Evening Star Newspaper, December 7, 1896, Page 10

10 —- v - THE EVENING: STAR; MONDAY, ‘DECEMBER 7, 1896-16 PAGES. Woodward *, Lothrop, Ioth, 11th and F Sts. N. W.. As Serviceable Gifts Are evidently to be the order of the day, we anticipated and have pre- pared for a most extraordinary business in this line. The articles for dress and for other practical purposes, of which we are showing an un- usually complete and worthful assortment, are admirably adapted for such ifts. : Art and beauty have, however, entered into their composition to a remarkable degree of late, and the attention of our patrons and the pub- lic is now directed to the unprecedented preparations we have made for their service the present season. Beginning tcmorrow, Tuesday, we shall offer Jackets, Capes and other Wraps At Greatly Reduced Prices. Trimmed Hats at Reduced Prices. To obtain needed space In our Millinery show room for the proper display of Theater, Opera, Re- ception and Evening Mi y, We are now offering our entire stock of Women's and Children’s Trimmed Hats Bonnets at A very decided reduction from former prices. When it is remembered that we allow Trimmed Hats to remain in stock but a fixed time (never nough to lose their freshness or become undesirable) the importance of this reduction sale will 3d floor. Art Furniture Department. We are showing scores of choice bits of Art Furniture in decorative one-of-a-kind pieces—suitable holi- day and wedding gifts—and call at- tention to the following excellent values: Stylish Lace Curtains. The most stylish Lace Curtains for smart furnishing are French Rennaissance, Louis XIV, Blen- heim and Savoy, of which we are showing over 50 different patterns, both in full size and sash or vitrage curtains. These have either scrim or net center, with the lace inserted, and are very effective. Per pair, $2.75 to $37.50 3 si ly embroidered Mantel Lambrequins, pink, ete., at the fol- xold—white lowing specially low prices: $1.50 to $5.00 each. Values, $2.00 to $7.50. 4th floor. Holiday Handkerchiefs Fer Men, for Women, for Children. We never had such a gathering of “ Handkerchiefs. The sheerest, cobwebbiest films from France, the finest work of Irish looms and every worthy weave of linen that takes Handkerchief shape, no matter where it is made. You do not need to be LINEN WISE to buy with safety here. All you need think of is this: Does it suit me? Is it the right size and quality? Linen you know you will get—and the purest kind, too. The price you know will be the lowest. Getting them right from the makers lets us put the lowest prices on them. Good points to remember, for during these busy days you won't have time to examine and test to see if you are getting Linen, and, of course, for a present you won’t care to give anything but linen for linen. That's the kind we keep. We've no cotton-mixed Handkerchiefs and no substitute for linen. Women’s Handkerchiefs. Men's Handkerchiefs. Allinen, hei nd 1-inch hems: AlL-linen, 7 > . AML Hine a1 All-liren, Albitoen, E hems (8 for $i) All-inen, initials All-linen, Se., 3 hems... AlL-linen, print bor All-linen, iin. hems. hemstitehed, hand-embroidered Val. lace trimmings All-linen, embre All-linen, Val Ia: All-lnen, drawn Al-linen, bla All-linen, hi All-linen, bemstit All-linen, s« ALT Children’s Handkerchiefs. initials 50e. to 80 to $10.00 a 8... M-inch hems. . elabroidercd, hemstitched. “ Duchesse and Point sheer, Fren . en broldered. scalloped edge. edges. . -$3.09 and $5.00 , hard-embroidered, hemstitched. . trimmed with Val. lace edge and All-linen’ (boys’), colored print borders, extza Insertion, French corners. . -$1.00 to $4.00 I size. . . sees W2tbe. Fancy Boxes furnished when de sired. floor. Ist ; Woodward & Lothrop. Peteennteletetete teen tot > $§ 25 é Suits to-order for aan This SPECIAL SALE opened up this morning with an entire fresh line of woolens. Friday last they were in the hands of the mill’s agent—today they are in Washington to be distributed among our public. You'll find these goods off wer eaonconce ns by themselves. Bright bargains to keep the business buzzing. Saturday last day of sale. ace co Mertz and Mertz, New “Era” Tailors, 906 F Street. EARNED A SURPLUS. JUDGE HOAR EXONERATED. Helping to Pack the Supreme Court. Senator George F. Hoar of Massachn- setts has written a long letter defending his brother, the late E. R. Hoar, Attorney General in President Grant's cabinet, from charges made during the recent presiden- tial campaign that the Supreme Court was packed, with the cennivance of the At- torney General, to reverse the decision of the court regarding