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BUREAU OF‘ GQVERNMENT , m 0
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN‘
'DISTRIOT OF COLUMBIA
HANDBOOK
3
Published for the use of Jthetﬂouse
Committee on the District of Columbia
Sixty-ﬁrst Congress
Compiled under the supervision of
HON. S. W. SMITH
Chairman
By LEWIS M. MILLER
Clerk
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1910
SEO. 8. The Congress shall have power—
To exercise exclusive legislation in all Cilbt‘S‘ whatsoever ewr euch
District (not exceeding ten 1nile~ square) as may, by (session of par~
ticular States and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the
government of the United Statee.
’ -—C0nst?'tut?'0n 0f the U m'ted States. Article I .
2
PREFACE.
This handbook is intended to include only the principal provi-
sions of the laws and ordinances enacted for the administration of
the government of the District of Columbia, together with some
explanatory matter. References to the statutes are given for the
beneﬁt of those who Wish to go more fully into detail. In these
references the following abbreviations are used:
27/551 and other similar designations refer to the volume and
page of the Statutes at Large; L. A., acts of the legislative assembly;
Com. Crd., Commissioners’ order; Ord. Sup. Ct., order of the Dis-
trict supreme court; ()rdn. Bd. Health; ordinance of the board of
health; R. S. D. C., revised statutes of the District of Columbia;
R. S. U. S., Revised Statutes of the United States; Reg. EX. Bd.,
regulation of the excise board; \V. D., Webb’s Digest.
The appropriations referred to are those made in the District
appropriation act of March 3, 1909. and the “ last ﬁscal year” is
intended to mean the ﬁscal year ended June 30, 1910.
This work being the ﬁrst venture in its peculiar province, its dis-
crepancies may be corrected in later editions. should it prove Worthy
of such.
COMPILER.
3
’ 377376
ABSTRACT COMPANIES.
Pay annual tax of 1-.1~ per cent of gross receipts in District
(33/564.)
ALLEYS AND MINOR STREETS.
Naming.——Commissioners may name or rename alleys outside
of city; names official when recorded in surveyor’s office (33/14).
Olmnging.—On petition of all owners of entire or part of
square bounded by public streets and offer of dedication when
necessary, with plat, commissioners may close alley way or ways
and open new ones. (Code, 1605—7.)
Dwellings ova—Unlawful to locate dwelling on alley than
30 feet wide and not supplied with sewerage, water main, and
light,‘ or not running straight to, and opening at right angles on,
public street. with at least one exit 15 feet clear; dwelling not
to be located less than 20 feet back of center line (27/254).
Alleys and minor st'reeta—Commissioners may open, widen, or
straighten, (1) on petition of owners of more than one-half of
real estate in square: (2) when public interests require; or when health officer certiﬁes to necessity; alleys may be closed if
unnecessary, or on dedication of new ones, or if less than 10 feet
wide. on application of owners: if not original alley, title to
revert; condemnation proceedings may be had (Code 1008 et seq.,
33/733—7); in paying for opening, etc., accounting officers to
take into account beneﬁts and damages assessed and pay only
excess of latter over former (33/802) ; commissioners authorized
to pay costs of proceedings that fail of conﬁrmation and ratiﬁ-
cation by court (35/494).
Minor street—To be not less than 40 nor more than 60 feet
wide and to run through square or block. (Code, 1608.)
As to ALLEYS; see also ASSESSMENT AND PERMIT “Tomi.
ANACOSTIA FLATS.
Appropriation of $5,000 for special counsel to investigate
ownership of land and riparian rights along river, to improve
(35/700). '
6 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HAND-BOOK.
ANATOMICAL BOARD.
Consists of health ofﬁcer and two representatives selected from
and by each medical school, for control and distribution of un-
claimed bodies of persons to be disposed of at public expense
among medical schools only for promotion of science of medicine
and dentistry ( 32/178—5).
ANIMALS.
Contagious diseases am0ng.——See HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Cruelty t0.——See CRUELTY.
Dead—Disposal of. See GARBAGE.
Domestia—Not permitted to run at large. (21 /35; Com. Ord.;
()rdn. Bd. Health.)
Slaughtering 0f.—-Regulation and sanitary inspection of, pro-
vided for by ordinances of former board of health.
APOTHECARIES. See Dntccrs'rs; PHARMACY.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Sums annually appropriated for expenses of District govern-
ment are for ﬁscal years, beginning July 1 and ending June 30 of
following calendar year. payable half and half by United States
and District (20/104; 35/688); balances remaining at end of
two years from close of ﬁscal year to be covered into Treasury,
to credit of surplus fund and general fund of District equally
(25/808).
ARLINGTON RESERVATION.
“Tashington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway Com-
pany required to construct line to (28/499) and through
(28/593).
ASHES. '
Disposal 0f.—See GARBAGE.
ASPHALT AND CEMENT INSPECTOR.
In engi-neer’s oﬁfca—Salary, $2,400; assistant, $1,500; not to
accept compensation for work or services of character required of
him oﬁicially from anyone else than District (35/691—2).
ASSESSMENT AND PERMIT WORK.
Commissioners authorized, for public health. safety, or com-
fort, upon application and deposit equal to one-half of estimated
cost, to improve and repair alleys and sidewalks, and construct
sewers and sidewalks of form and materials deemed best; cost
to be paid from appropriations for such work and one-half levied
against property pro rata according to linear frontage; one-
DISTRICT OF COLUIVIBIA HANDBOOK. 7
ASSESSMENT AND PERMIT WORK—Continued.
third payable within sixty days, without interest, one-third in
one year and remainder in two years, with interest at 8 per cent;
after completion of work, commissioners to repay to appropria-
tion one-half of cost and return surplus to depositors (28/247—8;
34/1127) ; cost of new sidewalks or curbing required on streets
improved to be assessed one-half against abutting property in
same manner, but not when they have been laid under assess—
ment and permit work within two years (28/250).
Appropriation for work during ﬁscal year ending June 30,
1910, $160,000 (35/696).
During last ﬁscal year about $200,000 was expended in paving
sidewalks and alleys; sidewalks constructed of cement, alleys
paved with vitriﬁed or asphalt blocks; prices paid for sidewalks
per square yard—within city, 95 cents; outside, $1.18; prices this
year, 945;- cents and $1.20, respectively; alleys are paved by day
labor.
ASSESSOR.
The ofﬁce of assessor was created by Congress in 1877 (19/400) ,
directing the commissioners to appoint three competent persons
to be assessors, to hold office ﬁve years unless sooner removed.
Under authority of the organic act of 1878 (20 /104), “ to abolish
any ofﬁce and to consolidate two or more oflices,” the commis-
sioners abolished two assessors and consolidated the office with
that of treasurer and superintendent of assessment and taxes,
under the name of “ the Treasurer and Assessor’s Office.” The
office of treasurer was abolished by Congress in 1881 (21/460),
leaving only the office of assessor. A later act (32/617) pro—
vides that the assessor and assistants shall not be removed
except for ineﬂiciency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.
He gives $10,000 bond (30/666). Besides his duties in connec-
tion with the assessment of property for taxation, he issues all
licenses (32/623), certiﬁes to ownership of real property by
signers of permissions to locate barrooms (27 /565), and per-
forms miscellaneous duties of like nature.
Board of assistant assessors.
The assessor has ﬁve assistants, appointed by the commis-
sioners. He designates three of these to act as assessors of real
property and as the excise board. The other two compose the
board of personal-tax appraisers. All ﬁve assistants, with the
assessor, constitute the board of equalization and review and the
board of personal-tax appeals. The assessor is ex officio chair-
man of all the boards (28/282: 32/617).
'8 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HAND-soon;
' ASSESSOR—Continued.
Appropriations for Office.
Assessor, $4,000; three assistants, $3,000 each; two at $2,000
each; draftsman, $1,200; inspector of licenses, $1,200; assistant,
$1,000; clerks and other help, $23,620 (3,5/689—90) .
ASYLUMS.
Named in appropriation acts to report to commissioners, on or
before December 1, detailed account of receipts and expenditures
and all their operations; commissioners to transmit same to Con-
gress at beginning of regular session, with suggestions, recom-
mendations, and estimates (25/327, 807).
Pri'vata—See PRIVATE AsYLUMs AND HOSPITALS.
l-Vashz'ngton Asje/Zv/m—See CHARITIES (charitable institutions).
AUDITOR. .
Appointed by connnissioners; has general oversight of ﬁnancial
affairs of District; passes upon all accounts affecting general rev-
enues; required to audit all disbursements wholly or in part from
District revenues, unless otherwise provided; prepares and coun-
tersigns all checks issued by disbursing oﬂicer; and renders
monthly, to Auditor for State and Other Departments, detailed
statements, with accompanying vouchers, of all expenditures
made by disbursing oﬂicer certiﬁed by commissioners.
Appropriations for ofﬁce.
Auditor, $4,000; chief clerk, $2,250; bookkeeper, $1,800; dis—
bursing otﬁcer, $3,000; deputy, $1,600; clerks and messengers,
$17,680 (35/690).
AUTOMOBILES.
‘ To be brought to full stop when driver of horse-drawn Vehicle
signals by raising hand; to be always under control of operator.
(34/622.) ,,
Annual wheel tam Ola—Having seats for 2 persons, $3, and $2
for each additional seat- (35/693) : amount received from, during
last ﬁscal year, $3,368.
Automobile board.
Article Xxiv, section 10, of the police regulations provides for
an “ automobile board,” consisting of the board of examiners of
steam engineers, an inspector of the electrical department, and
the permit clerk, to consider and passupon applications for per-
mits to operate motor vehicles; appropriation for salary of‘ per-
mit clerk as acting secretary, $300 (35/693).
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 9
AUTOMOBILES—Continued.
Police regulations. -
No one allowed to operate motorvehicle without examination
by, and permit from, automobile board; no permit to be issued
to person under 18; permits to be numbered and contain name
and address; each'vehicle to be identiﬁed with number tag; fee
for tag, $1; vehicle brought in for transient stay, having complied
with laws of other State, requires no tag, but must be registered
within twenty-four hours and. may be operated in District sixty
days; vehicles to have lamps and lock on starting lever; to be
locked when left unattended; vehicles moving north or south
have right of way over those moving east or west; no intoxicated
person to operate vehicle; permit to be exhibited to officer.
Speed regulations.
l'Vz'zfhz'n ﬁre limits—No automobile, horseless or motor vehicle,
bicycle, or horse-drawn vehicle to be driven faster per hour than
' 12 miles between intersecting streets; 15 miles through any park;
8 miles across streets; 6 miles around corners; 4 miles in the fol-
lowing places: East side Fifteenth street N 'W., between south
building line of G street and south curb of New York avenue;
west side Fifteenth. street NWV, between south building line of
G street extended to west side of Fifteenth street, and from said
line north to north curb of Pennsylvania avenue; intersection of
Ninth and F streets NW., between building lines of said streets;
intersection'of Ninth and G streets NVV., between building lines
of said streets; intersection of Eleventh and F streets N‘V, be-
tween building lines of said streets; intersection of Eleventh and
it streets N151, between building lines of said streets (34/621—2).
Outside of ﬁre limits—Not. to exceed 20 miles an hour, nor to
exceed 12 miles an hour when meeting or passing other vehicles
(34/622). -
AVENU ES. See S'rnnn'rs.
BANKS AND BANKERS. .
incorporated, to make affidavit to board of personal tax ap-
praisers, on or before August 1, of gross earnings of preceding
fiscal year; to pay 6 per cent tax on gross earnings, and real
estate tax (32/619, 33/564).
Unincorporated, to pay annual tax of $500 (32/621).
Valuation of gross earnings of banks and trust companies for
last ﬁscal year, for taxation, 952,517 ,229.7 5.
BARBER SHOPS.
Commissioners’ regulations of June 1, 1906, require every
manager to register name and location in health ofﬁce and prop‘
10 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
BARBER SHOPS——C0ntinued.
erly equip shop; prohibit any person having communicable skin
or venereal disease from operating, and prescribe stringent sani-
tary rules. Act of September 17 _. 1869. of legislative assembly,
requires closing on Sunday.
BARROOM.
To be kept closed between midnight and l a. m. and on Sundays
(27/565); license for, required for every hotel, tavern, or place
where liquors are retailed (27/566).
' BATHING BEACH.
Act of Congress of September 6, 1890, established a free public
bathing beach, but it was abandoned twelve years later. Two
ponds formerly used for ﬁsh culture have been transferred to the
District. for public baths. The pools are ﬁlled with ﬁltered Po-
tomac water, and the cost of maintenance is paid as other general
expenses, small fees being charged for suits, etc. The primary
purpose of the baths is not diversion, but instruction in swim~
ming, especially of the young. More than 1,000 were taught to
swim during the past season. and about 34,000 bat-hers used the
bathing pools. Article xxi of the‘ police regulations govern the
use of the premises. Appropriations: Superintendent, $600;
other employees, $2,450 (35/701).
BICYOLES. See AUTCMoRILRs—(SPRED REGULATIONS).
BILLIARDS, ETC.
No barroom licensee to allow playing of, where liquors are sold,
except by permit of excise board (27/568) ; no billiard, bagatelle,
Jenny-Lind, or pool table or shuﬁleboard to» be kept for public
use without annual license of $3 for each table; intoxicating
liquors not to be sold in same room with; places to be closed same
as barrooms (29/594—5).
BILLPOSTERS, ETC.
Pay annual tax of $20 (32/627). ,
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. See VITAL S'I‘.~\'I‘IS'I‘ICS.
BLIND.
Appropriation for instruction of indigent blind children in
Maryland or other State. under contract with commissioners,
$6.000 (35/710).
BOATS, VESSELS, SHIPS. _,
Taxed as personal property (32/618); persons engaging as
common carriers by, after June 30, not taxed elsewhere, to ﬁle
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 11
BOATS, VESSELS, SHIPS—Continued.
sworn statement of value with assessor and pay tax for rest of
ﬁscal year (33/563—4).
The tax assessed against steamboat companies for the last ﬁscal
year was $11,229.
BOILER INSPECTION.
An act of the legislative assembly provides for the appoint-
ment of an inspector required. to test yearly every boiler used by
private persons for power to operate machinery and condemn‘
unsafe ones; entitled to fee of $5 for each examination, but no
salary. All boilers subject to such safety tests as commissioners
prescribe (24/427). Number inspected during the last ﬁscal
year, 514; total fees, $2,295; expenses, $418.90: net compensation
of inspector, $1,876.10.
BONDING COMPANIES.
To pay tax of 1-} per cent of gross receipts in District (33/564).
BONDS OF DISTRICT. See THREE—sIXTY—FIVE Bonus.
BOOKS OR POOLS.
Making of. prohibited. (Code. 869; 35/164).
BOWLING ALLEYS.
To be. closed same as barrtimms (29/595).
BRIDGES.
Across Potomac and other streams, commissioners to make
annual estimate of cost of constructing, repairing, and main-
taining (20/ 104) : control of all. except Aqueduct Bridge
across Rock Creek, conferred upon commissioners with power to
make proper regulations for safety, lighting, and police (27 / 544) ;
any across Rock Creek, used by street railway, one-half of main-
tenance and repair to be borne by company (28/252) ; retent of
10 per cent on contracts for building, for one year from com-
pletion (34/94) ; highway, over Potomac, appropriation for care
of, $16,000 (35/699); engineer of bridges in engineer’s office,
salary $2,250 (35/691).
Aqueduct Bridge (over Potomac).
superstructure to be changed and track placed across, for and
at expense of Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad Company
of Virginia; company to maintain bridge floor; other com-
panies may use (32/781).
Anacostia River bridge.
Any other company may use track of Anacostia and Potomac
River Railroad Company across (33/372) appropriation of
l2 jnrstrnicri or’ COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
BRIDGES—Continued.
Anacostia, River bridge—Continued.
$5,600 for operation of; of $10,000 to remove superstructure and
substructure of old (35/699). New bridge opened to .traﬁc in
December, 1908. "
Piney Branch bridge. .
7 On Sixteenth street, appropriation for widening, $85,000.
BROKER.
General, to pay annual tax of $250 (32/621) ; broker who has
paid tax as banker, not taxable as broker; member of regularly
organized stock exchange outside of. and doing business in Dis-
trict, to pay tax of $100; note broker to pay tax of $100 annually
(32/622).
‘BUCKET SHOPS AND BUCKETING.
Prohibited and severely punished by code, 869a—d (35 /670).
BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS. I
To pay a tax of 2 per cent per annnm on gross earnings for
preceding ﬁscal year (33/564).
Gross earnings assessed at $859,216.23 for last ﬁscal year.
BUILDINGS.
‘ There are estimated to be 52,563 brick and 23,844 frame build—
ings in the District. , .
Commissioners to make such building regulations as they deem
advisable (20/131).
Height of buildings.
Nonﬁreproof, to be used as residence. apartment house, hotel,
hospital, or dormitory, not to exceed 5 stories or 60 feet above
sidewalk (33/14:) ; buildings for business only may be 75 feet.
and not ﬁreproof (30/922) ; all abutting on Union Station Plaza
to be ﬁreproof and not more than 80 feet high (33/709); all
exceeding 75 feet high, except churches, to be ﬁreproof and of
materials prescribed by commissioners; churches within ﬁre
limits to be ﬁreproof up to and including main auditorium ﬂoor
(30/922; 32/1022); height of building .not to exceed street
width; on business street no building to exceed 110 feet, but
may be 130 on ‘160-foot street; on residence’ street, not to exceed
80 feet nor 10 feet less than street width; on 60 to 65 foot streets
or less, height equal to street width allowed; height to be re-
duced- by projections, but commissioners may approve spires, _
‘etc, of greater height and adopt schedules for certain cases
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
BUILDINGS—Continual.
Height of buildings——(‘ontinued.
(32/1022—3) : wooden building for human habitation not to
exceed 1) stories or 10 feet to roof: parapet walls not to extend
above limit (32/1023).
Inspection of buildings.
It is unlawful to erect. alter. repair. remove. or demolish any
private building without permission of the inspector of build-
ings and in accordance with the building regulations. Com-
missioners authorized to prescribe fees for permits, certiﬁcates,
and transcripts of records issued by inspector for erecting, alter-
ing, repair. or removal. and for locating establishments requir-
ing permits (35/689). ‘
.=-lp7)ropricltio/is for building inspection division of executive
office: Inspector of buildings, $2,750: principal assistant. $1,000;
12 assistants, $11,700: temporary assistants, $2.400; lire-escape
inspector, $1,400; 2 civil engineers or computers, $3,000: drafts-
man, $1,100: superintendent of construction. $1.500: clerks. ste-
nographers, and messenger. $3,380 (35/088). It is expected that
the fees for permits will support the oﬂice of inspector.
Uniform building lines. I '_
Commissioners may establish, on streets or parts of streets not
less than 90 feet wide (1) on presentation of plat and petition
of owners of more than one-half of real estate, or (2) when com-
missioners deem public interests require; condemnation proceed-
ings may be had; law as to parkings to apply; commissioners to
make regulations for care and preservation (34/384—385) ; special
permits for extension of buildings beyond building line to be
granted only on special appli -ation and with. concurreiu-e and
approval of Secretary of )Var (26/808).
Dangerous and unsafe buildings.
