Also Uat the law be so amended so that the pension shall be allowed for the rank subse- ently borne, bona side, Before discharge, Or at ate of dischange, where the disability Is shown to have originated th the service and in line of duty, and subject to the further condition that in nd event sal the pension autedate the law allowing such increase. MORE. ROOM FOR THE DEPARTMENT. ‘TheSecretary says: “cannot toostrongly repre- sent to the Congress the necessity for additional ‘working space for the officers, employes, and rec- ords of this department. It is pitiable that off. ctals of the government, expected to perform thelr whole duty and care for the records entrusted to their charge, should be hampered in their opera- tions by lack of sufficient office space. Tempo- rary make-shifts, like that of an additional floor in the Pension ‘OMice building, do not properly meet the requirements of the service. Ample and secure office accommodations should be provided as the property of the government, thus obviating the necowlty for the renting of piivate build abexorbitant rates, Last year the sum of $43, 884.21 was paid by this departnent for the rental of office accommodations. This sum represents ‘the interest at 3 percent. per annum on a prin- cipal of $1,462,807, at which rate the government is able tw procure all the funds desired for its operations. Would it not, therefore, be in the in- terest of economs that, suitable, anent, fre. root Duildings, the property of ‘the: go B ‘accommodai should be erected for the lon Of these offices?” ‘The report recommends that an ay tion of 10,000 be made to enable “Che "di. rectors of the Washington hospital for found- ings, & Which has’ recentiy. been erected, to bring the hospital into active operation. ‘Te Control the Price of Bread. PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OP MINNEAPOLIS MILLS UNDER ONE MANAGEMENT. ‘The millers of Minneapolis, Minnesota, are dis- cussing a stupendous scheme to consolidate all the mills under one management. It 1s a matter which has been talked of more or less for the past three years, but lately it has been con- sidered seriously, Active steps have been taken Which are expected to result in consolidation. heme y advan cost Sogheedrcs auger acre to ttle, - Sucl make aa much Or as. little flour as desired and it would control such product as it placed market. Its effect on the trade would would be an institution as ‘Standard i 734 Im S: %34 Im Sr SO BENT SOO EL YESS gs SOLVERIRS. ¥ ¥ ¥. ANOTHER RUSH OF COATS. ANOTHER RUSH OF COATS. ‘Two more of those handsome Plush Visites, $9.99; Pegular price #15. €18 Plush Visites, with tall trimmings, @12 98, Anew line Astrakhan Visites, @7.98 ; former price @10 All our $8 Boucle Jackets $3.08. Do not mise thie oanrain, Our $7 Jersey Jacket €2.98. A few Black Diagonal Jackets §2.50; former price @@ All Wool Tailor-made Newmarket, brown, @4.701 would be cheap at 86, Our $7 Black Diagonal Newmarkets, all at 94.98, coon umn RRE ERENN Nv" Sig och HitE pbk ke SN Ro Soh Hl haa botE REL EEE cl coc H Bop Riee® N O09 (00, A TTT p88 s¢ss A F © OS OO AA fT a wm wo kS & SPS ‘We cannot describe our numerous assortment. Usacall before you purchase, It will pay. 120. Linen Handkerchiefs, Go. Se. Children's Mitts, 100, 39c. Children's Worsted Capa, 240, ‘Xe. Tobogwan Eider Down Caps, 696, . Toborean Caps, 440, 8 Plush Normandy Capa, $1.75, "2.48 White Merino Short Coats, $1.75, 2.68 Infants’ White Long Coats, $1.98, Em Merino Coats, €2.75. Pur Top Gloves, 68c. Embroidered Back Gloves, 7c, All these and numerous other Scuvenira, Call early. It will save you money, and give yom firet selection of goods, IN BUYING READY-MADE CLOTHING THERE I8 NO REASON WHY YOU SHOULD NOT GET A SUIT OR AN OVERCOAT THAT “FITS AS IF IT WAS MADE FOR You" WHEN YOU ARE THUS FITTED THE READY-MADE APPEARANCE 80 COMMON 18 GONE, AND YOU TAKE PLEASURE IN. WEARING YOUR CLOTHES. IN OUR STOCK WITH THE UNUSUAL VARIETY OF SIZES, “LONG;"“MEDIUM,” “SHORT"AND “EXTRA SHORT,” YOU CAN BE FITTED AS WELL AS LF THE GOODS WERE MADE TO ORDER. ‘THERE I8 NO OTHER HOUSE IN WASH- INGTON THAT HAS SUCH A VARIETY OF LENGTHS AND SHAPES IN READY-MADE CLOTHING, AND THEREFORE NO ONE IN WHICH YOU CAN BESO EASILY AND WELL FITTED. OUR LINES AND SIZES ARE COMPLETE AND WE SHOW SOME ENTIRELY NEW AND VERY NOBBY STYLES. WE HAVE GIVEN PARTICULAR ATTENTION THIS FALL TO GOODS FOR YOUNG MEN'S WEAR. IN STYLISH CUTAWAY SACKS, FOUR- BUTTON CUTAWAY FROCM#® OR “PRINCE ALBERTS,” PLAIN, SILK-FACED OR SILK- LINED, OUR ASSORTMENT 18 NEW AND FRESH. IN OVERCOATS THE VERY NEWEST NEW YORK STYLES ARE THE ENGLISH CAPE COATS AND THE DOUBLE BREAST TOP COAT. THE LATTER ARE BECOMING VERY POPULAR, EB BARENUM & 00, 931 Paxxerivans AVENUE. 312 Tou Srucer. We would again call the attention of the fhe fact that we bave ou hand wow te most complete az we ever had the pleasure of ‘offering to our: Ticluding an immense line of Velscipeden Triepetes, ‘The Bargains in FINE CLOTHING secured for our GREAT HOLIDAY SALE. Prices Little Over Half at OAK HALL, Corner of 10th and F Streets For $5 815 Yom hing for anfvers oF mien cup or Ulster, ‘exposed to the For $10 to $20 Pall Line of Qvervoats in Beaver, Meltons, Chinchiliag, Corkscrews, Kermeys. very ‘Dest materials, workmauship and styles ‘at the lowest posible prices, For $25 mine My Over woot frame Mens Cite For $10 to $20 ‘We havea nicejline of ‘Surtont Overcoste tn Chtndhr For @6 to 625 amortment of Suite cies Srecieren Chevicta, Bzinoe bert suits fry ‘cise short and fat ot'extradong, from @2up, A complete line of nal! Boy" Suite or Overcosta all For 2.50 to@10 ‘styles. For 94.50 t0 815 A fine ine of Suits and Overcoste for Boys from 13 te Oak HALL, CORNER 10TH AND F STREETS. 827 Our Motto—Ko Trouble to Show Goods. 48 A Cus To Tu» Lins Or ‘WASHINGTON. Seta Seshisea htien tase i ~% (Bete Agents for the Mew Home