the constitutionality of the legal tender act. Senator Hoar pub- lishes two letters from members of Presi- dent Grant's cabinet at the time the ap- pointments were made, showing that the position of the appointees on tne greenback question was not considered. General J. D. Cox, who was Secretary of the Interior, writes regarding the cabinet discussions: “I can recall some discussion of the char- acter and qualities of Judges Strong and Bradley among members of the cabinet, but not a single word of reference to their opinions on the legal tender question, or to any case pending, or likely to be pend- ing, in the Supreme Court. Nothing could be plainer than that the Attorney General was earnestly determined to recommend only such men as combined the qualities of able lawyers with those of perfectly pure, Charged W B. und 0. Revenues for the Year In- vestiguted by Accountant Littl ‘ The outlcok for the Baltimore and Ohio road, according to Accountant Little's re- port, a summary of which has already been telegraphed to The Star, is not dis- couraging. He says: “Taking the year 18% as an index to the situation, there was, after providing for all charges and the full dividends of $300,000 on the first and second preferred stocks, a deficit of $204,043.61. Strike these dividends out, and you have a surplus of $5,956.39, so that if adequate capital can be obtained with which to fund its floating debt and furnish facilities for the enlargement of its busi- ness ani the economical handling of the same, there is nothing discouraging in the prospect of the ability of the*co: earn the interest.and more, on all ite co rect obligations now outstanding. Inde if we take the average income for any twelve months of the seven years any two monthe, as I have revised i, the Gnd plus over all charges, including’ the divi. dends of $300,000 on the first and second ferred simple-minded and upright citizens. When Toes theveratsiaenteniteeree cee exclud- the nominations were made we fel a tS 6550.69. eee results for the five months ended Noven® ber 30, 1895, show a surplus ve charges of $202,384.08, but it is notte oe taken as an indication of what the whole year may develop.” ——+e+____ Towa’s Congressional Pluralities. The following are congressional plural- ities in Iowa, all being for republicans: 1, Clark, 3,295; 2, Curtis, 3,320; 3, Hender- son, 10,423; 4, Updegraff, 8,868; 5, Cousins, 7,368; 6, Lacey, 1,121; 7, Hull, 6,226; 8, Hep- burn, &827; 9, Hager, 2,382; 10, Dolliver, 10,968; 11, Perkins, 6,826, Ex-Secretary Boutwell, who was at the head of the Treasury Department at the time of the appointments, writes: “I was @ member of General Grant's cabinet at the time mentioned, and I was present at one or more cabinet meetings when the subject was considered, and when opinions ‘were expressed as to the fitness of Messrs. Strong and Bradley for the vacant places upon the bench of the Supreme Court. Whe legal tender controversy was not spoken of, nor in any manner referred to by the President or by any member of the cabinet.” Statement of the Local Govern: Ment Rendered Today. A NEW Contagious MONICTPAL fo. 2k BUILDING WANTED Disease Hospital and Public Subways Asked For. ROCK CREEK AND THE POTOMAC FLATS The Commisstoners completed their an- nual report of the operations of the Dis- trict for the past fiscal year, after the President's message had been presented to Congress. It was given to the press this afternoon, after the Commissioners had struggled with its completion all morning. The report in full follows: ‘The President: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia herewith submit their annual report of the official doings of the government of said District for the fiscal year which ended June 30, 1896. Appropriations and Revenues. The appropriations for the year, which were payable out of the general revenues, and included all but those for the water department, were §5,887,404.50. ‘The re- ceipts from taxes and other resources, in- cluding the surplus and balances of former years applicabie to the payment of said ap- propriations, were SULA. The expenditures of the water depart- ment, which were wholly payable out ot the revenues received from water rents and taxes, were $401,011.65. ‘The revenues of said department, cluding repaymen and balance ($130,086.77) of tormer ye WETE $455,650.05. District Debt. ‘The debt of the District of Columbia on June 30, 1895, was $17,311,4 ‘The bonded and other interest-bearing debts of the District of Columbia are un- der charge of the treasurer of the United States, but the Commissioners include in their annual