Inspector to examine and notify owner to remove; if public
safety requires iimnediate action. inspector may enter premises
and remove or secure structure: if not, survey and report to be
made by three disinterested persons; if owner fails to remove
or secure, inspector to do so: cost assessed against. premises, with
interest at 10 per cent 'after ninety days. collectible as general
taxes (30/923): appropriation for carrying out provisions of
law. $2,000 (35/695). '
Insanitary buildings.
Board for condemnation of. to consist of assistant to engineer
commissioner in charge of buildings, health officer. and inspector
of buildings: to examine into sanitary conditions of buildings.
14 nIsTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
BUILDINGS—Continued.
Insanitary building's—Continued.
to condemn insanitary ones and cause to be put into sanitary
condition, vacated, demolished, or removed; may peaceably enter
and inspect between 8 a. m. and 5 p. m.; failure to remove con-
demned building deemed misdemeanor; building may be removed
by board and cost assessed as tax against premises; condemnation
order reviewable in supreme court; expenses of enforcement of
law payable one-half by District and one-half out of Treasury
(34/157—161) ; appropriation for expenses of enforcement, $3,000
(35/701).
The total number of such buildings examined by the board
since its creation on May 1, 1906, is 1,387; 786 ordered demolished
and 389 ordered repaired.
BUSINESS STREETS. See STREETS.
CABS; TAXICABS; PUBLIC VEHICLES.
Commissioners to prepare and put in operation reasonable
scale of charges for (35/724).
CANALS.
Article xx of police regulations prohibits the throwing of
earth, etc. into any canal, its feeders, basins. or towpath.
CARDS.
Excise board may not permit playing of, where liquors are
sold (27/568).
CATTLE, ETC.
Ordinances of former board of health prescribe regulations
for the slaughtering and sanitary inspection of.
CEMETERIES.
Provisions for the incorporation of cemetery associations, loca-
tion, and maintenance of cemeteries, interment, disinterment,
and removal of bodies and keeping of a register of burials are
found in Code, 658-686. The superintendent or person in charge
is required to register with the health department (Code, 675)
and also each sexton and undertaker (Ordn. Bd. Health).
CENSUS.
The population of the District under the last United States
census (1900) was 278,718 (87,186 colored). The last enumera-
tion made by the police department (April 8, 1909) shows
343,003 (99,142 colored).
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 15
CHARITIES.
Policy of Government—To make no appropriation of money
or property for purpose of founding, maintaining, or aiding
by payment for services, expenses, or otherwise, any church or
religious denomination or any institution or society under sec-
tarian or ecclesiastical control; i‘ * no money appro~
priated for charitable purposes in District shall be paid to any
church or religious denomination, or to any institution or society
under sectarian or ecclesiastical control (29/411, 683).
Named in appropriation acts—To report to commissioners, on
or before December 1, detailed account of receipts and expendi-
tures, and all operations; commissioners to transmit same to
Congress at beginning of regular session, with suggestions, rec-
ommendations, and estimates (25/327,. 807).
Board of Charities.
Consists of five members, residents, appointed by President
with consent of Senate, each for three years, to serve without
compensation; elects president and vice-president and appoints
secretary and other officers, etc., ﬁxing their number. duties, and
compensation within appropriations; visit-s, inspects, and main-
tains general supervision over all institutions, societies, or asso-
ciations of charitable, eleemosynary, correctional. or reforma-
tory character, supported in whole or in part by appropriations;
officers in charge furnish board any desired information or sta-
tistics; plans for new institutions submitted to board; commis-
sioners may order investigation by board of any penal, charita-
ble, or reformatory institution; all accounts and expenditures of
board certified as required by commissioners and paid as other
accounts against District; board makes annual report to Congress.
through commissioners, with report of secretary as to actual
conditions, character, and economy of administration of institu-
tions and amount and sources of public and private income; re-
port also includes recommendations for economical and efficient
administration of charities and reformatories and estimates of
future appropriations, which are included in the annual book of
estimates (31/664).
Contracts—The board makes contracts with various medical
charities for care. maintenance. and treatment of dependents
(35/720—7 21) ; and also with National Training School for Boys
for care and maintenance of boys committed by District C()lll‘f:<
(35/720).
Charitable institutions.
Commissioners to make annual estimates of cost of maintainii'ig
(20/104): to visit. investigate. and have report of receipts of
'000‘i71_$ 'wadson sue-Iraq.)
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91
Dis'rnic'r OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 1
q
CHARITIES—(fontinued.
Medical charities—("ontinued.
Xational Homeopathic Hospital Asso<,~iation, $8,000.
Centml Dispensary and Emergency Hospital, $15,000.
Eastern Dispensary, $7,500 (35/720).
Washington Home for Incurables maintenance), $4,000.
‘Vomen’s Clinic (maintenance), $250.
Georgetown University .Hospital, $3.000.
Sibley Hospital. $3,000 (35/721).
Temporary homes.
Jlum'cépal lodging house, etcn—Appropriations for superin-
tendent, $1,200; other help, maintenance, etc., $2,650 (35/720).
Temporary lwmc for (aw-soldiers, ctc—Appropriations for
superintendent, $1,200; other help, maintenance, etc, $4,720, to
be expended under direction of commissioners (35 /7 23).
Flore/nee Urz'ttenton ope and H clp Mission.—-Appropriation .
for care and maintenance of women and children, under con-
tract with board of charities, $2.500 /'723).
Relief of poor.
Appropriation for, including physicians at not exceeding $1
per day each, to be appointed. by commissioners on recommenda-
tion of health otﬁcer, $12,000; transportation of paupers, $3,000
(35/723—4).
CHILD LABOR.
_No child under 11 to be employed in factory or other business
establishment, or in distribution of merchandise or messages; nor
during school hours; nor before 0 a. m. or after ‘7 p. m.; none
under 16 to be employed in such places without age and schooling
certiﬁcate approved by superintendent of schools; lists of chil-
dren employed to be kept by employer (35/420) ; no minor under
16 to be pern'iitted to Work more than eight hours a day, or before
6 a. 1n. or after 7 p. 111., nor more than forty-eight hours a Week
(35/422) ; no boy under 10 or girl under 16 to exercise trade of
bootblack or sell papers, merchandise. etc., on streets, etc; no
boy under 10 to exercise trade of bootblack or sell papers, etc.,
on streets without permit ‘and badge, issued by superintendent
of Schools, on application of parent, Guardian, or next friend;
no child to sell papers, etc., before 6 a. m. or after 10 p. m.
(35/422—3).
Inspectors of child labor.
Commissioners to appoint two, at compensation not exceeding
$1,200 per annum each; inspectors and truant- officers to Visit
establishments and see Whether minors are unlawfully employed,
22907—1 o__2
18 nIsTRIcT or COLUMBIA HAND-BOOK.
CHILD LABOR—Continued.
Inspectors of child labor—Continued.
and report to superintendent of schools and corporation counsel;
to require age and schooling certiﬁcates and lists of names to be
produced for inspection (35/422).
CHILDREN.
Abwidened—Abandonment or willful neglect or refusal to
provide for, deemed misdemeanor (34/86); workhouse superin-
tendent to pay for support of, out of funds available, 50 cents
for each day’s hard labor of person conﬁned (34/87) ; appropria-
tion for such payments, $2,000 (35/719).
Adoption of.-—Proceedings for, may be had before any judge
of supreme court. (Code, 395.)
Apprentieing.—Proceedings for, may be had in probate court.
(Code, 420.)
Cruelty to.—See CRUELTY.
Delinquent—Held to mean and include any child who has
been convicted more than once of violating any law, ordinance, or
regulation (34/75).
Dependent or neglected—Held to mean and include any child
who is destitute or homeless, or abandoned, or dependent upon
public for support, or has not proper parental care or guardian—
ship, or habitually begs or receives alms, or whose home is an
unﬁt place, or any child under 8 found peddling in streets
(34/74—5).
FeebZe-minded—Board of children’s guardians authorized to
place (27/552); appropriation for maintenance of, $16,000
(35/721).
Guardians oﬁ-Father or mother declared natural guardians;
provisions as to other guardians. (Code, 1123—42.)
J uuenile court—See CoURTs.
J uoenile oﬂ'enders—See PAROLE or JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
Board of Children’s Guardians.
Composed of 9 members of both sexes, appointed by judges of
police and criminal courts, serving without compensation (27/
268-9) ; term, three years; removable for cause; to elect presi-
dent, vice-president, and secretary from own number; may em-
ploy two agents with approval of commissioners, and prescribe
duties; to make arrangements with institutions for care of de-
pendent children; to have care and supervision of children com-
mitted, or destitute, abandoned, of unﬁt parents, habitually beg-
ging, in vicious or immoral habitat-ions, vicious or incorrigible,
and children committed by police, criminal, or juvenile courts and
by boards of trustees of reform schools ( 27/269; 34/74) ; may re-
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 19
CHILDREN—Continued.
Board of Children’s Guardians—Continued.
ceive and temporarily care for children pending investigation or
judgment of court; to be legal guardian of children committed, to
board them in institutions, apprentice, or give them in adoption
(27/269) ; to place feeble-minded children (27 /552) ; in placing
children in private families, to regard religious beliefs or training
as far as practicable (31/843) ; to place in suitable homes, insti-
tutions, or training schools children under 17 committed by
courts for petty offenses; not to commit to jail, but may to re-
form school; person found responsible for support of child may
be required by court to pay stated sums to board (31/1095—6).
Appropriations.—Administrative expenses, $3,100; agent,
$1,800; executive clerk, $1,080; placing officer, $900; 2 placing
officers, $840 each; investigating clerk, $840; other employees,
$2,220; maintenance of feeble-minded children, $16,000; board
and care of children committed by courts, pending investigation
and transfer from place to place, $35,000—not morevithan $1,500
to be paid to institutions under sectarian control and $300 for
burial of children dying while in charge of board (35/721—22).
On June 30, 1909, this board had under its guardianship 1,625
permanent and 137 temporary wards, together with 60 feeble-
minded children.
Child-caring institutions.
Industrial H omc School for W hitc Children—Transfer of, by
.trustees to commissioners; commissioners to appoint 9 trustees
for term of three years to manage, under existing regulations,
subject to commissioners’ approval; supplies to be obtained by
requisition upon commissioners; income to be paid to commis-
sioners for support of school (29/410—11; 23/315); appropria-
tions for superintendent, $1,200; matron, $480; other help, $6,340;
'maintenance, etc., $1,200; repairs and improvements, $1,500;
operating sewage pumping plant, $550; new boiler, $1,000
(35/722). . 7
Industrial Home School for Colored (Mildred—Appropria-
tions for superintendent, $1,200; matron, $480; other help, $4,380;
' temporary services, $500; maintenance, etc., $5,000; furniture
and manual training equipment, $1,000; repairs and improve-
W ments, tiling, etc., $550; all moneys received from sale of prod-
ucts, board, and instruction or otherwise, to be paid to commis-
sioners to be expended for support of school (35/722).
Care and maintenanca—Appropriations for, under contracts
made by board of charities with the following institutions, viz:
National Association for the Relief of Destitute Colored WVomen
20 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HAND-BOOK.
CHILDREN—Continued.
Child-caring institutions—Continued.
and Children, $9,900; “lashington Hospital for Foundlings,
$5,400; St. Ann’s Infant Asylum, $5,400; German Orphan
Asylum, $300 (35/723) .
CHURCH.
License for place for sale of liquors not to be granted within
400 feet of, unless licensed before location of (28/76); within
ﬁre limits, to be ﬁreproof up to and including main auditorium
ﬂoor (30/922; 32/1022).
CIGARS; CIGARETTES.
Not to be sold to minors under 16 (26/736).
CINDERS.
Emission of, from smokestack or chimney (exclusively private
residences excepted) deemed nuisance; no discrimination to be
made against any successful device to prevent (30/812).
CISTERNSI
Or dangerous wells and excavations; regulated by commis-
sioners’ police regulations, article xvii.
CLUB; SOCIETY.
Incorporated. licensed dealer may, with permission of excise
board, sell liquors at bona ﬁde entertainment of (27/565).
COAL OR COKE.
Person selling, to deliver to driver certiﬁcate of weight, weight
of wagon, total weight, and name of purchaser (34/94—5) ;
sealer of Weights and measures to inspect weight of coal sold
(28/813).
CODE OF LAW.
For District, compilation of, provided for (25/872) ; distribu-
tion of, ordered (28/759).
William Stone Abert was employed to make the compilation.
The latest edition (1906) includes all amendments made by Con-
gress to and including March 3, 1905.
COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
The oflice of collector of taxes was created and the duties pre~
scribed by acts of the legislative assembly of August 21 and 23,
1871. Subsequent acts of that body and Congress added other
duties. The salary was ﬁxed at $5,000 and the oﬂicial bond at
$100,000, but the salary has since been reduced (18/117) to
$4,000. He collects all revenues—taxes, licenses, fees, etc—and
DISTRICT OF COLL'h-IBIA HANDBOOK.
COLLECTOR OF TAXES—Continued.
deposits them daily with the United States Treasurer (21/460),
and makes a daily aggregate of the amount collected and fur-
nishes the auditor a copy (L. A., 243) ; and his accounts are set-
tled and adjusted by the accounting otﬁcers of the Treasury De-
partment (20/105).
Appropriations for oﬁtlca—Collector, $4,000; deputy, $2,000;
cashier, $1,800; assist-ant, $1,400; bookkeeper, $1,600; clerks and
messengers, $10,700; extra labor, $800 (35/690).
COLORED PERSONS.
Trade in slaves prohibited after January 1, 1851 (9/467) ; cities
of \Vashington and Georgetown and levy court of \Vashington
County authorized to break up and abolish places of conﬁnement
of slaves brought in as merchandise (9/468) ; slavery abolished
and provisions made to compensate owners loyal to United States
(12/376); provision for education of colored children; colored
persons made amenable to same laws and subject to same penal-
ties as whites (12/407); not to be excluded from ‘street cars
(13/329; 13/537; 15/88) ; word “ white ” stricken from laws
and ordinances, wherever operating as limitation on rights
(16/3); slave marriages and issue legitimated (20/282; Code,
1296-7). Last police department census shows 99,142 in District.
COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR DEAF AND DUMB. See SorIooLs.
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.
Storage, etc., ,regulated by con'unissioners’ police regulations,
article ii. '
COMMISSIONERS OF DEEDS.
President to appoint as many throughout the United States
as necessary for District; term ﬁve years. (Code, 557, 559.)
COMMISSIONERS. '
The present District government is administered by a board
of three commissioners. Two of them, who must have been
actual residents for three years next preceding their appoint-
ment, are appointed by the President from civil life, with the
advice and consent of the Senate. Their term is three years.
The other commissioner is detailed by the President from time
to time from the Engineer Corps of the United States Army
(20/103, 26/1113). The President is also authorized to detail
not more than three junior oﬂicers as assistants to the engineer
commissioner (28/246). The two civil appointees give bond
to the United States in the sum of $50,000, but no bond is re-
quired of the other. They all take the usual oath of oﬂice
22
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
COMMISSIONERS—Continued.
(20/103, 21/460). Two members of the board constitute a
quorum (26/1113). One is elected by the board as president.
It has been the unvarying practice of the Presidents to ap-
point one of the civil commissioners from each of the two most
prominent national political parties, but there is no statutory
provision on the subject. (Tindall.)
Extensive powers of general police regulation have been con-
ferred upon the Board of Commissioners (24/368, 27/394), and
other speciﬁc powers and authority, from time to time, until
their powers of supervision, administration, and control cover
all the minute details of municipal government. The board may
also “grant pardons and respites for offenses against the late
corporation of Washington, the ordinances of Georgetown, and
the levy court, the laws enacted by the legislative assembly, and
the police and building regulations of the District” (27 /22).
For the purpose of facilitating the administration of the
various municipal affairs, the commissioners have arranged their
duties in substantially three groups, and have assigned a several
one of these groups to the immediate supervision of each com-
missioner, whose recommendations on the matters so allotted to
him are ultimately acted upon by himself and his colleagues as
a board. (Tindall.)
Appropriations for emeeutiue oﬁiee—Two commissioners,
$5,000 each; engineer commissioner, $280 (to make salary $5,000) ;
2 assistants (detailed from Engineer Corps, U. S. Army), $250
each; secretary, $2,400; 2 assistants, $1,400 and $1,200; 10 clerks
and stenographers, $10,340; 2 messengers and 2 drivers, $2,160
(35/688).
COMMON CARRIERS.
By vessels, engaging in business after June 30 not taxed
elsewhere), to pay personal tax for rest of ﬁscal year ( 33 /563—4).
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Parent, guardian, etc., required to cause child between 8 and
14 to be regularly instructed in elementary branches in some
public, private, or parochial school (34/219).
Ungraded schools—Board of education may set apart build-
ings or special rooms for ungraded schools; child between 8
and 14 who is habitual truant may be committed by board to
(34/220).
Truant oﬁteers (attendance oﬁicers).—Board,of Education au-
thorized to appoint two, at $600 each, to act with inspectors of
child labor and probation officers to enforce law; to visit places
where minors are employed, to ascertain if laws are complied
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 23
COMPULSORY EDUCATION—Continued.
with, and twice a year demand from employers list of children
employed, with names and ages (34/220) ; to report to superin-
tendent of schools and corporation counsel; to require age and
schooling certiﬁcates and lists of names to be produced for in-
spection (35/422).
CONDUIT ROAD.
Commissioners may extend street-lighting system by incan-
descent 40—candlepower lamps on and along, from Canal road to
District line; location of posts, etc., and use of road to be subject
to regulations of officer in charge of Washington Aqueduct
(35/703).
CONDUITS.
Commissioners to authorize parties operating telephones to
extend conduit system (32/393); companies to submit plans to
be approved by commissioners (32/394); appropriation for
placing ﬁre-alarm, telegraph, telephone, and police-patrol wires
in existing conduits, $11,000 (35/702).
Private conduits.-——Commissioners authorized to permit lay-
ing of conduits in alleys for transmission of electric power and
steam; to be entirely within square or block and not to cross
street; to be located by commissioners and laid under their
inspection; all cost to be paid in advance by party desiring;
to be used only for permittee and not to be rented 31 /217—18) ;
S. Kann Sons & Co. (33/719) and ‘Vashington Market Company
(33/741) authorized to lay conduits across certain streets.
CONSTABLE.
Office of, abolished. (Code, 41.)
CON TAGIOUS DISEASES. See HEALTH DEPARTMENT‘.
CONTRACTS.
Proposala—WVhen repairs of streets, etc., are to be made, new
pavements substituted or laid, or new streets opened, sewers
built, or other public work prosecuted, commissioners publish
notice for‘ proposals; lowest responsible proposal to be accepted,
but commissioners may reject all bids (20/105). Commissioners
also invite proposals for work, material, supplies, and purchases
involving any considerable cost, whenever public interests will be
best subserved.
E zcccatiom—Commissioners to make none not authorized by
Congress (20/104) ;,work capable of execution under one con-
tract not to be subdivided; contract to be entered into only by
24 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
' CON TRACTS—Continued.
unanimous official consent of commissioners; commissioners may
make separate contracts for materials and labor in executing
public works (23,/125).
Bonds—To the United States, with sureties approved by com-
missioners, required of all contractors (20/106, 33/704) ; but not
required on contracts not exceeding $500 (34/546); contractor
for construction or repair of public building, etc., for District,
to execute bond to secure payment for material and labor
(30/906) ; neither commissioner nor other oﬂicer of District ac-
cepted as surety, nor any contractor as surety for other contractor
or oﬂicer (20/103). '
Contractors—To keep new pavements ‘or other work in repair
for ﬁve years from completion of contract (20/106); not to
require or permit laborer to work more than eight hours in cal-
endar day (27 /340).
Retenta—From all contracts for construction work, 10 per cent
as security and guaranty fund to keep in repair and for faith-
ful performance of contract, to be withheld—'-
On asphalt, tar, brick, cement, or stone pavements. ﬁve years
from completion.
On bridges and sewers, one year from completion.
On buildings and other construction work, only until comple-
tion (34/94). .
All moneys retained to be deposited with United States Treas—
urer (34/94), to be invested in United States or District of C0-
lumbia bonds and interest paid to contractors (20/106, 23/313),
or retained by Treasurer, in his discretion, without interest, or
invested in said bonds at request and risk of contractor in amount
of $100 or more (24/501) ; any sum realized from such invest-
ments, above amounts due contractors, to be deposited in Treas-
ury to credit of United States and District equally (23/313);
act extended to cover all contracts for “buildings and other con-
struction work ” (311/929).
CORONER.
Appointed by commissioners (Code 190); duty of, to hold
inquests where death is not known as accidental or natural; jury
to consist of six; commissioners to appoint deputy to perform
duties in case of coroner’s absence or disability, who receives
$5 per day while so acting (528/488) ; coroner to make detailed
monthly report to commissioners. (Code, 192.)
Appropriations f0?a oﬁice: Coroner, $1,800; morgue master,
$720; assistant, $480 (35/690).
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 25
CORPORATION COUNSEL.
Appropriations for office of: Counsel, $4,500; ﬁrst assistant,
$2,500; second assistant, $1,800; third assistant, $1,600; fourth
assistant, $1,500; stenographer, $1,200; clerk, $720 (35/690).
CORPORATIONS.
Doing business in District and not specially taxed, capital
stock of, appraised at fair cash value and taxable at 1 per cent,
deducting value of real estate taxed, and not including corpora-
tions having no special franchise or privilege (32/619—20).
The general provisions of law concerning corporations are
found in Code, chapter xviii.
COUNTIES.
The District was originally divided into two counties, the
Virginia portion composing the county of Alexandria and the
Maryland portion the county of 'Washington (2/105).
COUNTY ROADS.
Superintendent of, in engineer's otlicc: .~\j.>propriation for,
$2,000 (35/691).
coun'rs.
Municipal court.
Former justices’ court to be known as (35/623). The court
was established February 17, 1909, and the commissioners report
that the record which it has made fully j ustiﬁes its creation.
J adgea—To be 6 until ﬁrst vacancy and then 5; only persons
of ﬁve years’ residence and of one year’s incumbency or ﬁve years’
practice eligible; appointed by President for four years (Code,
3) ; removable for incompetency, habitual drunkenness, or official
misconduct. (Code, 40.)
Oﬁocra—Clerk and assistant (35/624) ; United States marshal
for District to serve process. (Code, 41.)
Jurisdictiom—Concurrent with supreme court in civil cases,
replevin, and attachment, when demand or property value does
not exceed $500, except actions involving real estate titles, dam-
ages for assault, or assault and battery, malicious prosecution,
slander or libel, promises to marry, and actions against officers;
exclusive when claim or value does not exceed $300 (Code, 9);
also in trespass upon real estate not involving title (Code, 10)
and in forcible entry and detainer (Code. 20).
Jury ‘trial in, abolished. (Code, 7.)
Appeals from, to supreme court. (Code. 30.)
Appropriations for 5 judges, $2,500 each; sixth judge for six
months, $1,250; clerk, $1,500: assistant. $1.000: janitor, $480;
- other items, $2,250 (35/716).
26
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
COURTS—Continued.
Police court.
Judges—Two, appointed by President, with consent. of Sen-
ate, for six years; to hold separate sessions and may carry on
business simultaneously; to make rules to apportion business
between them. (Code, 42.) '
Jury of 12. (Code, 45.)
Oﬁieers—Clerk and bailiffs appointed by court, deputy clerks
and deputy ‘marshal (Code, 52, 53, 55) ; writs of ﬁeri facias or
other writs of execution on judgments. issued by police court to be
executed by marshal (30/344).
Jurisdiction—Extends to disposition of minor criminal of-
fenses and holding of persons brought before it for action of
grand jury. (Code, 43.)
Appeals‘ lie to court of appeals. (Code, 227.) ,
Appropriations—Two judges, $3,600 each; clerk, $2,000; 2
deputies, $1,500 each; 2 deputies, $1,000 each; deputy (ﬁnancial
clerk), $1,500; 7 bailiffs, $900 each; deputy marshal, $1,000;
janitors, engineers, ﬁreman, matron, charmen, $4,920; miscel-
laneous expenses, $16,950 (35/715-16).
Juvenile court.
Created (34/73).
Judge—Appointed by President for six years, removable for
cause (34/73); may issue permit for employment of child be-
tween 12 and 14, under certain conditions, and revoke same at
discretion (35/420) ; in certain cases may waive necessity of
schooling certiﬁcate for employment of child (35 /421).
Jury of 12 (34/75). ,
Oﬂicera—Probation oﬂicers (male and female) and clerk,
appointed and removable by court, with-duties prescribed by
judge (34/73) ; marshal of District to designate deputy to per-
form duties as required by court (34/7 8).
Jurisdietion—WVith some exceptions, over all offenses com-
mitted by persons under 17; general protection of children, care
of dependent, neglected, and delinquent children; cases of habit-
ual truancy (34/73—4) ; and under child labor law (35/423).
Appeals from, to be heard in court of appeals (34/7 7 ).
Appropriations—For judge, $3,000; clerk, $2,000; deputy,
$1,200; chief probation oﬂicer, $1,500; 2 probation oﬂicers, $1,200
and $1,000; janitor, $540; miscellaneous items, $3,280 (35/715).
During the ﬁscal year ended June 30, 1909, there were brought
before this court 2,546 children, 929 adult cases, chieﬂy for non-
support of wife and children, and 824 cases under the child labor
law.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 27
COURTS—Continued.
Juvenile Court—Continued. .
Fines, etc., in juvenile cases, $3,205.78; received by clerk and
paid for support of families, $38,319.65; paid by workhouse
superintendent for the same, $2,340. -
Supreme court.
J udges.-——One chief justice and 5 associates, appointed by
President, with consent of Senate, to hold during good behavior.
(Code, 60.)
Jurisdiction—Has general jurisdiction and is divided into a
circuit, an equity, a district, a criminal, and 'a probate court
(Code, 61, 62, 69, 83, 84, 85, 116, 117) ; has jurisdiction of peti-
tions for adoption of children (Code, 395) ; and, as probate court,
has jurisdiction over apprenticeship of children (Code, 402-11).
Oﬁicera—Clerk (Code, 65, 174), auditor, crier, and messengers,
appointed by court (Code, 65) ; marshal (186) ; register of wills
acts as clerk of probate court (Code, 120).
Appeals from, to court of appeals (Code 226.)
Appropriationa—Chief justice and 5 associates, $6,000 each;
6 stenographers, $900 each; one-half paid by District (35/906).
Court of appeals.
Judges.—Chief justice and 2 associates, appointed by Presi~
dent, with consent of Senate, to hold during good behavior.
(Code, 231.)
Oﬁicera—Clerk appointed by court (Code, 224); marshal to
execute orders (Code, 231).
Jurisdz'ctz'om—EXt-ends to review of ﬁnal orders and judg-
ments and certain interlocutory orders of supreme court (Code,
226); also jurisdiction in suits arising under patent and copy-
right laws (Rev. Stat., 4919-4921) ; entertains appeals in inter~
ference cases from Commissioner of Patents (Code, 228).
Appeals from, to United States Supreme Court. (Code, 233.)
Apppopm'atz'ona—Chief justice, $7,500; 2 associates, $7,000
each; clerk, $3,250; assistant or deputy, $2,250; reporter, $1,500;
crier, $1,000; 3 messengers, $720 each; 3 stenographers, $900
each; expenditures in clerk’s office, $800; one-half paid by Dis-
trict (35/906). .
COURTS AND PRISONS.
Appropm'atz'ona—For support and transportation of convicts,
$48,000; for court-house, engineer, $1,200; watchmen, ﬁremen,
laborers, messengers, $8,880; for jail warden, $2,000; support of
prisoners, etc., $50,000; fees of witnesses (supreme court),
$15,000; fees of jurors (supreme court), $55,000; pay of bailiffs,
28 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
COURTS AND PRISON S—C ontinued.
etc., $25,800; miscellaneous expenses, $23,000; for reformatory
and workhouse sites, temporary buildings, etc., $16,696.64, and
unexpended balance of $83,303.36; for architect’s services and
expenses, $10,000 (35/717—718).
COW YARDS, PENS, 0R STABLES. .
Regulated by Commissioners’ police regulations, article xix.
CREMATION.
Provisions of law relative to cremation are found in Code
682-683.
Public crcmutorimn.——Commissioners authorized to erect, for
incineration of bodies of persons dying with Asiatic cholera,
smallpox, typhus fever, plague, leprosy, glanders, scarlet fever,
diphtheria, epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis, when to be dis-
posed of at public expense; to make rules for maintenance and
operation and prescribe charges for incineration of other bodies
(34/123).
Fee for incineration ﬁxed by commissioners, $25. Up to the
close of the last ﬁscal year, since the beginning of operations in
October, 1908, the bodies of 87 adults and 332 infants have been
cremated.
CRUELTY.
T0 children and animals.~—Commissioners authorized to de-
tail members of Metropolitan police force, from time to time,
to aid ‘Vashington Humane Society in prevention of (23/302;
27/60).
CURBING.
New. See AssEssMEx'r AND PERMIT )Vonx.
DAIRIES; DAIRY FARMS.
No one to keep, without previous examination and permit from
health officer; permit may be revoked or suspended when milk
supply is exposed to infection; no person affected with contagious
disease to work in; health officer to enforce regulations as to
water supply, drainage, ventilation, etc., and have right of entry
for inspection (28/7 09-11) ; every place where milk is sold deemed
dairy (33/383).
These places are governed by health otﬁcer’s regulations of
July 31, 1897. Appropriation for inspection of dairy farms,
$6,000. ‘
DEAD ANIMALS. See GARBAGE.
DEAF AND DUMB.
Columbia Institution for. See SoHooLs.
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 29
DEATHS. See VITAL S'l‘A'l‘IS'l‘ICS.
DEBT OF DISTRICT.
011 J une 3, 1909: Funded. incurred under local governments
prior to July 1, 1878, interest at 365 per cent, $10,114,150; un-
funded, due United. States, for loan advances from appropria-
tions charged to ‘revenues and in excess thereof, interest at 2 per
cent, $3,992,515.03. On December 1. 1909, the funded debt was
$9,494,800.
DENTAL COLLEGES.
Not incorporated by Congress, not to do business unless regis-w
tered and granted permit by commissioners (29/112—13); gov~
erned by commissioners’ regulationspf July 31, 1896.
DENTISTRY.
Commissioners to appoint. as board of dental examiners, ﬁve
reputable dentists, residents, and of three years’ active practice
in District, for ﬁve years’ term; no person to practice dentistry
without certiﬁcate from board and registration with health
officer; expenses of board paid from examination fees 27/42—3;
33/10).
DISBURSING OFFICER.
Appointed by commissioners; bond, $50,000, approved by com-
missioners and Secretary of T reasm'y and ﬁled with latter; ad—
vances of money made to, on commissioners’ requisition; to
account for moneys so advanced (30/526) ; may advance to major
and superintendent ‘of police. upon requisitions approved by
auditor, from appropriation for miscellaneous and contingent
expenses of police department, not exceeding $300 at any one
time, for prevention and detection of crime (33/381) ; a ppropria-
tion for salary of, $3,000; deputy, $1,600 (35/690). ' '
DISBURSEMEN TS.
Accounts for disbursements to be audited by auditor before
transmission to Treasury, except disbursements for court of
appeals, supreme court, and interest and sinking fund on funded
debt (30/526); auditor to prepare and countersign all checks
issued by disbursing office"; no check valid without his counter
signature (32/592); accounts of commissioners, tax collectors,
and other officers required to account, to be also settled and ad—
justed by accounting oﬂicers of Treasury Department (20/105).
The total disbursements for the ﬁscal year ended June 30, 1909,
was $10,265,7 68.7 5, involving expenditures from more than 195
appropriations, trust funds, and special funds.
30 DlS'l‘B-IC-T or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The Constitution authorizes Congress “ to exercise exclusive
legislation, in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not ex-
ceeding 10 miles square) as may, by cession of particular States,
and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the Govern-
ment of the United States.”
Maryland.
December 23, 1788, authorized cession of any district, not ex-
ceeding 10 miles square, to be ﬁxed and accepted by Congress.
December 19, 1791, formally ratiﬁed cession.
Virginia.
December 3, 1789, ceded a tract, not exceeding 10 miles square
or any lesser quantity, as Congress might direct.
September 7, 1846, by proclamation of President Polk, pur-
suant to act of July 9, 1846 (9/35), and with the assent of the
people expressed by a vote of 763 to 222, the Virginia portion of
the District was retroceded, thus reducing the District to its
present; area. The Virginia boundary has been judicially ﬁxed
at low-water mark on the Virginia shore of the Potomac.
Selection of site.
July 16, 1790, act establishing seat of Government. (1/130.)
January 22, 1791, commissioners appointed for surveying
District. ,
March 3, 1791, act of July 16, 1790, amended so as to enlarge
area of selection, but limiting erection of public buildings to
ll'laryland side of Potomac. (1/214.)
March 30, 1791, proclamation locating site.
Transfer of government.
Acts of July 16, 1790, and March 3, 1791, operated as accept-
ance of site selected. The ﬁrst act provided for the transfer of
the seat of Government on the ﬁrst Monday of December, 1800,
and it has been held that the authority of the Federal Govern-
ment over the District “ in full and absolute right and exclusive
jurisdiction, as well of soil as of persons residing or to reside
thereon,” vested on that date.
Naming the District.
September 9, 1791, ﬁrst officially mentioned as the “Territory
of Columbia,” in a letter to Major L’Enfant, from the commis-
sioners to locate the site.
December 28, 1793, mentioned in act of Maryland assembly
as the “Territory” and also as the “ District” of Columbia.
DISTRICT OF COLUIVIBIA HANDBOOK.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA—Continued.
Naming the District—Continued.
May 6, 1796, alluded to as District of Columbia in title of act
of Congress (2/461).
February 21, 1871, after having been referred to as District of
Columbia in various statutes, it was formally given that name by
an act to provide a government for it (16/419).
June 11, 1878, same name continued in an act providing for a
permanent form of government (20/ 102). This statute definitely
indicates the territory so named and constitutes it a municipal
corporation.
Counties.
February 27, 1801, divided into two counties, Alexandria and
‘Washington, comprising respectively the Virginia portion and
the Maryland portion with the islands in the Potomac. '
Forms of municipal Government.
Act of Congress of February 21, 1871 (16/419), revoked the
charters of \Vashington and Georgetown, abolished the levy
court of Washington County, and established the ﬁrst single
municipal government for the District. It provided for a gov-
ernor and a legislative assembly consisting of a council of 11
members and a house of delegates of 22 members. It also gave
the District a delegate in the House of Representatives. The gov-
Iernor and council were appointed by the President and the Dis-
trict delegates and the Delegate in Congress were elected by the
citizens. '
Act of Congress of June 20, 1874 (18/116), abolished the
governor, legislative assembly, and Delegate in Congress and
provided for a government by commissioners.
Act of Congress of June 11, 1878 (20/102) is the basis of the
present District government.
DISTRICT BUILDING. See MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
DISTRICT ELECTRIC RAILWAY COMMISSION.
Composed of three members, created by Interstate Commerce
Commission, under act of May 23, 1908 (35/246), “to act as a
board of inquiry and investigation touching or affecting matters
over which the Interstate Commerce Commission has been given
jurisdiction,” by said act. (House Doc. 1336, 60th Cong,
2d sess.)
DOGS. '
Taxed $2 per annum (20/173) ; owner of, liable for damage
done by; commissioners may require to be muzgled (20/174);
0 00..
i 00..
.6.n
I
o: 0":
f -
32 msrnicr or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA—(Tontinned.\
dogs without tax tag, or female in heat, running at large, to be
impounded; regarded as personal property: civil action lies for
injury to; ﬁerce or dangerous dogs not to be allowed to go at
large; owner liable to ﬁne in case of biting or attack; animal to
be delivered to poundmaster to be killed (32/547) ; females in
heatv not to be permitted to go at large (32/548) ; mad dogs or
dogs bitten by hydrophobic dogs, or unmuzzled dogs in streets,
etc., between May 15 and October 15, deemed nuisances; un-
muzzled dogs to be impounded (Ordn. Bd. Health). “Dogs and
Fowls,” regulated by commissioners’ police regulations, ar-
ticle vii.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS. Sec AXInALs.
DRAINAGE OF LOTS. -
Each lot situated on street having public sewer to be con-
nected so drainage shall ﬂow into sewer; if lot contains no dwell-
ing, etc., it is to be connected only when health ofﬁcer certiﬁes
necessity; neglect to connect after notiﬁcation deemed misde-
meanor; commissioners may make connection and assess expense
as tax (29/125—6). Appropriation for enforcement of law and
abatement of nuisances, $3,000 (35/714).
DRUGGISTS.
Not required to obtain‘license to sell liquors; not to sell or
compound liquors without prescription, or sell more than once on
one prescription; to enter in special book, open to inspection of
excise board and produced when required, date, to whom, kind,
quantity, price and purpose of every sale (27/566).
See PHARMACY.
DRUGS.
Sale of. regulated (234/175,.
DRUNKARD.
Habitual: Intoxicating liquors not to be sold to, etc. (27/565).
DWELLINGS.
On alleys. - See ALLnYs ANI) MINOR S'rnnn'rs.
EDUCATION, BOARD OF. See SCHOOLS.
ELECTRIC LIGHT RATES.
As condition to use conduits, companies to furnish public and
private consumers 1,000-candlepower arc lights at not exceeding
$72 per annum per light; maximum price of electric current not
to exceed 10 cents per kilowatt hour and 11 cents on bills not
paid in rtep days (30/1052; 31/563). '
n . * Q n
' I.
u 0 8 .v
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 33
ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANIES.
To ﬁle with commissioners on August 1 statement of receipts
and expenditures for preceding ﬁscal year (31/831); to make
aﬁidavit on or before August 1 to board of personal tax apprais-
ers of gross earnings of preceding ﬁscal year; to pay 4 per cent
tax on such earnings, and also tax on real estate (32/619;
33/564); to make sworn statement to Congress annually on or
before February 1 (34/1134—5); to keep set of books in form
prescribed by Interstate Commerce Commission (35/703).
The tax paid by the electric lighting company in the District
for the last ﬁscal year was $63,145.24.
ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT.
Has supervision of the public lighting and of the District
telephone and ﬁre-alarm systems, of the constructions of the
public—service corporations using electricity, including the placing
of wires underground and the regulation of the installation of
electric wires and apparatus in all buildings.