estimates an estimate for the interest and sinking fund on those debts and for salaries and conungent expenses: or the sinking tund office. sso poruon o1 the bonaed uebt was incurred under the present form ol government of the District. Interest-Bearing Debt. District of Columbia—Water stock, ma- tures October 1, 11, 7 per cent interest, due January 1 and July 1; amount, $3 uv, Water stcck, matures July 1, 1008, 7 per cent interest, due January 1 and July 1; amount, $14,000. Fifty-year fund.ng, ina- tures August 1, 1924, 3.65 per cent interest, due February 1 and August 1; amount, $l4,z24,100, Twenty-year funding, matures July 1, 1s, 5 per cent interest, due Jan- uary 1 and July 1; amount $773,000, ‘ei. year funa:ng, matties July 4, 101, 3.90 per cent futeresi, uue January 4 and July 1; nount, }1,44,00, Late corporation of hington—fnree-yeac (metry), matured July 90, 187s, 4.5 per Cent interest, Wlerest ceased; amount, 3100, Lnirty-year funding, matures .ovemover J, 1002, 6 per cent ite! est, due May 1 and November 1; amount, yorl,100, Stocks und bonds outstanuing on which interest has ceased, there be.ug furds for the peyment of te principal ana interest depos.ted in the Uuited States treasury: Corporation of Wasningion, ten- year ponds, 3100; ccrperation of Washing- ton, 5 per cent general stock, $1,240.01, cor- poration of Washington, 6 per cent general stock, $180.17; District of Columvia perma- ent improvement 6 per cent bonds, 35,200; corporation of Washington twenty-year furding 6 per cent bonus, $1,300. ‘Lotal, $17, 215,820.18. Water Main and Water Supply Debts. On July 1, 1896, the District of Columbia owed the United States $245,506.05 on ac- count of advances for the expense of laying the 48-inch water main and the 1th street water main and connections, Pursuant to the requirements of District appropriation act of June 11, 1896, “that not exceeding $300,000 of the surplus general revenues of the District of Colum- bia remaining on the Ist day of July, 1596, shall be transferred to the water fund, to be applied in payment in full of the balance of the principal of the debt incurred for the 48-inch and 14th street water mains,” etc., this debt was accordingly extinguished, and $51,483.35 of the debt on account of the increase of the water supply under the act of Juiy 15, 1882, also retired, leaving $56,- 345.88 of that devt yet due. Floating Debt. The floating indebtedness is substantially limited to judgments of the courts rendered after the passage of the appropriation laws and small amounts needful to give effect to current requirements of law. The District was under obligations at the close of the fiscal year to receive in payment of general and special taxes $11,124.48 of drawback th certificates which bear no interest, issued for rebates on special assessments, but the redemption of those certificates is amply provided for by the amount due on board of public works special assessments. Trust Obligations, On July 1, 1896, there was unredeemed $700 principal, with about $1,000 of accrued interest, of the 6 per cent certificates of in- debtedness, commonly called “greenbacks,”” which were issued under the act of the legislative assembly of the District ap- proved May 2), 1873. By an act of Congress of August 13, 1894, (U. S. Stats., vol. 23, p. 278), all of these certificates then outstanding were made payabie out of the proceeds of sales of 3.65 bonds. Those which had been called for payment by the treasurer of the United States, and therefore not regarded as out- standing, are redeemable out of the collec- tions of special assessments levied against private property for improvements made by the late board of public works. The amount of special assessments pledged to the redemption of such of these gzeenbacks as are not payable out of the proceeds of the 3.65 bonds is $23,338.16. ‘Phere is also a cash balance of $3,915.02 in the hands of the treasurer of the United States of collections of such assessments. Under the act of Congress approved June 19, 1878 (U. S. Stats., vol. 20, p. 166), so mtch of the amounts collected on account of these assessments as shall not be need- ed for the retirement of the greenbacks and coupons. shall be applied to the re- demption of drawback certificates issued for erroneous or excessive payments of specia? assessments. The treasurer of the United States and the Secretary of the Treasury have recom- mended that the treasurer be authorized to deliver to the Commissioners the surplus of the tax lien certificates now held by him as security for the payment of the greenbacks in order that the Commission- ers may use the proceeds thereof in the retirement of said drawback certificates, ‘There was outstanding at same date in the hands of private holders $5,502.38 of Hens against private property for special improvements made by said board. These Mens are redeemable out of proceeds of special assessments levied on the property against which they le, except that in cases where these assessments have been invall- dated for any rerson, the liens are redeem- able in drawbacks issued in Meu of such void assessments under act of June 2, 1890. The drawbacks are receivable for general and special taxes. ‘There is also outstanding a small amount not readily ascertainable of special assess- ment scrip issued by the late corporation of the city of Washington. Real Estate and Personal Property. Assessment of taxable real estate and personal property fn the District of Columbia July 1, 1896. nton city: ble on Jand. Taxable on Inpy Outside of Washington cit Taxable on land at $1.51 Taxable on impr 5). $11,613,069 502,500 Taxable ou land at $1 Taxable on ‘nproveuents at $1.. 9,582,851 558 +++ $189,900, 759 The figures given above relative to the city of Washington show the assessment as revised undcr the acts of Congress of August 14, 1804, and the joint resolution of January 21, 1896. Those relating to the portion of the District outside of that city show the old assessment. The revision of that assessment has not been completed, but there is no doubt it will be in time to cnable the collection of taxes based thereon to be made next May. The Commissicners ere pleased to be able to report that the reassessment of real estate so far as made has met with general approval and justifies the adoption of the system under which it Was made. They anticipate that the re- mainder of the work will be as satisfac- tory. Rate of General Tax. The rate of general tax for the year was fixed, pursuant to law, at $1.0 on each $100 for all taxable personal property and tor all real property, except that used sole- ly for agricultural ‘purposes, the rate of which was $1 per $100 of assessed valuation. Defects in the Tax Sale System, The Commissioners invite attention to the views expressed by them in their annual re- port of last year relative to the need of legislation to improve the efficlency of the law pertaining to sales of property for ar- Tegrs of taxes, as follows: “By a decision of the Supreme Court of the District of, Columbia in the case of John H. Brewer against the District of Columbia ¢t al., Equity No. 9513, decided November 4, 1866 (Fifth Mackey’s Reports, DP. 274 et seq.), the District has been de- Prived of a Jarge amount of money deriv- able from faxes.’ The substance of this cision 1s that a.deed of property made in bursuance of a gale for arrears of taxes for eny certain year. passes the property volved to the purchaser, discharged of the liens of all taxes remaining due and unpaid at the time of the sale, so far as the Dis- trict is congerned. Many persons take ad- Vantage of this ruling and omit to pay their taxes, thus imposing undue burdens upon those who pay their. taxes. promptly. A’ bill designed to remedy this defect was introduced in the House of Representa- tives, The Commissioners will, during the present session, again submit’ a bill em- bodying their views on this subject. “An essential fault in the existing law re- lating to tax sales is the peremptory re- quirement that at the expiration of two years from the date of the sale of a pieze of rea! estate for overdue taxes the Coin- missioners must on demand of the owners of the tax sale certificate issued a deed for the property. As the deed carries with it a clear tile against any claim of the District for taxes due prior to its issue, It is a con- ven @t agency for the evasion of the pay- meni of back taxes. The bill prepared by the Commissioners proposes to correct the statute by providing that no tax deed shall be issued until all taxes appearing on the tax books against the property embrace] in the deed, with the penalties, interest and costs, including the taxes for any years for which the District shall have purchased the property at tax sale, shall have been paid.” They earnestly recommend the necessary legislation in’ the premises. Revision of License Laws. The development of new kinds of busi- ness, and the modification and abandon- ment of old ones in consequence of judicial rulings, and the progress and vicissitudes of commercial, professional and industrial enterprize, have made many old license re- quirements obsolete or inadequate and created occasion for new ones. The