Electrical engineer—Commissioners to appoint; to be expert
electrician, with thorough knowledge of most modern methods
and executive ability; also to appoint two electrical inspectors
to assist and perform clerical work; electrical engineer to be
chief inspector of electrical work (33/307
Appropriations—Electrical engineer, $2,500; assistant, $1,800
(to have same qualiﬁcations as principal and perform his duties
in case of absence or disability); other operators, inspectors,
clerks. and employees, $40,995; supplies, etc., $13,000; placing
wires in existing conduits, $11,000; extension of police-patrol
system, $4,500 (35/701—2).
ELECTRICITY.
Commissioners to make regulations respecting production,
use, and control of, for light, heat, and power purposes ( 33/306) .
ELECTROLYSIS.
In the later street railway charters provision is made to guard
against electrolysis by requiring the use of a return wire, similar
in capacity and insulation to the feed wire, and a double trolley,
and by prohibiting the connection of the pole of any dynamo
with the earth; but grounded electrical circuits may be used for
lighting and power purposes at the Washington Home for In-
curables (34/1151).
ELEVATORS.
Commissioners authorized to make orders for the construction,
repair, and operation of elevators (24/580). They are inspected
by two assistants, under direction of the inspector of buildings.
22907—10———3 '
34 DIsTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
EMERGENCY FUND. '
T o be expended only in case of emergency, such as riot, pesti-
lence, public insanitary conditions, calamity by flood or ﬁre, and
of like character, and in all cases of emergency not otherwise
sufficiently provided for, $8,000 35/716).
EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES.
Keeping of, regulated (34/304, 848; 35/641).
ENGINEER’S OFFICE.
' Appropriations.—Engineer of highways, $3,000; of bridges,
$2,250; superintendent of streets, $2,000; of county roads,
$2,000; inspector of asphalt and cements, $2,400; superintend-
ent of repairs, $1,500; of trees and parkings, $1,800; of sewers,
$3,000; inspector of gas and meters, $2,000; municipal archi-
tect, $3,600; assistants, inspectors, foremen, clerks, etc, $177 ,232
(as/cans).
EQUALIZATION, BOARD OF.
Consists of assessor, as ex oflicio chairman, and 5 assistants.
Any 3 members constitute quorum (28/284; 32/617).
See TAXATION.
ESTIMATES.
The commissioners are required to submit to the Secretary of
the Treasury, on or before October 15 of each year (31/1009;
23 /254) a statement in detail of work proposed for the next en-
suing ﬁscal year and its estimated cost; also of the cost of con-
structing, repairing, and maintaining public charitable and penal
institutions; expenses of \VashingtOn Aqueduct; itemized esti-
mate of necessary expenses of District government (20/104);
estimates for water department (21 /466) ; cost of defending suits
in Court of Claims ( 24/253) ; expense of militia (25/780) ; esti-
mates for Columbia Institution for Deaf and Dumb (25/962);
care of feeble-minded children (26/393) ; support of District con-
victs (26/408); estimates for F reedman’s Hospital (27 /373);
care and protection of court-house and District jail warden’s
salary (28/202—23); for board of assistant assessors and clerk
(28/285) ; expense of maintaining prisoners in District jail
(as/417).
The annual estimates for expenses of the District government
for any ﬁscal year must not exceed in the aggregate a sum equal
to twice the amount of the total estimated revenues of the Dis-
trict for such year. They must take into consideration and
embrace all charges against such revenues arising under appro-
priations other than the regular District bill, and are not to be
DISTRICT OF COLUlVIBIA HANDBOOK.
ESTIMATES——Continued.
published in advance of their submission to Congress (35/728).
The estimates are to be prepared and submitted according to
the order and arrangement of the next preceding appropriation
act (32/616).
The Secretary of the Treasury considers the estimates, ap—
proves or disapproves, or suggests changes, and transmits the
same to Congress (20/104; 23/254; 31/1009). Congress appro-
priates the estimates which it approves, to be paid one-half by
the United States and one-half by the District (20/ 104).
EXCAVATIONS.
Dangerous wells, cisterns, etc.: Regulated by the commission—
ers’ police regulations, Article xvii.
EXCISE BOARD.
Consists of assessor and three‘of his assistants designated by
him (32/617) ; three members to constitute quorum (Bd. Reg,
Apr. 1, 1907) ; to consider applications for license to sell liquors;
action of,final; to make rules, report annually to Congress, and
appoint clerk and ﬁx salary; to record applications for and
remonstrances against licenses and action thereon; expenses of
board paid out of license fees (27/564); may revoke liquor
license on conviction of keeping disorderly or disreputable
place (27/565); to notify applicant in writing of grant of
license; agent of, to have opportunity during business hours to
examine premises (27/566); members of, may administer oaths
required; may appoint assistant clerk at not more than $1,000
salary (28/76).
r1ppm];2‘2'czz‘i0ns.¥Chief clerk, $2,000; 2 clerks, $2,200; messen-
ger, $600. (35/690).
EXPLOSIVES, ETC.
Commissioners authorized to make and enforce regulations as
to use of (32/809). Use of, regulated by Commissioners’ police
regulations, article Transportation, sale and use of, police
regulations, article ix a.
FEMALES. See WOMEN.
FIDELITY INSURANCE COMPANIES.
. To pay annual tax of 1% per cent of gross receipts in District
(33/564).
FIRE ALARMS. .
False; prevention and punishment of giving of (34/220).
36 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
FIREARMS.
Commissioners authorized to make and enforce regulations as
to use of (32/809).
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Embraces entire District; apparatus includes a water tower,
combination chemical engines and hose wagons; appointees must
be able to read, write, and speak English, citizens of United States,
residents two years, neverindicted or convicted,at least 5 feet 8
inches in height, 150 pounds in weight, not less than 23 nor more
than 35 years of age, of good health and reputation. and have
an elementary education and knowledge of principal localities
of District.
Relief fund.
Derived from deductions of $1 per month from pay of each
ﬁreman (23/317; 29/405),"any deﬁciency therein being met out
of receipts from ﬁnes in police court and from dog licenses
(34/ 1003) ; ﬁnes imposed by way of discipline and collected from
pay are also placed in the fund; used to pay retirement pensions
and pensions to widows and children (34/ 1003) ; disability pen~
sioners to undergo medical examination every two years to deter-
mine continuance of pension (35/296).
About $120,000 are paid annually to former ﬁremen and police
officers.
Board of police and ﬁre surgeons.
Members entitled to services of; and whenever any member
requires medical or surgical treatment other than can be rendered
by board, expense may be paid from pension fund, upon recom-
mendation of chief engineer, approved by commissioners, ace
companied by certiﬁcate of member of board of ﬁre surgeons
(35/657).
See also POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Appropriations.
Chief engineer, $3,500; deputy, $2,500; 3 battalion chief engi-
neers, $2,000 each; ﬁre marshal,$2,000; deputy,$1,400; 2inspect-
ors, $1,080 each; chief clerk, $1,600; clerk, $1,200; 35 captains,
$1,400 each; 36 lieutenants, $1,200 each; superintendent of ma-
chinery, $1,600; assistant, $1,200; 22 engineers, $1,150 each; 22
assistants, $1,100 each; 2 pilots, $1,150 each; 2 marine engineers,
$1,150- each; 2 assistants, $1,100 each; 2 marine ﬁremen, $720
each; 36 drivers, $1,150 each; 202 privates, class 2, $1,080 each;
37 privates, class 1, $960 each; laborer, $480; buildings, equip-
ments, repairs, improvements, fuel, contingent expenses, etc.,
$118,750 (35/712—13).
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 37
FIRE ESCAPES.
Certain buildings of three or more stories must be provided
with ﬁre escapes and other safeguards and exits satisfactory to
commissioners; commissioners may locate and require necessary
changes; in case of owners’ neglect, commissioners to erect ﬁre
escapes, etc., assess cost against property, and issue tax certiﬁ-
cates therefor at 10 per cent interest, which may be turned over
to contractors for doing work (34/7 0—7 2, 1247-8).
Appropriation for ﬁre-escape inspectors in building inspection
division of executive oﬂice: Inspector, $1,400; temporary assist—
ants, $2,400 (35/688).
FIREWOOD AND FUEL.
Firewood can not be brought into the District and sold with-
out inspection and approval by an inspector, who determines all
questions as to quality and quantity. These inspectors, ap-
pointed by commissioners, receive no salary from the District,
but are compensated from fees paid by the seller of the wood.
Appropriation for fuel inspectors in building inspection divi-
sion of executive oﬁice: Inspector, $1,500; assistant, $1,100; two
inspectors, $900, $780 (35/688).
FIREWORKS.
Use of, regulated by commissioners’ police regulations, Arti~
cle ix.
FISCAL YEAR.
Begins with July 1 and ends withJune 30 of succeeding year.
FISH.
Protection of, in Potomac and tributaries (3.0/415; 31/1093).
Sanitary inspection of, see FOOD AND DRINK.
Appropriation for enforcement of ﬁsh and game laws, $500
(35/695).
FISH WHARF. See WHARF PROPERTY.
FLOUR.
Commissioners to appoint two inspectors; term two years;
removable by commissioners; duty to inspect all ﬂour as to
weight, quality, and standards ﬁxed by law; ﬂour to be mer-
chantable and of due ﬁneness, without false packing or mixing;
196 pounds in barrel and 98 pounds in half barrel; to be branded;
uninspected and unbranded not to be sold; blended ﬂour not sub-
ject to second inspection, but inspectors to brand same without
charge (30/765; 31/218).
Commissioners of ﬂour inspcotioa—Commissionem to appoint
three competent judges of flour, either practical millers, bakers,
38 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
FLOUR—Continued.
or ﬂour merchants, as commissioners of flour inspection, to select
standard for each grade of ﬂour; entitled to fee of $5 each for
each inspection of flour on appeal from inspectors (30/767
FOOD AND DRINK.
Sale of unwholesome, adulterated, etc., prohibited and pro-
vided against; sanitary inspection of all kinds and of places for
preparation and sale of, required; preparation, sale, etc., of
milk, game, poultry, ﬁsh, vegetables, fruits, and groceries regu-
lated by ordinances of former board of health.
FOWLS.
Regulations as to, in commissioners’ police regulations, article
V11.
GAMBLING.
On result of race, game, or election, prohibited. (Code 869;
35/164.)
GAME.
Game birds and animals deﬁned and protected; police oﬂicer,
game warden, or health oflicer given powers of inspection over
receptacles or places where game may be stored (30/1012;
31/1091). Appropriation for enforcement of game and ﬁsh
laws, $500 (35/695).
GAMING.
Keeping gambling tables or devices prohibited; all games or
devices, at which .anything is wagered deemed gaming table
(22/411).
GARBAGE.
Commissioners authorized to contract for collection and dis-
posal of garbage, miscellaneous refuse, ashes, night soil, and
dead animals; to ﬁx collection districts and number of collec-
tions; garbage to be disposed of through reduction or consump-
tion process, subject to sanitary inspection and approval of
commissioners; no garbage or animal or vegetable matter to be
dumped into river, etc., fed to animals, or left‘ exposed; com-
missoners to make necessary regulations. (33/621; Police
Regulations, art. xiv.)
Garbage weigher.—May be appointed by commissioners to
weigh and record all garbage brought for cremation or reduction,
and to have sanitary oversight of establishment (28 /757 ).
DISTRICT 'or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 39
GARBAGE—Continued.
Collection—Of garbage, daily from markets, hotels, restau-
rants, apartment houses, etc.; daily (except Sundays) from resi-
dences in fire limits, triweekly without ﬁre limits, from May 1 to
September 30, inclusive; triweekly and semiweekly in those dis-
tricts, respectively, for rest of year. Of miscellaneous refuse,
weekly. Of ashes, semiweekly in ﬁre limits and weekly outside,
from November 1 to April 15, inclusive. and weekly during
rest of year.
Disposal—Garbage is carried by railroad down west shore of
Potomac about 25 miles, to Cherry Hill, and converted into fer-
tilizing material and by-products.
Appropriation for collection and disposal of garbage, ashes,
dead animals, night soil. and miscellaneous refuse, etc., $179,945
(35/700—701).
GAS.
QuaZity.'——To be 22-candlepower (32/602, 967; 33/375, 896);
not to contain. more than 5 grains of ammonia to 100 cubic feet,
and be free from sulphureted hydrogen (29/252).
Pricc.——To be uniform to consumers; any reduction, except to
company oﬁicers, to furnish legal right to other person to de-
mand gas at same price; “Tashington Gas Light Company to
charge $31 per thousand and $1.25 if not paid in ten days; George-
town Gas Light. Company. $1.25 per thousand and $1.50 after
ten days (29/251—2).
GAS AND METERS.
Inspector of, and assistant, appointed by commissioners
(32 /959) ; inspector to be competent chemist and not stockholder
or employed in gas works; assistant to be gas ﬁtter by trade; in-
spector to test illuminating power and purity of gas, and test,
prove, and seal meters (18/278); expense of inspector to be
charge on District (20/209); appropriation for salaries: In-
spector, $2,000; assistant, $900 (35/692).
Inspection made daily between noon and midnight (27/543) ;
meter tested on written request of consumer, in his presence if re-
quired, on payment of 50 cents, returnable if meter is inaccurate;
meters to be inspected before use at expense of company
(18/278—9) ; fees collected paid into Treasury (27/544).
The oﬁice inspected 7,071 meters in the past ﬁscal year, the
greatest number in the history of the oﬁice. Extra help was re-
quired, paid for, as an emergency expedient, out of the deposit
fund of the Washington Gas Light Company. Fees for in-
spections amounted to 953.043.50.
40 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
GAS MAINS.
To be laid before permanent improvements on streets; to be
taken up, laid, and replaced as commissioners direct on street to
be paved (20/107).
GASLIGHT COMPANIES.
To ﬁt up laboratories for testing gas and meters (18/278;
27 /543) ; at beginning of ﬁscal year, in proportion to receipts for
preceding year, companies to deposit with collector of taxes suf-
ﬁcient sum to pay salary of inspector of gas ﬁtting and expenses
of inspecting, to be estimated by commissioners (27 /543); to
make reasonable extensions of mains when necessary for main-
taining street lamps (27 /544); to ﬁle with commissioners, on
August 1, statement of receipts and expenditures for previous
ﬁscal year (31 /831) ; officers of to make aﬂidavit, on or before Au~
gust 1, to board of personal tax appraisers of gross earnings of
preceding ﬁscal year; to pay 5 per cent personal tax on such earn-
ings and tax on real estate (32/619; 32/564); to make sworn
statement annually to Congress, on or before February 1 (34/
1133-4); to keep set of books in form prescribed by Interstate
Commerce Commission (35, 703) ; limit of capital stock increase
(ea/25973; 35/703). v
The gross earnings of the gaslight companies were valued
for taxation at $2,120,319.80 for the last ﬁscal year. The total
of taxes assessed against the companies for that year was
$147,932.56.
lVashéng/ton Gas-Light Com-palay—Incorporated July 8, 1848;
capital stock, $50,000 (9/722); increase of stock (10/734, 835;
14/53; 17/192; 29/252; 35/703). Report for 1908: Paid-up
capital stock, $2,600,000; total receipts from operation, $2,075,—
746.67; gross income after deducting operating expenses (60.188
per cent of operation receipts), $882,864.31; dividends paid,
$260,000; gas sold and accounted for, 1,966,976,748 cubic feet;
average price received per thousand, $1.05; average net cost per
thousand sold, 56.633 cents.
Georgetown Gas-Light Company.--Incorporated July 20, 1854;
capital stock, $150,000 (10/786) ; extension of works of (17/629) ;
limit of stock issue by (29/252—3; 35/703). Report for 1908:
Paid-up capital stock, $150,000; total earnings from operation,
$106,366.51; net earnings, $20,054.81; gas sold, 83,401,631 cubic
feet; average price received per thousand, $1.001; dividends paid,
$15,000; deﬁcit, $3,160.77.
GASFITTING. See PLUMBING AND GASFITTING.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 41
GASOLINE ENGINES.
Provisions regulating, contained in commissioners’ police regu-
lations, Article xxiv b.
GEORGETOWN.
June 8, 1751, act of Maryland province to lay out town of;
generally supposed to have been named after King George II,
but by some thought to have been named after the two owners
of the siteg-George Gordon and George Beall; ﬁrst governed
by the commissioners appointed to lay out; boundaries and
jurisdiction extended by several acts of Maryland and Congress.
December 25, 1789, act of Maryland incorporating it as a
town, with mayor, recorder, aldermen, and common council.
May 31, 1871, charter revoked, but name retained as local des-
ignation (16/428).
February 11, 1895, consolidated with vWashington (28/650).
Streets—Generally run due north and south and east and
west; by commissioners’ order of October 4, 1880, the north and
south streets were renamed from Twenty-sixth to Thirty-eighth,
inclusive, and the east and west streets from K to W, to agree,
as nearly as practicable, with the Washington plan; the streets
originally laid out were acquired in the same manner as in
Washington, but the status of their title has never been judicially
determined.
Records of Georgetown to be property of District (20/23).
GEORGETOWN GASLIGHT CO. See GAsLIeI-IT CoMPAxIEs.
GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR INSANE. See INsAxE.
GRADE CROSSINGS.
Provisions for eliminating, on lines of Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
within city (31/7 67-81; 33/740—41, 823; 35/1066). Appropria-
tion toward carrying out provisions of act, etc., $150,000 (351/696).
The elimination of such crossings within the city is practically
completed. A few such crossings exist in the District outside,
which the commissioners estimate can be eliminated at a cost of
$450,000.
HACKS AND VEHICLES.
Disposition of, etc; rates; regulated in commissioners’ police
regulations, Articles iv, v.
HARBORS.
Major and superintendent of police charged with enforcement
of harbor laws and regulations (33/902) ; harbor lines have
42
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
HARBORS—Continued.
been ﬁxed by commissioners and Chief of Engineers of the
Army, with approval of Secretary of War (30/137 7 ).
Harbor regulations, relative to anchorage of vessels, etc.
(Code, 895).
Harbor master.--Appropriation for one lieutenant of police
to be harbor master (35/710), whose duty it is, with the assist-
ance of a. steam vessel and crew, and police officers under him,
to enforce the laws and regulations to prevent obstruction and
pollution of harbor and maintain public peace therein, under
supervision of‘ major and superintendent of police; fees col-
lected by, to be paid into Treasury (25/316).
Harbor patrol.-—Appropriations for one engineer, $1,000; two
ﬁremen, $600 each; watchman, $540; deck hand, $540; fuel, con-
struction, maintenance, repairs, and incident-als, $5,280 (35 /7 12).
Hay scales—See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Former board of health.
Abolished (20/107) ;. Ordinances of, legalized (2'1/304); as
legalized to have force and effect as if enacted by Congress;
powers and duties of board conferred upon health officer
(28/257); commissioners authorized to amend, alter, or repeal
ordinances of (30/1390) ; no officer or employee of, to work for
dairyman or milk dealer, or mamifacturer or dealer in foods,
drugs, or disinfectants (as/ass; 34/506', 1145).
The ordinances enacted by this board embraced all the pre-
cautionary sanitary measures usually adopted and enforced in
municipalities.
Health oﬂicer.
To be appointed by commissioners in lieu of board of health;
to be physician; to execute and enforce, under commissioners’
direction, laws and regulations relative to public health and vital
statistics, and perform duties assigned by commissioners; to rec-
ommend sanitary inspectors for appointment by commissioners;
to report to commissioners annually and when required; reason-
able and necessary number of clerks to'be recommended by, for
appointment by commissioners (20/107); chief clerk to act as
deputy to ( 27/162) ; powers and duties of board of health con-
ferred upon (28/257) ; under commissioners’ direction, to make
and enforce sanitary regulations as to dairies and dairy farms
(28/711) ; private hospitals to be subject to inspection by
(28,/7 58) ; upon Sworn information may inspect premises, etc.,
where he believes game unlawfully taken is Stored '(30/ 1013).
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 43
HEALTH DEPARTMENT—Continued.
Health officer—Continued.
Various other duties are imposed upon the health ofﬁcer, [such '
as medical inspection of schools, enforcement of laws relating
to sale and use of deleterious articles of food, contagious dis—
eases, impounding of dogs and other animals, nuisances injurious
to health, smoke prevention, and keeping record of vital statistics.
Sanitary inspectors.
To be appointed by commissioners on recommendation of
health oﬂicer'; two may be physicians; one to be skilled in drain-
age and ventilation; may be removed; duties prescribed by com-
missioners; to report to health oﬁicer in writing at least once in
two weeks (20/107) ; unlawful to impersonate (29/619).
Dangerous and contagious diseases. I _
Among hum-an beingsr-Asiatic cholera, yellow fever, typhus
fever, smallpox (varioloid), leprosy, plague, and glanders de-
clared to be; precautionary measures against (29 /635—40) ; dairy
or dairy-farm permit and permit to sell milk to be revoked or
suspended when milk supply exposed to; no person exposed
to, to work about such place (28/709—10'); bodies of persons
dying of, to be incinerated when to be disposed of at public ex-
pense (34/123) ; hospital for, not to be erected within 300 feet
of other building (2'8/758) ; quarantine station on reservation 13
designated for conﬁnement of arrested persons afflicted with
(Ord. Sup. Ct. Sept. 8, 1905')‘ ; certain cases of, to be certiﬁed to
health oﬂicer (34/889); con'mfiissioners to make regulations to
prevent spread of (34/890); provisions for report and regis-
tration of tuberculosis, and sanitary precautions prescribed
(es/mam. ,
Among domestic aninmZa—Connnissioners to suppress out-
_ break of; quarantine premises; order animals detained for in-
spection; prescribe regulations for their destruction and dispo-
sition of hides and carcasses; make regulations for disinfection,
etc., and report to Commissioner of Agriculture
Commissioners’ regulations relative to suppression and pre-
vention, July 18, 1887, and August 21, 1888.
Appropriations.
Health officer, $4,000; assistant, $2,500; ‘chief clerk and deputy,
$1,800; assistant, $1,600; 30 sanitary inspectors, $33,100; 10
clerks, $11,120; pou’ndmaster, $1,500; messenger and ‘janitor,
driver, laborers, $4,740; enforcement of contagious-diseaseglaws,
$27,500; disinfection service, $5,000; enforcement of lot drainage,
$3,000; special services in detection of adulterations,$100; en-
44 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT—~Continued.
Appropriations—-Continued.
foroement of milk and adulterated food laws, $1,000; inspection
of dairy farms, etc., $6,000; maintenance of pound wagon, etc.,
$1,000; isolating wards for minor contagious diseases at Garﬁeld
and Providence hospitals, $10,000; public crematory mainte-
nance, $3,000; rent of stable, $120 /713—14).
HERDICS.
Companies operating, to receive and exchange, cancel, and re-
deem tickets same as street-car companies (28/78) ; Metropolitan
Coach Company to substitute motor vehicles for; transfer ar-
rangements of Washington Railway and Electric Company7 with,
to continue (35 /249).
HIGHWAYS, ENGINEER 0F.
Appropriation for, in engineer’s otﬁce, $3.000 ( 35/691).
HIGHWAYS, PERMANENT SYSTEM 01?.
Commissioners authorized to prepare plans in sections, from
time to time, for extension of permanent system of highways
outside of Washington and Georgetown, to conform as nearly as
practicable with \Vashington street plan; to cause maps of sec-
tions to be made and submitted to Secretary of War, Secretary of
Interior, and Chief of Engineers; when approved, to be ﬁled and
recorded in surveyor’s oﬂice; future subdivisions to conform;
projected highways subject to commissioners’ approval; commis-
sioners authorized to name or rename streets, avenues, alleys,
highways, and reservations laid out (27 /532; 33/14).
[Sections 6~19 of the act establishing a permanent system of
highways (27/ 532) were repealed as impossible of execution, and
the following provisions enacted :]
Commissioners authorized to abandon or readjust streets affect-
ing grounds purchased for educational and religious institutions,
under certain restrictions; readjustment to be approved as above
provided, recorded and become part of permanent system; com—
missioners to submit no map or plan for approval until owners
are permitted to be heard (30/520); commissioners authorized
to accept, under certain conditions, dedication of streets in ac-
cordance with plans for system (31 /248) ; abandoned streets, etc.,
or any part thereof, to revert to abutting owners (33 /14) ; where
proposed street of system affects subdivision commissioners may
allow resubdivision according to original subdivision until time
when proceedings begin to open proposed street (33/51); com-
missioners’ powers extended to certain addition to Georgetown
when necessary to correct streets (33 /587) ; changes in system
authorized (33/023; 34/300, 1011, 1130, 1244; 35/050, 052).
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 45
HOLIDAYS.
New Year’s day, Washington’s birthday, Fourth of July,
Decoration Day, Labor’s holiday, Christmas Day, every Saturs
day afternoon and Thanksgiving Day (Code, 1389); warrants
may issue on (34/ 126) ; per diem employees and day laborers who
have been continuously employed for ﬁve working days next pre-
ceding Labor Day, and whose employment continues through
and beyond that day, may, in commissioners’ discretion, be
granted leave of absence with pay for that day (35/311).
HORSE RACING.
Gambling, betting, book or pool making on, prohibited
(35/164).
HOSPITALS.-
For contagious diseases, public or private, not to be erected
within 300 feet of other party’s building; private, to secure per-
mit from commissioners and to be subject to inspection by health
oﬂicer (28 /7 58) ; to be provided with room or rooms for isolation
of patients with contagious diseases (29/639).
Private hospitals. See PRIVATE AsYLUMs AND HOSPITALS.
Tuberculosis hospital. See TUBERCUL0sIs.
HOTEL OR TAVERN.
Having 25 chambers for lodging guests may have barroom
license on petition of owner or lessee and complying with act
(27 /565, 566; 28/76) ; keeper of, having license may sell liquors
to bona ﬁde registered guests at meals or in rooms (27/565);
excepted from prohibition of allowing minor under 16 to enter
place for sale of liquor (27/567); proprietor of, to pay 1 per
cent tax on assessed value of furniture (32/619).
HOUSE OF DETENTION.
Appropriation to enable commissioners to provide transpor-
tation and suitable place for reception, transportation, and deten-
tion of children under 17 and girls and women over 17 arrested
or held as witnesses or pending examination, etc., including 2
clerks, 4 drivers, host-ler, 6 guards, and ‘3 matrons, $13,580
(35/712). ‘
INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS.
Storage, etc., of, regulated by commissioners’ police regula-
tions, article ii.
INSANE.
Police may apprehend insane person found at large and report
to major and superintendent of police; commissioners may tem-
porarily place indigent insane in Government Hospital for In~
46 ' DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
INSANE—Continued.
sane (33/316-18) ; duty of commissioners to return nonresident
indigent insane to place of residence (33/811); proceedings to
determine mental condition of alleged indigent insane, when
commissioners are petitioners ( 33/740).
Government Hospital for Insane. ,
Trustees of, to report “annually to Congress at opening of regu-
lar session (21 /156) ; Secretary of Interior to have supervision,
and oflicers of, to report to him (21/460; 22/137) ; proceedings
for admission to ( 30/ 811) ; to be taken in equity court (32/1043) ;
insane inmate of National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers
may be admitted to; pension of, to be paid to superintendent
and disbursed for beneﬁt of pensioner, wife, minor children, or
parents (33/731); liquors not to be sold between hospital and
Home for Aged and Inﬁrm, or within one-half mile of boundaries
of either (34/870); chief executive officer of, superintendent,
appointed by Secretary of Interior; salary, $4,000; superintend-
ent to appoint disbursing officer, subject to approval of board of
visitors 35/592).
Appropinkttions for support of District’s indigent insane at,
$301,400; for deportation of nonresident insane, $3,000 (35 /723) ;
to defray expenses of writs of lunacy and commitments of
indigent insane, $2,500 (35/716).
INSURANCE.
Fire—NO part of money appropriated for District to be used
for premiums or other cost of (35/694).
Insurance companies. ,
To- furnish to superintendent of insurance, through local rep-
resentatives, during January, statement of business done in
District during preceding year (Code, 650) ; to pay 1%; per cent
on premium receipts, in‘lieu of all other taxes, except real estate
taxes and license fees (Code, 650; 32/619) ; real estate title insur-
ance companies to pay tax of 1% per cent of gross receipts in Dis-
trict (33/564).
Insurance department.
Establishment of and regulation of insurance business (Code,
645-657); appropriations for superintendent, $3,500; examiner,
$1,500; statistician, $1,500; clerk hire, $2,920 (35/693).
Total of license fees and taxes collected during the last ﬁscal
year, $76,637.53; expenses of department, $9,650.85.
Superintendent of insurance.
Commissioners to appoint; to have supervision of insurance
matters and companies, beneﬁcial orders and associations, sub-
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 47
INSURANCE—Continued.
Superintendent 'of insurance—Continued.
ject to general supervision of commissioners (Code, 645) ; duty
to see that laws relating to insurance and insurance companies,
etc., are executed; may make rules and regulations subject to
commissioners’ supervision (Code, 646).
INTEREST.
Legal rate of, 6 per cent, with right of contract for, to 10 per
cent (Code, 1178—9); on judgments against District, 4 per cent
(32/610).
INTOXICATING LIQUORS.
Deemed to include whisky, brandy, rum, gin, wine, ale, porter,
beer, and all other fermented and distilled liquors (27/563) ; to
be sold only under provisions of act regulating sale, but act not
to apply to sales of personal property required by law (27 / 563) ;
excise board authorized to make rules and regulations for carry-
ing liquor law into effect (27 /564).
Not to be sold or furnished. .
T0 QUILOm.-———MIIIOI', except by parent or guardian for illness or
011 prescription (27 /565; 33/565; 34/1249) ; intoxicated person;_
habitual drunkard or person in habit of getting intoxicated,
when wife, husband, or daughter requests in writing not to sell
(27/565).
W hen—Between midnight and 4 a. 111. (27/565) ; on Sundays;
but hotels keepers may sell to bona ﬁde registered guests at meals
or in rooms (27/565; 30/1013).
l/Vlwra—lvithin 1 mile of Soldiers’ Home property (27 /797) ;
within 400 feet of public schoolhouse, private school, or house
for religious worship, unless place was located and licensed be-
fore erection or occupation of schoolhouse, etc. (28/276); in
bowling alleys or where billiard tables, etc., are kept for hire
(29/595); between Government Hospital for Insane and Home
for Aged and Inﬁrm, or within one-half mile of boundaries of
either (34/870).
License and tax.
No license to issue for more than one year (27/566); to be
renewed November 1 (27 /567).
Wholesale license—Three hundred dollars (32/627); to au-
thorize only to sell not less than pint, not to be drunk on prem-
ises; not granted until place is shown to be properly arranged
for selling. as merchandise (27 /566).
Barroom license—Eight hundred dollars (32/627) ; required
for every hotel or place where liquors are sold at retail ( 27/566) ;
48
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
INTOXICATIN G LIQUORS—Continued.
License and tax—Continued.
every place where distilled, malt, or fermented wines, liquors,
or cordials are sold in quantities as prescribed for retail dealers
by Revised Statutes, 3244, to be drunk on premises, regarded
as barroom; and possession of any intoxicating liquors, with
means and appliances for carrying on business of distributing
same to be drunk where sold, prima facie evidence of barroom
(27/566).
Agents’ Zieense3.—Brewer’s, manufacturer’s, or brewer’s agents,
$250; agent’s license authorizes business with goods of principal
only; licensed brewer’s solicitor, soliciting orders only, not liable
for tax (32/627
Application for license.
Petition for license must be ﬁled with excise board and show:
(1) Applicant’s name, residence, and length of residence; (2)
premises, designated by street and number or aptly otherwise;
(3) name of owner of premises; that applicant is citizen of
United States, of age, and never adjudged guilty of violating
liquor or gambling laws; veriﬁcation by petitioner’s afﬁ~
davit; (6) that he is not owner or licensee of other license in
force; (7) that he intends to do business for himself and not
as agent, and will do so; (8) and intends to superintend busi-
ness in person, and will do so (27/564).
Deposit of fee—Applicant for license to deposit fee with col-
lector of taxes on ﬁling application (27/566), and for wholesale
license must show that he has not sold and does not intend to
sell liquors to be drunk on premises. (Reg. Ex. Bd.)
Notice of intended application must be posted in conspicuous
place on premises, kept posted, and replaced if destroyed.
(Reg. Ex. Bd.)
Hotels and elubs.~—Hotel having 25 chambers for guests has
right to license on petition of owner or lessee and complying
with law (27 /565; 28/76); excise board may in its discretion
issue license to any duly incorporated club on petition of its
officers (27 /565).
Consent to license.
In Washington and Georgetown—Applicant to present writ-
ten permission of majority of real estate owners and resident
housekeepers on side of square where premises are and on cxon-
fronting side of opposite square; ‘if location is on corner with
entrance thereon, consent required on both streets (27 / 564-565) ;
“ residents keeping house” does not include boarders, renters of
rooms, or tenants of ﬂats (Reg. Ex. Bd.).
nIsTRIcT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 49
INTOXICATING LIQUORS—Continued.
Consent to license—Continued.
Outside of cities—Applicant to present such permission of
such persons within space of 250 feet of street ‘or roadv on each
side of place'and within similar space on side of street or road
fronting opposite (27/565).
Blanles for signatares.-—Applicants to procure blanks from
clerk of board for signatures of owners and residents; all sig-
natures to be in ink and agents to sign principals’ names in
front of their own and to show authority if required. (Reg.
Ex. Bd.)
Certiﬁcation—Fact of ownership of real estate’ to be certiﬁed
by assessor and fact of genuineness of signatures by lieutenant
of police precinct (27 /565).
Recommendation.-—Applicants not having had license since
March 3, 1893, to ﬁle recommendation signed by three reputable
citizens not connected with liquor business. (Reg. Ex. Bd.)
Issue of license. .
Assessor to issue license only on granting of same by excise
board; action of board ﬁnal and conclusive (27/564).
Valid objections to issue of license will be considered by excise
board, if speciﬁc, signed in ink and ﬁled twenty-four‘hours before
ﬁnal hearing. (Reg. Ex. Bd.)
Notiﬁcation—Excise board to notify applicant, assessor, and
major of police of approval or rejection of application (27/566;
Reg. Ex. Bd.) ; where board doubts expediency of granting
license, applicant to be notiﬁed to appear and show cause (Reg.
Ex. Bd.).
Reconsideration of application will be granted on motion ﬁled
within seven days, setting forth new reasons and evidence. (Reg. '
EX. Bd.).
License not to be granted.
After conviction—No license to be granted to party after sec-
ond conviction of violation of liquor law (27/567) ; or within two
years to licensee convicted of selling to minor (27 /568).
Persons barred—Excise board will refuse license to keeper of
disorderly place; proprietor of grocery, provision, or confection-
ery store; to premises adjoining store, with opening between;
to persons in employ of District; to persons who will be absent
ff'om licensed place during business hours; and to persons not
actual residents of District. (Reg. Ex. Bd.)
22907—~—10——4
50
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
INTOXICATING LIQUORS—Continued.
Renewal of license.
Application for renewal to be made on or before November 1
(27 /567 ) ; failure to apply on or before 4 p. m. of Said date makes
place new one and in case of barroom necessitates ﬁling signa-
tures of consent as in case of original application (Reg. Ex.
Bd.) ; business may continue until grant or refusal of renewal
by board; if refused, pro rata to be deducted from fee deposited
(27/567).
Consent not required for renewal unless majority of owners
and housekeepers ﬁle objections signed and certiﬁed as required
in case of original applications (27 /565).
Transfer of license.
Transfer may be made only on written application and written
consent of excise board and consent of owners and residents as in
case of original application for license (27 /566) ; application to
remain in clerk’s office at least twenty-four hours before presen-
tation to board; notice of application for transfer to be posted on
both premises, kept posted until acted upon, and immediately
replaced if destroyed; license sought to be transferred to be in-
dorsed by licensee and ﬁled with board. (Reg. Ex. Bd.)
On death of licensee, application for transfer to be made
within sixty days and a copy of letters of administration ﬁled.
(Reg. Ex. Bd.)
Revocation of license.
Excise board to revoke license upon conviction of keeping
disorderly or disreputable place (27 /565) ; license to be revoked
for conviction of perjury for false statement in petition for
license (27 / 564) ; also for second conviction of violation of liquor
law (27/567).
Permit to sell.
Excise board may in its discretion grant permit to any duly
incorporated club to sell to members and guests between such
hours as board may designate; may permit licensed dealer to Sell
at any bona ﬁde entertainment of any society, club, or corpora-
tion, between such hours as board may designate (27 /565) ; but
no such permit will be granted, unless satisfactory evidence is
presented of regular incorporation under District laws; applica-
tion must be approved by majority of members present when
application is considered; applicant to certify on honor that the
liquors are his and to be sold for his sole beneﬁt; application to
be ﬁled twenty-four hours prior to entertainment. (Reg. Ex. Bd.)
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 51
INTOXICATING LIQUORS—Continued.
Barroom regulations.
Approval of excise board must precede opening of place, except
in case of renewal; every licensed barroom to be closed during
prohibited hours and interior exposed to full view from street.
(Reg. Ex. Bd.)
License to be framed under glass and conspicuously placed
(27/566).
Licensee not to permit female or minor under 16, or any con-
vict to furnish liquors; nor permit playing of pool, billiards, or
other games where liquors are sold, but excise board may permit
games (except cards) in duly licensed places (27 /568).
Clerk of excise board to be ex oﬂicio inspector of licenses and
to make inspections under orders of board and report (27 /564) ;
agent of board to be allowed opportunity during business hours
to examine place for sale of liquors (27 /566).
Druggists.
Not required to obtain license to sell liquors; not to sell or com-
pound liquors without prescription, nor sell more than once on
one prescription; to enter in special book date, to whom, kind,
quantity, price, and purpose of every sale; book to be open to
inspection of excise board or agent; book to be produced when
required (27/566).
JAIL.
Persons sentenced for a term not exceeding six months may be
sent to either the workhouse or the jail. Those sentenced for
more than that and not longer than one year, must be sent to the
jail, and in cases of longer terms, to some penitentiary. Five
days per month “ good time ” is allowed to inmates for good con-
duct (26/20); appropriation for warden of, $2,000, to be ex-
pended under direction of Attorney-General (35/717).
JAMES ‘ CREEK CANAL.
Commissioners authorized to lease public space bordering on,
for commercial use, for periods not exceeding one year (32/600) .