asses- sor makes some valuable suggestions on the subject in his report, to which atten- tion is invited. The Commissioners will endeavor to submit to Congress during the present session a bill embodying their views as to needed legislation on this point, Licenses and Breweries. Thera are four brewertes doing business in the District of Columbia and one about to begin operations, besides a score of agencies of foreign breweries engaged in paalnces here, all of rom license tax by the provisions of sec- tion 1 of the act of March 3, 1803, entitled ‘An act regulating the sale of intoxica rs liquors in the District of lumbia,”” which makes the law inapplicable to sales of in- toxicants “by the maker, brewer or dis- tiller thereof, not to be sold on the prem- ises.” This exemption also excepts bre eries from the prohibition against Sunday liquor selling. This discrimination in fa- vor of brewerles was evidently an inad- vertence, but is so unjust and so demoral- izing in Its tendencies as to require imme- diate correction. The Commissioners will recommend to Congress at { - sion a bill to effect that object. Doe Insurance Legislation. The existing law regulating the business of insurance in the District of Columbia is inadequate in its provisions for the protec- tion of the. public and the punishment of fraudulent agents, particul: to assessment companies, "7 'P Telation ‘he operation of assessment is encouraged by the provision of the le which exempts them from the requirement that insurance,companties organized or in- corporated-in the District of Columbia, and doing business: there, shall have a paid-up cash capital of $100,000. Many assessment compantesiare organized as such solely to avoid that provision, and do a business of the most )fraudulent character, There is no law by which they can be interfered with, excluded or punished. The Commis- sioners hawe im course of preparation and will submit a draft of a bill designed to remedy these: defects, Taxation of Private sg. The laws, of June 11, 1878, and June 1: 1870, exempting! school houses from taxa. tion, are, ‘€s cohstrued by the court, sus- ceptible of serious abuse. The first wamed act prescribes that from and after its pas- sage “all churches and school houses, and all buildings, grounds and property appur- tenant thereto, and used in connection therewith in the District of Columbia, shail be exempt from any and all taxes or as- sessments, national, municipal or county.” ‘The last named act defines the term “school houses” as 80 used to be “intended to cm- brace all collegiate establishinents actually used for educational purposes, and not for private gain, but that if any portion of sald building or grounds in terms ex22pted is used to secure a rent or income, or for any. business purpose, such portion of the same or a sum equal in value to such por- tion shall be taxed.” In the case of a building occupied as a private school the court held the property involved to be ex- empt from taxation while used exclusively which are exempt jchool Property. a a a Greatest Xmas on surprisingly easy terms. T! ily possible to secure. what $1.co will do. NEVER again will an opportunity ARY AND ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ALL THE WORLD'S KNOWLE Gift for the fa See he introductory distrib; he Cost $750,000 to Make ASEREEER?” eeeeapr sete tenon ae Four massive volumes, 11% in, long, 3 in. thick, containing pages, 16,000 coluuns of clear type 3,000 illustration 250,000 words Five Cents a Day Buys each 9 in. wide, 50,000 encyclopaedic topics. Welght, 40 lbs. | It. it. Tt 4s the In bridged,” including cancot be found in a ost, thousands of the very other refe ne tion, including Huxley, It is superbly Mustrated with brillian wood cuts in the text—a genuine trump It i an ornament to any It ' tially bound to If you lve out of the city we w! PS PEGEROR LER EGE LA SARE CHE ina PALAIS ROYAL, Washington, D. C.. Inclosed find $1 for which please send i PHIDPE PA IDOPIOOPOO OOS ENCYCLOPAEDIC DICTIONARY. year, Name......++ 5 Address. “educational purposes,” although it Soon clear that one of the objects of such vse of the property was “private gain. whatever may be the special merits of that case, the Commissioners cannot but ¢x- their apprehension that great em- assment would coat trom a —— a application of the principles upon h that ruling is based. They have already been called upon to pass upon “laims for exemption from taxes of other oroperty used in whole or part for private scnool purposes, upon the same grounds, which may involve the question of refundment of taxes already paid as well as the remis: of those current and future. Bathing Beach. With the object of giving effect to the ap- propriation made under the current District law “toward adapting the inner basin of the Potomac flats for a bathing beach pool, with the approval of the Secretary of War, $4,000," the Commissioners have submitted to the Secretary of War plans prepared by the superintendent of the bathing beach, which seem well designed to secure the object of that appropriation. The utility of the bathing beach is too manifest to need argument. It remains for the author- ities to provide the best possible bathing facilities with the highest attainable de- gree of safety. This has been and is the object In the measures taken toward ob- taining the use of the inner basin for a bathing beach, as it may ut a moderate expense be arranged to meet those condi- tions. The patronage and popularity of this means of recreation increase with each new bathing season. Smoke Nuixance, The scot of bituminous coal smoke emit- ted from the chimneys of stationary boiler furnaces is the cause of much discomfort and injury to the public, and its continu- ance would be a disgrace to the munici- pality. The nuisance is the more d:scred- itable for the reason that it is to a large extent unnecessary, and may be almost entirely obviated by careful stoking and the use of properly constructed furnaces. It has grown to such an extent and is in- creasing at such a rate that immediate ac- tion for its suppression is generally de- manded if the city is to sustain its excep- tional reputation for cleanliness and com- fort. Several years ago the Commissioners recommended to Congress the enactment of a bill to regulate the matter, but it failed to become law. They earnestly renew their recommendation for early legislation on the subject. Police Court Revenues, In consequence of the defective system of accounts connected with the collection and deposit of fines, penalties, &c., in the Police Court of the District, the official detailed by the superintendent of police to represent that officer as collector on the District side that court failed to deposit or account for $11,507.82 of such fines, &c., collected by him from. July 9, 1892, to August 25, 1896. Section 1079-of the Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to the District of Columbia, provides that “all fines, penal- fes, cost and forfe;tures imposed or taxed by the Police Court shall be collected by the marshal or by the major of police, as the case may be, on process ordered by the court, and by them paid over to the Dis- rt." "Snaer that system, neither the Commis- sioners nor the auditor have any authority to supervise or audit those accounts, and therefore have no responsibility for the de- falcation. ‘They have in course of preparation a draft of a bill which they will submit at the present session, designed to amend ex- isting law on the subject, so as to provide for the appointment of an adequately bended receiving officer for all of this class of revenues. The Municipal Building and Court House. ‘The District government is an agency es- tabiished by the federal government largely for its own uses and in furtherance of na- tional ends and objects. Chief among the purposes sovght to be effected by its estab- Mshmert, was that of making the “place where the people's servants perform the people's work habitable, healthful, clean, well lighted, orderly and attractive. There is scarcely a function which per- tains to the municipal offices of Washing- ton which has not relation to the well-be- ig, health, comfort and the safety of the people who reside here in tle capacity of employes of the American people. And yet, of all Americen cities of like greatest, and only up-to Look on cart Dinding (remember we advise Half Russia) of THT I agree to pay the balance at the rate of $1.50 monthly for one PEPE OD SPEEDS SIOHETEL SE CH 5 kind.” Dicti west terms and ", containing nearly tw nitions, such as “vitascope n treats « up of t ost fi and a hundred others of in plates in 17 colors, scores of s 2: t cl of ws beautifally printed from rew plates on a superior grade of book M1 send you a get by express—if your onter a ret in. SORSESOODIPNSOEOEOOODD a population, the federal capital is the only one which, for a quarter of a century, has had to have recourse to such rented quar- ters as could be obtained for that part of the public service which executes the will of Congress as to all matters within the purview of municipal control. The growth and the extension of the cap:- tal, and the increase in the number of the