JUNK DEALERS.
Regulated by commissioners’ police regulations, article i, and
statute (26/841).
JUSTICES OF'THE PEACE.
Superseded by establishment of municipal court. See COURTS.
JUVENILE OFFENDERS. See PAROLE or JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
52 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
LAWS OF DISTRICT.
Common law; British statutes in force in Maryland February
27, 1801; principles of equity and admiralty; general acts of
Congress not locally inapplicable and acts of Congress made ap-
plicable by their terms. (Code 1.) To these must be added
numerous laws and ordinances enacted by municipal authorities
and commissioners’ orders.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
The ﬁrst municipal government for the entire District was
established in 1871 (16/428). It had a legislative assembly con-
sisting of a council of 11 members appointed by the President,
with consent of the Senate, and a House of 22 delegates elected
by the qualiﬁed electors of the District. The act of 1874
(18/ 116), which instituted temporarily the government by com-
missioners, abolished the representative form of government.
Many of the acts passed by the legislative assembly are still in
force.
LEVY COURTS.
“Then the District was ﬁrst established, local affairs in the
Maryland portion were administered by two bodies, having juris—
diction over the territory derived from Prince George and Mont.-
gomery counties, resj')ectively, and composed of justices of the
peace commissioned by the governor and council of that State
as “justices of the levy court.” Jurisdiction for the same pur—
poses in the Virginia portion at that time was vested in the
county courts. Although subsequent acts of Congress changed
the composition and jurisdiction of these courts, they continued
to administer local affairs outside of ‘Vashington and George-
town until May 31, 1871, when they were abolished by the act
providing for a single municipal government for the District
(16/428).
LIBRARY, FREE PUBLIC.
Located on Mount Vernon square, and erected at a cost of
$350,000, contributed by Andrew Carnegie. It is maintained as
supplemental to the educational system of the District (29/244)
and managed by board of trustees appointed by the com-
missioners.
Appropriation3.—For librarian, $3,500; assistant, $1,500; as
sistants, oataloguers, copyists, clerks, stenographer, messenger,
janitors, etc., $34,320; special services, $1,000; keeping open Sun-
days, holidays, and Saturday afternoons (July, August, and Sep-
tember), $1,700; books, $7,500; binding, $3,500; miscellaneous
expenses, $8,000 (35/693—4).
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 53
LICENSES.
All licenses are issued by the assessor under his hand and seal,
and no license can be granted until paid for. Each license must
specify the name of the licensee, the business for which it is
granted, and the proposed location of the business. Licenses
may be assigned or transferred upon application, under the terms
and conditions applicable to the original granting. \Vhen more
than one business requiring license is carried on by the same
person a license must be obtained for each. Licenses are good
only for the location designated, and no license can be issued for
more than one place without payment of a separate tax for each.
Licenses, with a few exceptions, date from November 1 and ex-
pire on October 31. Licenses must be conspicuously posted and
be accessible for inspection. Licensees having no located place of
business must exhibit their licenses when requested by proper
authorities. Certain licenses are subject to ofﬁcial approval
(32/622—9).
LUMBER.
Brought to and Offered for sale in District is inspected, meas-
ured, and marked by one of ﬁve inspectors, appointed by com-
missioners and paid by fees, one-half paid by buyer and one-half
by seller. (IV. D., 252, 461; L. A., 176, 258.)
MARKETS.
There are three public markets under control of District
authorities—the “Eastern” (L. A. 141, 375, 495), the “VVest-
ern ” (L. A. 217), and the “Georgetown market” (acts George-
town, August 8, 1863). Ordinances of the former board of
health provide for their sanitary inspection and the sale of
fruits, etc., therein.
.Receipts of wholesale producers’ market and farmers’ street
markets adjacent to the Eastern, \Vestern, and Georgetown mar-
kets to be paid through sealer of weights and measures to col-
lector of taxes, to credit of District weekly; commissioners
authorized to make charges for space in street markets (34/485).
Appropriations.-Three market masters, $3,300; assistants,
$2,460; laborers, etc., $2,400 (35 /690-91).
MARRIAGES. See VITAL STATISTICS.
MARSHAL OF DISTRICT.
Appointed by President, with consent of Senate; has same
general powers and duties United States marshals. (Code,
186.)
MEASURES. See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
54 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
MEATS.
laces for sale of, regulated by ordinance of former board of
health; metal tags, or staples in, regulated by commissioners’
police regulations, article xxiii.
MEDICAL COLLEGES.
Not incorporated by Congress, not to do business unless regis—
tered and granted permit by commissioners (29/112—13); gov-
erned by commissioners’ regulations of July 81, 1896.
MEDICAL INSPECTORS. See SoI-IooLs.
MEDICINE AND SURGERY.
Boards of medical examiners.
Commissioners appoint and remove for neglect of duty or
other good cause members of three boards, viz: (1) board of
medical examiners, composed of ﬁve physicians of regular sys-
tem of practice; (2) board of homeopathic medical examiners,
composed of ﬁve physicians of that school; and (3) board of
eclectic medical examiners, composed of ﬁve practitioners of
that system; members of each board serve for three years and
must have had ﬁve years’ practice; duty of boards to examine
and certify qualiﬁcations of applicants for authority to practice
medicine or surgery (29/199—202) ; balance of fees received for
licenses, after payment of expenses, to be divided among mem-
bers of boards (29/201—2).
Board of medical supervisors.
Consists of presidents of boards of medical examiners and
two other persons’ not physicians (one to be learned in law) ap-
pointed by commissioners for three years; not more than tWo
to be adherents of same school; lay members paid such compensa-
tion as commissioners determine; secretary need not be member
of board; entitled to same fees as for taking testimony by exam-
iner in chancery; board may issue licenses to practice; no person
to practice Without license, except in speciﬁed cases; board may
refuse or revoke license for good reasons (29/198—201; 34/"178,
1005) ; may license Without examination practitioner from other
State, Territory, or country 36/610); licenses to be recorded
in office of clerk of supreme court of District (29/201).
Midwifery.
No person to practice Without license and registration (29/201) ;
board of medical supervisors to make regulations, subject to
commissioners’ approval, to determine qualiﬁcations of Women
desiring to practice midwifery (29/200). A special board is
appointed by the supervisors for this purpose.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 55
MERCHANDISE DEALERS.
General, to pay 1%; per cent tax on average stock of preceding
year; those coming in after June 30 to ﬁle sworn statement of
value with assessor and pay for unexpired portion of ﬁscal year
(327/563) ; but assessor may reassess if undervalued ( 32/564).
METERS. See GAs AND METERS.
METROPOLITAN COACH COMPANY.
Transfer arrangements of \Vashington Railway and Electric
Company with, not to be terminated without authority of Con~
gress; to substitute motor vehicles for herdics (35/249).
MIDWIFERY'. See MEDICINE AND SURGERY.
MILITIA.
Organization (25/772; 30/775); comprises every able-bodied
male citizen of 18 and under 45, except certain persons, as well
as foreign-born males who have declared intention (35/399);
organized militia to be known as national guard /399) ; ap-
propriations for various purposes, to be expended under au-
thority and direction of commanding general, who is author-
ized to make contracts and leases, $72,200 (35 /724).
MILK.
No one to sell without permit from health officer; permit
may be suspended or revoked by him when milk supply is ex-
posed tO infection; no unwholesome, watered, or adulterated
milk, or swill milk, or butter or cheese made therefrom, to be
sold; skimmed milk to be so labeled (28/709—11) ; every place
where milk is sold deemed dairy (33/383); sale of, regulated
by ordinance of former board of health.
See DAIRIEs; DAIRY FARMS.
MINOR STREETS. See ALLEYs AND MINOR STREETS.
MINORS.
Intoxicating liquor not to be sold to, etc. (27/565, 568);
liquor or narcotic drug not to be furnished to, except by parent
or guardian for illness, or on prescription (33/565, 34/1249);
tobacco not to be sold to, in any form (26/736) ; under 16, not
to be permitted to sell liquor (27/568), or enter place where
liquor is sold, except hotel, without consent of parent or guard-
ian (27/567); allowed one year after attaining majority to
redeem land sold for taxes or bid off to District (32/634);
prohibited by police regulation, when not a passenger, from
being on street car platform or steps, or railroad car or loco-
motive, and from catching on omnibus or other vehicle.
56 - DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
MISCELLANEOUS TRUST FUND DEPOSITS.
Moneys received by collector of taxes in nature of trust fund
deposits, whose disposition is not provided for and which have
been, and now are, deposited with United States Treasurer
to credit of permanent appropriation account, to be known as
“Miscellaneous trust fund deposits;” necessary advances to be
made therefrom by Secretary of Treasury to disbursing officer,
upon commissioners’ requisitions; disbursing officer to make
disbursements only on itemized vouchers, audited and ap-
proved by Auditor for the State and other Departments; auditor
to keep separate accounts for all trust fund deposits, showing
amounts received and payments made on each individual account
(33/368—9). -
MORGUE MASTER.
In coroner’s oflice, salary $720; assistant, $480 (35/690).
MOTOR VEHICLES. See AY'I‘OHOBILES.
MUNICIPAL ARCHITECT.
In engineer's office, salary $3,600; duty to prepare and super-
vise plans and superintend construction, repair, and improve- ,
ment of all District buildings (35 /692) ; plans and speciﬁcations
of all school buildings, to be prepared under supervision of
(35/709).
MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
Assistants to engineer commissioner jointly to act as superin-
tendent of (35/688); employees for care of, to be appointed by
such assistants, with approval of commissioners; policemen not
to be detailed for duty as watchmen at (35 /689) ; appropriations
for care of: Clerk and stenographer, $1,800; chief engineer,
$1,400: 3 assistants, $3,000; electrician, $1,200; employees,
$31,330; fuel, light, power, ‘repairs, $3,000; miscellaneous sup-
plies, $28,000 (35/689).
MUNICIPAL LODGING HOUSE. See CHARITIES (TEMPORARY HOMES).
_ NARCOTIC DRUGS. '
Not to be given to minor,lexcept by parent or guardian for ill-
ness, or on prescription (34/1249).
NATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
House of correction for boys established (14/232); to be
known as reform school (16/19); governed by board of seven
, trustees, appointed by President for three years, on recommen-
dation of Attorney-General; one Senator and one Representa-
tive to be appointed by presiding officers as consulting trustees
(19/49); one commissioner, selected by board, to be trustee
DISTRICT OF COLIIl‘JBIA HANDBOOK.
NATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL FOR BOYS—Continued.
(21/156) ; trustees may commit children to board of children’s
guardians conditionally upon good behavior (27/269) ; trustees
to make by-laWs for government of institution and inmates
(31 /267 ) ; name changed to National Training School for Boys
(35/380); parole of juvenile offenders committed to (343/657).
Appropriation for care and maintenance of boys committed
by District courts, under contract With Board of Charities, $2,000
(35/720).
NAVY-YARD.
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad Company
authorized to construct single track branch or siding to, from
some point on its main line to be approved by commissioners
(35/397).
NIGHT SOIL.
Disposal of. See GARBAGE.
NOISES.
Loud noises, cries. etc., restricted in commissioners’ police regu-
lations, article ix.
NOTARIES PUBLIC.
President authorized to appoint such number. residents of
District. as business requires; term, ﬁve years; required to have
seal. (Code. 558. 550. 502.)
NUISANCES.
Ordinances of the. former board of health, as amended by the
commisioners’ orders, declare to be nuisances, and prohibit, such
things as are usually deemed olfensive or injurious to the public
health in municipalities.
AZ)m‘ewwnL—Conditions allowed to exist contrary to law or
regulations. after reasonable notice, may be corrected by com-
missioners and cost assessed against property (34/114). Appro-
priation for enforcement of law for drainage of lots and abate-
ment of nuisances, $3.000 (35/714).
NURSES.
No person permitted to represent herself as registered nurse
Without proper registration; commissioners to appoint ﬁve mem-
bers of nurses’ examining board from ten persons nominated by
Graduate Nurses’ Association; must have ﬁve years’ expe-
rience; removable by commissioners for cause; board to hold
examinations at least yearly; to ascertain qualiﬁcations of appli-
cants and register nurses; certiﬁcate of registration may be
revoked for cause; board’s expenses payable from fees received
(34/887—9).
58 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
PARK SYSTEM.
Declared to comprise (a) all public spaces laid down as reser-
vations on map accompanying annual report for 1894 of officer
in charge of public buildings and grounds; (6) all spaces in
streets and avenues set aside by commissioners for park purposes;
placed in exclusive charge of Chief of Engineers. United States
Army, under regulations prescribed by President through Sec-
retary of ‘Var; Chief of Engineers may make regulations to gov-
ern; commissioners may enter on spaces or reservations in charge
of Chief of Engineers to widen roadway or establish sidewalks,
with permission of Chief of Engineers, approved by Secretary of
War (30/570—71).
National Zoological Park.
Containing about 17 5 acres, established (25 /808; 26/7 8) ; under
direction of Regents of Smithsonian Institution (26/78).
Potomac Park.
Containing 621 acres, entire area. formerly known as Potomac
Flats, with tidal reservoirs, declared to be public park (29/624).
Rock Creek Park.
Containing about 1,605 acres, established (26/492) ; in charge
of board composed of commissioners and Chief of Engineers,
United States Army; regulations for, contained in commis-
sioners’ police regulations, article xxv; appropriations for care
and improvement, $15,000; purchase of land, not exceeding $400,
chargeable to appropriation /704).
PARKING AND TREES.
The parking is that portion of the street between the back of
the sidewalk and the building line.
Jurisdiction and control of street parking vested in commis-
sioners (30/570: 534/385); comniissioners may make rules and
regulations for ( 30,/571) .
This includes the trees along the sidewalks. Number of trees
in streets and school yards. 96,075. Mileage of streets planted
with trees. 529.26. Amount expended during ﬁscal year ended
June 30, 1909, for care of trees and parks, $40,146.94. The occu-
pation of parkings, etc., is governed by commissioners’ police
regulations, article xxii.
A ppropm'atiovza—F or expenses of parking commission,
$40,000 (355/701): for superintendent of trees and parkings,
$1,800; assistant. $1.200 (355/691).
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 59
PAROLE OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
Inmates of National Training School for Boys, if evidently
reformed and likely to remain at liberty without violating laws,
may be paroled by board of trustees; Attorney-General to ap—
prove parole of those committed by other than District courts
(35/657).
PAUPERS; POOR.
Relief of, etc. See CHARITIES.
PAWNBROKERS.
Business of, regulated by statutes /1006; 26/841) and com-
missioners’ police regulations, article i.
PENAL AND REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS.
Commissioners to make annual estimates of cost of maintain—
ing (20/104).
See JAIL; NATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL FOR BOYS; REFORM
SCHOOL FOR GIRLS; VVORKHOUSE.
PERMANENT SYSTEM OF HIGHWAYS. See HIGHWAYS.
PERSONAL TAX APPEALS.
Board 0f.—Composed of assessor, as chairman, and ﬁve assist-
ant assessors; any four members to be quorum (28/282; 32/617
See TAXATION.
PERSONAL TAX APPRAISERS.
Board 0f.-——Consists of assessor, as chairman, and two assist-
ant assessors (28/282; 32/617—18); commissioners to appoint-
clerk, assistant clerk, and three inspectors for, to perform duties
assigned by chairman (32/622).
.1pproprimfions.—-Two assistant assessors. $3,000 each; ap-
praiser of personal property, $1,800; two clerks. $1.400 and
$1,000; three inspectors, $1,200 each; extra. clerk hire, $2,000
(35/690).
See T AxATION.
PHARMACY.
Unlawful to conduct pharmacy, drug or chemical store, apothe-
cary Shop, or other place for retailing. compounding, or dispens-
ing drugs, chemicals, or poisons without license and registration
as pharmacist; commissioners to appoint board of pharmacy con-
sisting of ﬁve licensed pharmacists of ﬁve years’ active experi-
ence; licenses may be revoked for cause; expenses of board to be
paid out of fees received; Sale of narcotics, poisons, etc., regu-
lated (34/1'75-82. 1005-0).
60 DISTRICT OF OOLUIvIBIA HANDBOOK.
PLATTIN G OF LANDS.
Commissioners authorized to make general orders to regulate
platting and subdivision of lands; no plat to be recorded with-
out order of commissioners indorsed; spaces designated on re-
corded plat as streets, avenues, or alleys to become public ways;
no subdivision outside of \Vashington and Georgetown to be re-
corded unless in conformity with general plan of city of )Vash-
ington (25/451).
PLAYGROUNDS.
There were nine municipal playgrounds operated in 1909, with
390,871 attendances, and 15 school playgrounds.
Appropriation for maintenance, etc., $1,500; improvement and
equipment of ‘Georgetown site, $5,000 (35/ 701).
PLUMBING.
Commissioners to make and enforce regulations as to plumbing,
house drainage, house sewers, and governing examination, reg-
istration and licensing of plumbers; to establish fee for permit
to connect premises with sewer, water, or gas main, etc.; also
fee for permit- to excavate to repair, etc., sewer, water, or gas
main, etc. (27/21). '
Inspection of plumbing.
Commissioners to appoint inspector of plumbing (21/318);
duty of, to require all plumbing, drainage, and sewerage work
011 private premises to be done in accordance with regulations;
to inspect, or cause to be inspected, all houses in course of erec-
tion and see that the plumbing, etc., conform to regulations; also,
on sworn complaint of any respectable citizen, to inspect any
house and examine its plumbing. etc. (27,/'21).
.1ppropi'iations for plumbing inspection division in executive
office: Inspector of plumbing. $2,000; principal assistant. $1,400;
ﬁve assistants, one at $1,200 and four at $1.000 each; clerk,
$1,200; draftsman, $1,350; sewer tapper, $1,000; temporary as-
sistants and laborers, $2,000 (35/688—9).
Plumbing board.
Consists of one master plumber, one journeyman plumber and
two employees of the District having a knowledge of plumbing,
gas ﬁtting. and sanitary work, appointed by commissioners
(34/483; 30/477) ; duty of board, in addition to advisory duties
assigned by commissioners, to examine applicants for license as
master plumbers or fitters, and to report results to commis-
sioners, who issue licenses to applicants if qualified (30/477);
salary, $300 each (35/689).
POISONS. See PHARMACY.
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 61
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The police district is coextensive with the District and has
been subdivided by the commissioners into ten precincts
(34/221), in each of which is a central station. The Metro-
politan police force consists of 1 ‘major and superintendent, 4
surgeons for police and ﬁre departments, 3 inspectors, 10 cap-
tains, 1.2 lieutenants, and such number of sergeants, privates
(classes 3, 2, 1), mounted inspectors, captains, ‘lieutenants, ser-
geants, and privates on horses and bicycles, etc., as the commis-
sioners deem necessary within appropriations 31/221, 1252-3;
35/296).
The con'nnissioners appoint to office, assign duties, and promote
all oﬁicers and members, according to regulations adopted by
themselves. They also make, modify, and enforce regulations “
for the government and discipline of the force, and may ﬁne,
suspend with or without pay, and dismiss any ofﬁcer or member
for cause, upon written charges and after hearing. They may
create one or more trial boards and prescribe their procedure
(31/221—2) _: such boards authorized to subpoena witnesses
(29/10).