interests corcentrated here, have been such that the Commissioners would be justly censurable if they should fail to bring t the attention of the Congress, with all of the emphasis possible, the fact that lone before a new structure can be completed the greatest embarrassment and confusio: in the conduct of the public business m inevitably result from the want of a build ing erected for the uses of the District of Columbia. In their estimates for the next fiscal year the Commissioners have incorporated an item of one hundred thousand ($100,0:4) dol- Jars, which they request may be appro- priated for the beginning of a bullding, to be erected on and near the site of the old City Hall, to be used for municipal and court purposes. It is well known that a large portion of that building is very old and in not the hest sanitary condition. The Court of Ap- ra is already cramped for room, and has ne such quarters assigned to it as bents its dignity and importance. Even in the District building, which is more comforta- Le than any heretofore occupied, the poli: department is seriously incommoted for the want of more room. One room. about 2x16 feet, is occupied by seven clerks, and, including visitors, has on an average ¢ twelve occupants at all times duriug bus! ness hours: another room in the me de- pertment, 9x15 fect, has to accommodate thirteen men a large portion of the day. Such use of both rooms has been con- demned by the health officer of the District. In order to begin the erection of a new building it will not be necessary to inte fere with the use of the courts of the pri ent city hall until such time as the erection of 2 new wing cf the proposed new build- ing can accommodate the courts of the Dis- trict. Our people and our influential press gen- erally approve of the proposed location. If an appropriation be made at this session of Congress it may well be expected that by the beginning of the next century th courts and the District government may be adequately provided for in a fire-proof structure, so arranged that the business of the courts need not be interrupted by any ccngregations of people who may visit the part to be assigned for municipal purposes. The Fire Department. During the fiscal year 18% the engine heuse on M street between New Jer avenue and Ist sireet northwest, for the use of truck D, was completed, and the gine nouse on D street between Ith an 14th streets northwest was nearly com- pleted. With the growth and development of the city and the populcus suburbs, an equiva- lent extension of the fire service becomes indispersable. The recent report of the 4s- sessor of the District of Columbia, modified by more recent information from United States officers, shows that the value of buildings in the District aggregates about $190,241,921; of this amount buildings of the value of $108,528,100 are owned by the United States of America. For the protec- ticn of all this vast Investment in buildings from destruction or injury by fire the equipment of the fire department of the District consists of ten fire engines, four hcok and ladder companies and two chem- ical engine companies. The Commissioners have appended to their estimate of appre priations for the fiscal year 1N9S a tab’ showing the population of the principal cities of the Union and the equipment of each of said cities for protection agai fire. Of these cities San Francisco, C land. Buffalo and Pittsburg approximate the District in population. The other citie named in the following table do not equal in population the District: oe City. y panies. Population, San Francisco. Pittsburg. aasaeeae seenwnnss haa eandaonsne oS a). It not infrequently happens that, when rea volumes will be quent y Binding, $1 Russia binding, an ellowance represents cost of keeping mont) be presented to secure this great ution lasts but a few days longer. the very same books will cost you MORE THAN DOUBLE today’s price, with no discounts or special terms of any kind. You will SAVE HALF YOUR MONEY and DOUB POWER by sending or comin, 0 \ ig at once and securing an advance set of the WORLD'S GR EST HOME EDUCATOR, t Encyclopedic Dictionary, New and richly illustrated edition, revised to July 1. $1.00 Secures Immediate Possession of | This superb work. (See terms below.) ' scholars, educators and scientists everywhere. | ing magazines and newspapers throughout Christendom. | what the Christian Herald of New York, edited by Rev. T. De Witt Talmage, D.D., says: “The people of America, no less than the publishers of the cyclopaedic Dictionary, are to be congratulated upon the happy result of this vast educational enterprise—the former because o} the grand opportunity afforded to secure a work of almost price- less educational value at a merely nominal cost, and the latter | because a sharp campaign of enly a few months ha | work at the very head of all contemporary as many @efincd yelopacdias costing fram $50 t0 ms, Kehentsis and speci Jonal renown, rh fall-pa PALA ROYA Eleventh and G Sts. Bring or send $1, and the four handsome delivered to you, ments are made as First paymet sh layers a dix- nt of 10 per cent will be allowed. ‘This couats. We recommend IL nding as most servic Out-o4 tof SI |. also Alrections, paid by purchaser, represented within ten x in Washing mone wi STANDARD DICTIO? DGE at half price and After it ends -E YOUR BRAIN AT- Cordially indorsed by and by all the lead- Read of placed their publications of — its Perfect Home Educator for Young and Old. mentees i 8 of this gene ings in mond . and 3,000 per, from sharp, clear type, YOURS TODAY AT HALF PRICE AND ON EASY TERMS. us ia time. J ~~ eneral alarm has called the entire fire lepartment to one section of the cit her fires have occurred in parts 0. Ub rict remote from the scene of the first alarm. Well be expected that such a may exist ‘as to divid the available resources of the departm: ‘o as to render it, as it now consists, in- capable of meeting the demands upon it. A better equipment of the District fire de- partment 4s, therefore, ively a manded by the common precautions which would go: man in regard to his ow The Superintendent of Charities. The interest which has been shown in re- gard to public charity administration in the District, and the discussion had upon the subject during the last session of Con- gress, render the report of the superintend- ent of charities upon the branch of the public service under his supervision of more than usual importanc Public Schools, The reports of the officers in charge of the public schools show the increasing im portance and uscfulness of the publ em of the District. The Commi recommend a continuan of the wise generous treatment this branch of the gov- ernment has received. Health Department, The work of the health clearly and carefully sta of the health officer, and the attention of Congress is invited to his important recom mendations, in which the concur. It is a cause of much re gratifying deere in the death ported jast year—the lowes years—has ne a still below that of any year prior to 1 The whole number of deaths from causes was 5.04, an increase of that of the previous year, in the death rate on th from 20.57 to 2144. The death rate for the whit mated at 1N7,600, was from and for the ‘colored, was from 2S.18 to 20-4 number of deaths, 211, or about 60 per were from zymotic | «i s. the whe number of deaths from t class of diseases being 1,247, of which 69% were white, and 5o4 colored, an increase in the death rate from this class of diseases of 0.3% for whites and of 107 for the colored popul tion. Of the whole mortality in this cl: the heaith officer reports that 5% per eccurred among chiljren under five of age, and that three-fourths of were in their first year. The principal causes of deaths partment in the report is Commissioners 1 stimated at Of this increas nt these in this ths G1 white and 5 deaths (65 white % colored); typhoid fever, deaths (158 white and % colored); malarial fever, S4 deaths (41 white and 48 colored); la grippo (epidginic influenza), deaths and 27 colored) Tha deaths (237 white and scarlet fever, 13 deaths (0 white coiored).”” Of the 228 deaths from 194 occurred between Jun 7, of which and December. e total incr whole year, however, was only 41 were reported among the whites 2N6 of diphtheria, 63 of which wet among the colored, 40 cases, 1 fatal. The decrease in the per 10,000 of typhoid fe 29 were in October, > T of whica numb population, were ‘to I. 4, has been due almost ren) in the s the health officer, to the and unaccountable decrease lence of the dise: ple. The decrease, however, in the entage of fatal cases, from » has resulted chiefly from the dimin- d fatality of the dis the whites from 28.20 to 25 Two hundred and searlet fever were re] among colored. of which ere fatal. There Ss bees a decrease in the pri i number of cases among both races d the last three years; the very con: ble facrease in the fatality of the « among the colored people, from 4.44 to 1 has, however, produced a slight increase in the percentage of fatal cases. These valuable statistics furnished by the health officer confirm and render more preminent the fact to which the Commis (Continued on Fifteenth Page.)