Appointeesa—Must be able to read, write, and speak English,
citizens of United States, residents of District for two years,
never indicted and convicted, at least 5 feet 8 inches in height,
between 22 and 35 years of age, of good health and reputation,
and must pass examination in elementary branches and knowl-
edge of principal localities of District.
Additional p0lieemem—Appointed by commissioners, with
jurisdiction over limited area, usually immediate vicinity of
property of persons applying for protection (12/322) ; paid by
persons applying.
Special policemen. Appointed by commissioners on applica-
tion of corporations or individuals, for duty in connection With
some specified property; paid by persons asking; subject to com-
missioners’ regulations (30/1057).
Special service.—Commissioners may detail privates for special
service in detection and prevention of crime, to rank then as ser-
geants (31/820).
Private detectives—May be appointed; to give bonds for
$10,000 satisfactory to commissioners and be subject to laws gov-
erning police force (14/214). ' -
Street railway crossing p0lieemem—Commissioners required to
station at crossings where deemed necessary; expense paid pro
rata by companies; must qualify and be subject to same rules
and discipline as members of regular force (30/489).

62 DISTRICT OF OOLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
POLICE DEPARTMENT—Continued.
Police matrona—Commissioners authorized to appoint three;
duty of, to search, examine, and care for female prisoners and
take charge of lost or abandoned children while detained at sta-
tion house; under regulations of commissioners; no woman to be
appointed unless suitable and recommended by ten women of
good standing, residents of District (25/340).
Leaves of absence.——Each member entitled to twenty days’
leave of absence each year with pay, to be taken at time deter-
mined by commissioners (29/405). '
Police-patrol system.——Consists of “ patrol boxes ” containing
telephonic communication with stations and patrol wagons;
appropriation for extension of, $4,500 (35/702).
Ambulance system.—-Under supervision of department, to pro-
vide transportation in cases of emergency to places where med-
ical or surgical treatment may be afforded.
Police and ﬁre surgeons.
Must have been residents for two years, duly qualiﬁed physi-
cians and surgeons and of at least three years’ active practice;
subject to commissioners’ rules and regulations; to attend without
charge all members of police and ﬁre departments, examine all
applicants for appointment or retirement, attend dependent sick
and injured members, and examine and attend insane persons
taken in charge by police, and perform other duties assigned by
commissioners (34/222—3) .
Pension and relief fund.
This fund is derived from the following sources: All ﬁnes im-
posed for discipline and collectible from pay; all rewards, fees,
gifts, and emoluments for extraordinary services (12/581); all
proceeds from sales of unclaimed goods in custody of property
clerk (12/385) ; $1 per month deducted from pay of each police-
man (23/316); from ﬁnes in police court or receipts for dog
licenses, enough to meet any deﬁciencies (34/1003). Such sums
are invested in United States or District bonds by the United
States Treasurer and held subject to the commissioners’ drafts
as provided by law (23/316).
The fund is used for the payment of retirement pensions, sup-
port of widows and minor children (31/820; 33/821; 34/1003) ;
for injury or disease and medical or surgical treatment in cer-
tain cases (23/316; 12/325) ; disability pensioners undergo med-
ical examination every two years to determine continuance of
pension (35/296).
Police-clothing fund—Derived from moneys received for re-
wards for arrest of deserters from army or navy, voluntary con-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
POLICE DEPARTMENTf-Continued.
Pension and relief fund—Continued.
tributions and miscellaneous Sources; used to provide new uni-
forms, or parts thereof, to replace such as are destroyed or
damaged during discharge of especially hazardous duties.
Appropriations.
For major and superintendent, $4,000; assistant, with rank of
inspector, $2,500; 3 inspectors, $1,800 each; 11 captains, $1,500
each; 4 surgeons (police and ﬁre departments), $600 each; 12
lieutenants (1 to be harbor master), $1,320 each; 45 Sergeants
(1 detailed in harbor patrol), $1,250 each; 482 privates class 3,
$1,200 each; 89, class 2, $1,080 each; 88, class 1, $900 each; 3
police matrons, $600 each; other employees and extra compensa-
tion, $67,063.52; miscellaneous and contingent expenses, $48,080
(35/710-12).
POLICE REGULATIONS.
By an act approved January 26, 1887 (24/368), and a joint
resolution approved February 26, 1892 (27/394), the commis-
sioners are authorized “ to make, modify, and enforce usual and
reasonable police regulations” for the District. Other powers
have been conferred from time to time, until the police powers
of the commissioners cover all the usual subjects of police regu-
lation in cities. Under these delegated powers the commis-
sioners have made and published an elaborate code of regula_
tions. '-
POOLS.
Making of, prohibited. (Code 869; 35/164.)
POTOMAC ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY.
Commissioners may permit, to make connections between its
conduits and those of Washington Railway and Electric Com-
pany and other companies controlled by the latter (33/37 6).
POTOMAC PARK. See PARK SYSTEM.
POULTRY.
Preparation, Sale, etc., of, regulated by ordinance of former
board of health.
POUNDMASTER.
To be appointed by board of health [commissioners] ; to take
up and impound animals running at large in Washington and
Georgetown; to report to'health olﬁcer condition of pound, re-
ceipts, etc.; to keep register of animals impounded; to take up
64 DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
POUNDMASTER—Continued.
unmuzzled dogs at large between May 15 and October 15; to
sell unredeemed impounded domestic animals at public auction
(Ordn. Bd. Health) ; to impound unmuzzled dogs during time
required to be muzzled (20,/174): commissioners to make rules
for impounding domestic animals running at large (21/35) ; to
seize and impound dogs without tax tag or females in heat run-
ning at large; may sell or destroy those not redeemed; fierce or
dangerous dog at large to be delivered to, and killed (32/547).
See HEALTH DEPARTMENT (appropriations).
PRIVATE ASYLUMS AND HOSPITALS.
For human beings or animals. not to be maintained until
licensed by commissioners; health oﬁicer to enforce provisions of
law and to enter and inspect institutions; commissioners to
formulate regulations for institutions. and regulate issue, sus-
pension, and revocation of licenses (535/615).
PRIVIES AND WATER-CLOSETS.
Statutory regulations as to location. construction, and cleaning
(30/23—'1) ; health oﬂicer may grant permits for temporary
privies, under sanitary regulations (SQ/74) ; sanitary inspection
of, provided for, by ordinance of former board of health.
PRIZE FIGHTING; PUGILISM.
Pugilistic encounters, for money, thing of value, or champion-
ship, or on which anything is wagered, or for which admission
is charged, prohibited (29/ 5). '
PROBATION OFFICERS.
To cooperate in enforcement of provisions of compulsory edu-
cation lavv (345/220).
See COURTS (JUVENILE COURT).
PROPERTY DIVISION.
In executive office, appropriations for: Property clerk, $2,500;
deputy, $1,600; 18 clerks, $17 ,160; fuel inspector, $1,500; assist-
ant, $1,100; 2 inspectors, $1,680; 2 messengers, driver, 2 laborers,
$2,880 (355/688).
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.
Places of, regulated by commissioners’ police regulations,
_ article Xiii.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Chief of Engineers, United States Army, to have charge of,
under President’s regulations, through ‘Var Department, unless
otherwise provided by law (32/152).
DISTRICT or coLUMBIAnANnBooK. (ﬁﬁ
PUBLIC CONVENIENCE STATIONS. ,7 _ ; ‘,1
Commissioners authorized to construct and establish and make
regulations for use of same (33/984) ; appropriations for; main-
tenance, $7,500; two new ones, $22,500 and $15,000 (3.5/701).
Total number of patrons at the two stations during the last
ﬁscal year, 2,232,584; average daily number, 6,116. The stations
have free and pay compartments; fees from the latter amounted
to $1,191.41; cost of operating the two stations, $6,700. ;
PUBLIC LIBRARY. See LIBRARY.
PUBLIC SCALES. See ‘VEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
The following summary shows the taxes assessed against; such
corporations for the year ended June 30, 1909: ‘


Steam railroads ______ __ ___ $149,419. 77
Street railroads 200, 567. 73 1
Gas companies ___________ __ 147, 932. 56 ,
Electric lighting company ____ __ 63,145.24 "
Telephone companies 57, 433. 68
Telegraph companies 1, 008. 30 ,
Steamboat companies ___________ __ 11,229.00 ,
Total ______________ __ 630, 736. 28
This is about 11 per cent of the total amount of taxes on realty
and personalty collected in the year 1909.
PUBLIC VEHICLES. See CABS, E'ro.
QUARANTINE STATION. ..
By order of September 8, 1905, the supreme court designated
the quarantine station on reservation 13, B street, between Nine~
teenth street and the Eastern Branch, as the place of conﬁnement
of persons under arrest atllicted with contagious diseases. ‘i
' I
REAL-ESTATE ASSESSORS. See ASSESSOR (Board of Assistant As-
sessors. ' . .1
REAL-ESTATE TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY.
To pay tax of 1% per cent of gross receipts in District -
(33/564).
RECORDER or DEEDS.
Appointed by President, with consent of Senate, to record
deeds, contracts, and other instruments affecting real-estate
titles; may appoint deputy at salary of $2,500; salary ‘of re-
corder, $4,000; salaries paid out of fees.‘ (Code, 548, 549, 553.)
22907—-10 5 “ l "" " ‘ ‘ M

SB DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
REFORM SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.
Incorporated in 1888 (25/245); board of trustees to be ap
pointed in. same manner and have like powers as trustees of Re-
form School for Boys; to make by-laws, rules, and regulations
(25/246; 31/810); trustees may commit children to Board of
Children’s Guardians conditionally on good behavior (27 /269).
Appropriationa—Superintendent, $1,200; treasurer, $600;
matron, $600; 3 teachers, $600 each; overseer, 6 teachers of in-
dustries, engineer, and assistant, watchman, and 2 laborers,
$5,700; supplies, repairs, etc., $24,475 (35/720).
REFORMATORIES.
Named in appropriation acts, to report to commissioners, on or
before December 1, full and detailed account of receipts and
expenditures and all their operations; commissioners to transmit
same to Congress at beginning of regular session, with sugges-
tions and recommendations and estimates (25/327, 807.)
REGISTER OF WILLS.
Cﬁice of, created—one for each county—appointed by Presi-
dent (2/107); one now, who acts as clerk of supreme court
(Code, 120) ; duties of, prescribed; to appoint two deputies and
other employees, ﬁxing their compensation; salary of register,
. , $4,000; salaries and expenses of office payable out of fees (Code,
121) ; fees of (Code, 1111). '
RESERVATIONS.
It has been decided that the United States hold title in fee
simple to the reservations, streets, and avenues in Washington
as originally laid out. But transfers have since been made to the
commissioners, and on February 16, 1889, the reservations formed
by intersecting avenues and streets were apportioned between the
Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds and the com-
missioners.
RETENTS. -
From contractors. See CoNTRAo'rs.
REVENUES.
Consist of appropriations, taxes on real and personal estate,
licenses, fees, etc. These are deposited daily in the United
States Treasury (20/105; 22/470), and drawn only on the com-
'missioners’ requisition, except appropriations for interest and
sinking fund, which are drawn only on the treasurer’s requisi-
tion (22/470).
ROCK CREEK PARK. See PARK SYSTEM.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 67
SALOON. .
Billiard table, etc., not to be kept in, without license (2.9/594).
See INTOXICATLNG LIQUORS.
SCALES.
Public. See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
SCHOOLS.
Control of, vested in board of education (234/316) ; nature and
effects of intoxicating liquors upon human system to be taught
in (24/69) ; license for sale of liquors not to be granted for place
within 400 feet of schoolhouse, unless licensed before building
was constructed (28/76). ‘
For convenience of administration the schools are classiﬁed
into divisions, each of which includes a certain number of schools
and is under the immediate surveillance of a separate supervising
principal; but these divisions have no deﬁnite geographical
boundaries. (Tindall) There are ﬁve high schools, two man-
ual-training schools, and two normal schools; also night schools.
Text-book's and suppliea—Furnished to pupils not supplied;
distributed by the superintendent under regulations of the board
of education (35/708).
0adets.-—Every male pupil is admitted to and serves in high
school cadets, unless excused by principal on certiﬁcate of med-
ical inspector that he is physically disqualiﬁed or on written
request of parent, etc. (134/1141).
Non-maidentan—Pupils are not admitted or taught free of
charge who do not reside in District, or whose parents do not
reside or are not engaged in business or public duties therein;
such pupils may be admitted and taught on payment of such
amount, ﬁxed by board, with commissioners’ approval. as will
cover expense of tuition and cost of text-books and supplies
(34/113).
F ire protection—By direction of the commissioners the'chief
engineer of the ﬁre department, about two years ago, personally
visited each building and made detailed reports of necessary
Safety provisions. The commissioners have also provided that a
committee, consisting of an assistant engineer commissioner, the
chief of the ﬁre department, and the inspector of buildings, must
visit each building and, before its use, the necessary ﬁre protec-
tion must be provided.
Board of education.
Organization—Consists of ‘nine members, residents for ﬁve
years, three of whom "are women; appointed by supreme court
judges for three years; appoints secretary not a member; hold
stated meetings at least once a month, which must be public;
members serve without compensation (341/316—17).
,68
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
SCHOOLS—Continued.
IiiBoarid of education—Continued. '
Jurisdiction—Has complete jurisdiction over all administra-
tive matters connected with public schools, except that expendi-
tures are made and accounted for as provided by law, under the
direction and control of commissioners; board makes rules for
government of schools and makes report on October 1 annually
to commissioners, who transmit same to Congress, of condition
and operations of schools and sanitary and structural condition
of buildings in use and under construction, with recommenda-
tions as to changes (34/317).
Anmml cstimates.—Board sends annually to commissioners
estimate in detail of amount of money required for public schools
for ensuing year, which commissioners include in their annual
estimate of appropriations, with such recommendations as they
deem proper (81/564).
Superintendent and assistants.
Board of education appoints superintendent for three years,
to have direction and supervision of schools; has seat on board,
but no vote; may be removed for cause; no appointment, pro-
motion, transfer, or dismissal of teacher or subordinate to be
made without superintendent’s written recommendation (34/ 317) .
Board, on his written recommendation, appoints one white
and one colored assistant, to aid in supervision of schools; also,
director of intermediate instruction and supervisor of manual
training (34/317).
Medical inspectors.
Twelve, four to be colored, appointed by commissioners after
competitive examination; to have at least ﬁve years’ experience
in medical practice; to perform duties under direction of health
oﬂicer and according to rules formulated by him, subject to
approval of board of education and commissioners (35/707).
During the school year of 1908—9 there were made 9,197 visits
to school buildings, 105 visits to pupils’ residences, 15,443 exami-
nations of pupils, 140 physical examinations for admission to
normal schools, and 1,248 examinations for permits under child-
labor law. '
' Teachers’.
Arranged in 6 classes, with graded salaries (34/318—20; 35/
, 04-5) ; salaries ofannual teachers to begin September 1, payable
i clerk ori'l_ibrarian.(35/290, 705); teachers ofpinight
5, i' in ten monthly installments; rules for computation of pay (35/
. 291) ; no discrimination to be made on account of sex in assign-
ing, salaries; no teacher to be required to discharge duties of
schools may
also be teachers of day schools- (353/614,), ' ' ‘ '-
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. ~69,‘
SCHOOLS—Continued.
-, Teachers—Continued.
The following table shows the numerical relation between teachers
and pupils, and the cost per pupil for teachers:


l , I I , Number of Cost for
Fiscal year. f of ' pupil< per teachers
1 ‘ ' " I I *' , ' teacher. per pupil. ,
_—______ _ _ g y __ w Mi *4 7‘ _ _ _ __ ‘_| ‘~_,— ___ ,__ ___ >___~ _ ﬂ—__‘ __,____ 1
1908 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ _ . _ . . . . . . . . . .; 1, 557 i 53.3% | $1, 324, 450 33.63 $24. 80
1909 ...................................... .; 1,646 51,592 ' 1, 442. 005 16 26. 42
1910 ..................................... ... 1,710 (155,500 1 1,555,940 32.45 ' 28.08
1911 (House bill) . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . _ . . . . . . . . 1, " 5 a 56, 3)0 1, 053, 050 3:2. 44 29. 18
1911 (Senate bill) ...................... -. 1,709 i 1150,1100 1 1,811,730 31.82 32.17
a
0 Estimated.
School buildings.
Not to be used for other purposes whatever than those directly
connected with school system (27/546) ; in purchase of sites and
preparation of plans for, regard to be had to future enlargement
(31/568); to be constructed with doors opening outward and
kept unlocked during school days, from one-half hour before to
one-half hour after school hours, and each building having more
than 8 rooms to have at least four exits; plans and speciﬁcations
for, to be prepared under supervision of municipal architect and
approved by commissioners (35/709—10).
‘ Columbia institution for deaf and dumb.
White pupils—Deaf mutes of teachable age and good mental
capacity to be received and instructed in, subject to approval of
superintendent of public schools; not regarded as institution of
charity (31/844); appropriation for expenses of instruction of
such pupils, under contract with commissioners, $10,500 (35/710).
Colored pupils—Directors of institution authorized to provide
for education of colored deaf mute children of District in Mary-
land School for Colored Deaf Mutes, or other suitable school
(33/901); appropriation for maintenance and tuition of such
pupils, under contract with commissioners, $6,000 (35/710).
Appropriations.
For superintendent, $5,000; two assistants, $3,000 each; director
of intermediate instruction, 13 supervising principals, and super-
visor of manual training, minimum salary of $2,200 each; sec-
retary, $2,000; 4 clerks, 2 stenographcrs, messenger, $6,700;
attendance (truant) oﬂicers, 1 at $900, 2 at $600 each; 1,710
teachers, $1,313,050; 22 librarians and clerks, $13,600; longevity
pay (under 34/316), $210,000; allowance to principals for addi;
tional services (under 34/320), $35,890; night schools, $19,500;
kindergarten supplies, $2,500; j anitors and care of buildings and
grounds, $110,420; 12 medical inspectors, $500 each; miscel-
laneous, $406,650; buildings and grounds, $893,000 (35 /7 04-9) .
7O DIsTRIcT OF OOLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
SEAL—
Of District was adopted by act of the legislative assembly
approved August 3, 1871.
SEALER 0F WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. See WEIGHTS AND MEAS—
UREs.
SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
The sewerage system consists of a number of trunk sewers
which will intercept and convey to the pumping station at the
southern extremity of New Jersey avenue the entire sewage
of the city and the storm water of the lower portion of the Tiber
Valley. The sewage will be pumped from the pumping sta-
tion across the Anacostia River in an inverted siphon; thence
carried along the left bank of the Potomac River to near the
United States naval magazine, where it will be discharged into
the river. The pumping station also includes a plan for eleva-
ting the storm water of the low area of the city adjacent to
Pennsylvania avenue during freshet stages of the Potomac, dis-
charging the same into the Anacostia River (T indall).
The total length of sewers June 30, 1909, was 541.26 miles.
Total amount of sewage pumped during last ﬁscal year,
22,938,000,000 gallons, and of storm water, 810,000,000 gallons;
coal used, 7,866,000 pounds. Total cost of system, $10,688,681.62;
cost of disposal system, $4,031,888.27.
Appropriation for maintenance and operation of pumping sta-
tion,$43$XX)(35/700).
Private system—To be constructed only upon permit of com-
. missioners (30/233).
SEWERS.
Sewer connections to be laid before permanent improvements
(20/107) ; commissioners authorized to make service connections
before paving, etc., and assess cost against abutting property
(es/44).
See ASSESSMENT AND PERMIT WORKS; WATER MAINS AND SERV-
IoE SEwERs.
A ppropriationa—Superintendent of sewers in engineer’s oﬁice,
$3,000 (35/691) ; sewer tapper in plumbing inspection division,
$1,000 (35/689) ; for cleaning, repairing, construction, etc.,
$281,375 (35/700).
SIDEWALKS. See AssEssMENT AND PERMIT WORK, AND STREETS.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. '11‘
SIN KING FUND.
Former sinking fund commissioners abolished, and duties and
powers of, transferred to United States Treasurer (20/107) ; ap-;
propriations for sinking fund and interest to be drawn only on,‘
requisition of Treasurer; commissioners to deposit amount an-
nually appropriated for interest and Sinking fund for water;
bonds to credit of appropriation for funded indebtedness; Treas-g
urer, as sinking fund commissioner, after payment of interest on
~ indebtedness and water bonds, out of combined funds, to invest.
balance in such District bonds as he may deem most advantageous.
(22/470) ; amount appropriated for any ﬁscal year may be consoli-i
dated with unexpended balances of appropriations for interest'
and sinking fund for preceding years (23/131) ; excess sums ap-
propriated for sinking fund above amount required for interest,
to be applied to purchase and redemption of District bonds, if
possible (232/975). '
Approprz'ationa—For sinking fund oﬂice in Treasury, two
clerks, $1,600 and $900 (85/690) ; for interest and sinking fund,
$975,408 (355/716). , ..
SLAUGHTERHOUSES.
Sanitary inspection of, and regulation of slaughtering of ani-..
mals, provided for by ordinances of former board of health.
SMOKE.
Dense, or thick black or gray: Emission of, from stack or
chimney (except of exclusively private residence) declared nuii‘
sance (30/812).
SNOW AND ICE.
Duty of occupant of lot or owner of vacant lot, within ﬁre
limits, within four hours of daylight, to remove snow from
paved sidewalk and to sprinkle ice thereon with sand, sawdust, or
similar substance; commissioners to do same in front of public
buildings and from cross walks, as soon as practicable (33/12);
when owner of vacant lot fails so to do, commissioners to cause
it to be done and assess cost, to be lien on lot and added to gen—
eral tax (33/13). ‘
[The above act is the third in a series of such acts (28/809; 29/608;
33/12), all of which have been declared null and void by the‘ Dis-
trict court of appeals. (See Appeal Cases, D. (3., vol. 24, p. 22.)
The court holds that the duty to clear the streets, etc., from ice and"
snow is primarily upon the municipality and can not be shifted upon
the citizens by an act that imposes unequal burdens upon them.- The
prime requisite of such legislation is that it be uniform and capable
of universal enforcement. Those acts were grossly unequal in opera-
tion.
12" DISTRICT. roE CoLUMBm HANDBOOK.
SNOW AND ICE—Continued.
ir-In'a'later case before the same court (see Ib. vol. 25, p. 251), a
police‘ regulation of the commissioners, ‘requiring the removal of
snow and ice by the owners of abutting property, was declared void,
as‘being beyond the police powers of the commissioners. Under
their‘ general authority (24/368; 27/394), the commissioners have
power to make police regulations only and not to impose duties upon
Citizens. ' Congress having assumed to act on that subject and no
such-1 authority having been expressly conferred upon the commis-
sioners,‘it is presumed that Congress reserved that subject for legis-
la‘tion'by itself.- The duty of the District to cause such removal is
r‘ea'fﬁ'r'med and the commissioners can not shift the burden]
f Appropriation for cleaning, from streets, sidewalks, cross
g". -7?"walks, and gutters, $35,000 (35/700).
ll w I
SOCIETY.
Incorporated. See CLUB; SOCIETY.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.
Temporary home for. See CHARITIEs (TEMPORARY HoMEs). .
SOLDIERS’ ‘HOME.
ﬂlliee‘n'se to sell'liquors not to be granted to place within one
mile of property of (26/797).
ASSESSMENTS.
1 ~ . .
Only property owned by United States or District, or by
foreign governments for legation purposes, exempt from assess-
ments for improvements (32/961); special-assessment tax bills’
'fi-i prepared under assessor’s supervision (Comrs.’ Ord.); assess-
(1:? ; ments for local improvements, if quashed, set aside, or declared
‘ii! . Yvoid for technical reasons other than right to levy, may be re-
";1' 7 ‘ assessed within ninety days after quashing, etc. (29/98; 30/ 721)-
‘q (1' Appropriations for special-assessment ofﬁce: Special-assess-
, ment clerk, $2,000; 10 clerks, $10,950 (315/692)-
sTABLEs. .
W7 Cow yards or pens, regulated by commissioners’ police regula
15 tions, article xix. - .
STANDARD. TIME. V ,
new; Mean time of seventy-ﬁfth meridian of longitude west from,
f e. .eenwich legalized ‘(23/4).
old‘ i ' i . ' i
..
. "i'" -.! t 2 a -
'i’\£.-\'.o .'.1.
.
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 73f
STEAM ENGINEERS.
Unlawful for any person (except engineers licensed by United
States or any State) to act as steam engineer in District, with-
out previous examination by board and license from commis-
sioners; board of examiners consists of boiler inspector of'Dis-
trict and two practical engineers appointed by commissioners,
acting under rules prescribed by commissioners; engineers must
be 21 years of age, temperate, and certiﬁed to be of good char-
acter and moral habits by three citizens of moral standing; for
intoxication on duty, license may be suspended or revoked; un-
lawful to employ unlicensed engineer (24/427).
A ppropriation.—-F or compensation of members of board, $300
' each (35/693).
STEAM RAILROAD COMPANIES.
Must pay District for lighting streets, avenues, lands, and
grounds through which their tracks are laid (22/139) ; trains of,
not to run within city, limits faster than 12 miles an hour. (Pol-
Regs.)
Elimination of grade crossings on lines of. See GRADE Cnoss-
mos.
The amount of taxes assessed against these companies for the
ﬁscal year ended June 30, 1909, was $149,419.77.
STREET RAILWAY COMPANIES.
Baltimore and Washington Transit Company.
Authorized to enter District (29/264; 35/473).
Belt Railway Company.
Uapitol, North 0 Street and South Washington Railway Com-
pany incorporated (18/498) ; extensions of route and time (19/56;
21/414; 22/432; 25/399; 29/318; 29/698) ; named changed to
Belt Railway Company (27 /462); any company authorized to
purchase and operate (30/488) ; Metropolitan Railroad Com-
pany authorized to use part of track of (28/682).
Capital Traction Company.
Rock Creek Railway Company incorporated June 23, 1838
(25/199); route changed (26/121—2); extension (27/23); au-
thorized to buy, lease, hold, and operate or otherwise to contract
with Chevy Chase Land Company’s railway (26/835); to'con-
. tract with Eckington and Soldiers’ Home Railway Company
for mutual use of tracks (27/24) ; Metropolitan Railroad Com-
pany authorized to contract for purchase, lease, or joint opera-
tion of part of track of; required to sell four coupon tickets for
25 cents, good over own lines and Metropolitan Railroad Com-
74 ’ DIsTRIcT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
STREET RAILWAY COMPANIES—Continued.
. Capital Traction Company—Continued.
pany and to redeem tickets collected by latter at 27}- cents each
(28/683); authorized to contract for joint management, lease,
or purchase of any connecting or intersecting line and to change
name to “ The Capital Traction. Company ” (28/700) .
Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company incorporated
May 17, 1862 (12/388); required to transport cars of freight
for United States (12/390) ; lines extended (13/322; 18/510;
28/492); to construct union passenger station near Aqueduct
Bridge (28/492) ; merged into Capital Traction Company under
act of March 1, 1895 (es/700).
Capital Traction Company required to issue free transfers with
Capital Railway Company and Metropolitan Railroad Company
at intersections (29/188) ; route extended and changed (31/25‘1,
264; 35/246). .
District of Columbia Suburban Railway Company.
Incorporated July 5, 1892 (27/66).
East Washington Heights Traction Railroad Company.
Incorporated June 18, 1898 (30/47 8) ; route and time extended
(31 / 165; 32 /636; 33/308) ; authorized to cross Pennsylvania Ave-
nue Bridge (32/636).
Falls Church and Potomac Railway Company.
May use tracks of \Vashington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon
Electric Railway Company from junction (28/498, 593).
Georgetown Barge, Dock, Elevator, and Railway Company.
Incorporated September 26, 1888 (25/492).
Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad Company.
Commissioners authorized to change superstructure of Aque-
duct Bridge over Potomac and lay single track for beneﬁt and at
expense of (32/781) ; company to maintain bridge ﬂoor in repair;
other companies authorized to use (32/782) ; commissioners may
permit overhead trolley or underground system (32/783).
Maryland and Washington Railway Company.
Incorporated August 1, 1892 (27/341) ; time extensions, amend- '
ments, and changes of route (28/590; 28/713; 29/11); may be
leased or purchased by Eckington and Soldiers’ Home Railway
Company (City and Suburban Railway Company) (30/490).
Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway Company.
Incorporated August 23, 1894 (28/494); tracks, etc., of, may
be used by Falls Church and Potomac Railway Company from
junction (28/498, 593) ; to construct road to (28/499) and across
DIsTRIo'T or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 75
STREET RAILWAY COMPANIES—Continued.
Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway Company—Con-
tinued.
(28/593) Arlington reservation; change of route (32/321); au-
thorized to use overhead wire at north end of highway bridge
over Potomac, for not more than 350 feet, to make change of
system (act of Feb. 9, 1909).
Washington, Arlington and Falls Church Railway Company.
To have privilege of track across Aqueduct Bridge over
Potomac in case of default of Great Falls and Cld Dominion
Railroad Company (32/781).
Washington, Spa Springs and Gretta Railroad Company.
Authorized to enter District (34/894); time extended
(35/779).
Washington Railway and Electric Company.
Managing corporation organized under act of June 5, 1900,
(31/270), controlling other corporations as follows:
Anaoostia and Potomac River Railroad Company, incorpo-
rated under general act of May 5, 1870, for creation of corpo-
rations (16/98) ; conﬁrmed, termini and route approved (18/328) ;
changes and extensions (19/26; 25/353; 26/28; 27/22; 31/264;
32/731; 35/246); track of, across Anacostia Bridge may be
used by any other company; to bear one-half of cost of main-
tenance and repair of bridge (33/372).
Bright/wood Rail-way Company, incorporated October 18, 1888
(25/560); extensions and changes (27/270, 490; 30/719); re-
quired to sell four coupontickets for 25 cents, good over own
lines and Metropolitan Railroad Company and redeem tickets
taken by latter at 2% cents each (28/683); Washington, VVood-
side and Forest Glen Railway Company authorized to use
tracks of (30/520).
Capital Railway Company, incorporated March 2, ‘1895
(28/721) ; change of route (29/ 187) ; required to issue transfers
with Capital Traction Company and Metropolitan Railroad
Company at intersections (29/188).
City and Suburban Rail/way Compan'z, incorporated June 19,
1888, as Eckington and Soldiers’ Home Railway'Company
(25/190); extensions and changes (26/77; 27/65; 27/444;
28/492; 29/818; 29/698; 80/490; 80/1891; 35/246); authorized
to contract with Rock Creek Railway Company for mutual use of
tracks (27/24), to purchase or lease Maryland and Washington
Railway Company and part of Columbia and Maryland Railway
Company (30/490), and to change name to City and Suburban
Railway Company (30/492).
76‘
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
STREET RAILWAY COMPANIES—Continued.
Washington Railway and Electric Company——Continued.
Columbia Railway Compani, incorporated May 24, 1870
(16/133); extensions (30/445; 31/1463).
Georgetown ancl Tennallytown Railway Company, incorpo-
rated August 22, 1888 (25/446) ; relocation of route (26/29) ; re—
quired to sell four coupon tickets for 25 cents, good over line and
Metropolitan Railroad Company, and to redeem tickets collected
by latter at 29; cents each (28/683).
Metropolitan Railroad Company, incorporated July 1, 1864
(13/326); amendments, changes, and extensions (13/426, 536;
14/440; 15/339; 17/84; 18/385 ;* 26/310; 27,/399; 28/217; 28/682;
; 29/600; 31/668) ; embraces Connecticut Avenue and Park Rail-
way Company, incorporated July 13, 1868 (15/85), and Union
Railroad Company and Boundary and Silver Spring Railway
Company, both incorporated by L. A. January 19, 1872; to make
reciprocal transfer and track arrangements with connecting lines
(28/218) ; authorized to purchase, lease, or jointly operate part
of Belt Line Railway Company (28/682) and of Rock Creek
Railway Company line (28 /683) ; coupon tickets, four for 25 cents,
of Brightwood Railway Company and Georgetown and Ten-
nallytown Railroad Company to be good on, redeemable at 2%
cents each (28/683) ; required to issue transfers at intersections
with Capital Railway and Capital Traction companies (29/188).
Washington and Roclwille Railway Compam , incorporated in
Maryland.
Washington, W ooclsiale anal Forest Glen Railway and Power
Company, of Maryland, authorized to use tracks of Brightwood
Railway Company (30/520). _
Washington anal Glen Echo Railroad Company, of Maryland,
authorized to cross Washington Aqueduct (27 /51), and to ex-
tend line into District (30/399). ‘
Washington and Great Falls Electric Railway Company, in-
corporated July 29, 1892 (27/326) ; route changed and extended
(28/492; 29/246) ; to maintain electric lights along line (29 /248).
Contracts anal change of name.—-Above-named railway corpo-
rations authorized to contract among themselves for use of re-
spective roads or routes or any part thereof and to change names
(31/270—7 1) ; Washington and Great Falls Electric Railway
Company authorized to hold stock in any of companies men-
tioned and contract for use of road or route (31/271). Under
these provisions said company, by deed of February 4, 1902, '
acquired Columbia Railway. Company and Metropolitan Rail-
~ way Company and changed its name to Washington Railway and
Electric Company. ' ‘
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
‘717
STREET RAILWAY COMPANIES—Continued.
Washington Railway and Electric Company—Continued.
Washington Railway and Electric Company—Charter obliga-
tions of constituent roads continued to be applicable (31/273) ;
' i ' lines extended to Union Station (35 /246) ; transfer arrangements
'1
fs‘TR
with Metropolitan Coach Company not to be terminated except
by authority of Congress (35/249); commissioners may permit
Potomac Electric Power Company to connect its conduits with
those of this company and companies controlled by it (33/37 6).
EET RAILWAYS.
Charters for street railways must be granted directly by Con-
gress; routes laid down therein; right to amend, alter, or repeal
always reserved.
Prohibited on I and K street fronts of Farragut, Scott (Mc-
Pherson) and Franklin squares; not to be laid in District with-
out consent of Congress (17 /350).
All companies to have right to cross highway bridge over
Potomac on terms mutually agreed upon with WVashington, Alex-
andria, and Mount Vernon Railway Company (32/599); any
urban company intersecting or connecting with any other may
have reasonable number of trail cars drawn on route of other
(29/399).
Statutory regulations.
Articles left in cars—Charters generally provide for care by
company, entry in book open to inspection, and sale after one
year on ﬁve days’ notice.
Cara—Charters generally provide for cars of best construc-
tion, with modern improvements for comfort and convenience;
recent legislation provides for furnishing and operating suiti-
cient number of cars, “clean, sanitary, in good repair, with
proper and safe power, equipment, appliances, and service, com-
fortable and convenient so as to give expeditious passage with-
out crowding ” (35/250). '
Coinciding routes—Charters generally provide for joint track- l
age arrangements where tracks coincide, to be agreed upon or
settled by legal proceedings.
Deposits—Charters usually require deposit to be made to pay
for inspection of construction work, and some require it to guar-
antee construction andcompletion within prescribed time. ‘
Exclusion from cars—Permitted only for being drunk, disor-
derly, unclean, contagiously diseased, refusal to pay fare or to
comply with lawful regulations, obscene or profane language;
no exclusion on account of color (13/329, 537; 15/88; L. A., Jan.
19, 1872). ' " *
Electrolysis—See ELECTROLYSIS.
78
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
STREET RAILWAYS—Continued.
Statutory regulations—Continued.
Fara—Not more than 5 cents within District, and six tickets
for 25 cents.
Grade—Road to conform with street grade; when grade is
altered by District authorities, road must be made to conform, at
expense of company.
Ganga—Uniform standard gauge required.
Peeing—Both charter provisions and general law require all
companies to bear expense of paving and repairing between ex-
terior rails and 2 feet outside; having conformed to grade, may
use cobblestones or Belgian blocks, as commissioners may direct;
in case of neglect or refusal, pavement to be laid by District; if
not paid for, commissioners to issue certiﬁcates of indebtedness
at 10 per cent interest, to be lien against property and franchise;
if not paid within one year, commissioners to sell at public auc-
tion property suﬁicient to pay; pavements of street crossings to
conform to street pavement; companies to pay for same (20/ 106).
Policemen at crossings—Commissioners authorized to place,
where necessary, at expense of companies pro rata (30/489).
Rails.——Charters generally provide for use of rails of pattern
approved by commissioners, laid level with streets; but Congress
has provided for use only of ﬂat grooved rails in Washington
and Georgetown (25/797-8).
Reciprocal traclcaga—Some companies are specially required
to make with others; all are required to make with connecting
lines (28/218) ; but it is unlawful for company to use tracks with
underground system unless its motive power is same (30/488—90;
Code, 711).
Reports to Congress are generally required to be made on or
before January 15 or February 1; but a general provision re-
quires them to be made to Senate and House on or before Febru-
ary 1 (29/320).
Right of way—Free and unobstructed, secured to companies
over their roads by charter provisions and penalties provided for
willful interference; some charters require dedication of, to
District, when acquired by company.
Speed—Limited to 15 miles per hour within city and 20 out- '
side (35/250).
Tawea—F our per cent on gross receipts in lieu of personal
taxes; real estate taxed as other (32/619; 33/564) ; most charters
exempt tracks from taxation as real estate, but some provide
that “roads” shall be deemed real estate. Total amount col-
lected from companies for ﬁscal year ended June 30, 1909,
$200,567.73.
DISTRIC'I‘ or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 79
STREET RAILWAYS—Continued.
Statutory regulations—Continued.
T iclceta—Several charters provide for interchange of tickets
by companies, but Congress has enacted general provisions as fol-
lows: Each street railway and herdic company to issue its own
and sell none of other company; to be printed and sold in sheets
of six; used tickets to be canceled; all companies to receive and
exchange tickets with each other; to make monthly settlements
and redeem excess tickets in money (28/7 8).
Tameka—Exempted from taxation as real estate by most
charters. _ _
Transfera—Capital Railway Company, Metropolitan Rail-
road Company, and Capital Traction Company required to issue
free, at intersection of lines (29/188); Metropolitan Railroad
‘Company required to make reciprocal transfer arrangements
with connecting lines; all companies whose lines connect re-
quired to make same arrangements (28/218) ; companies operat-
ing under reciprocal trackage agreements, if compelled to dis-
continue by difference in motive power, to issue free transfers at
such junctions as may be provided by commissioners (30/490;
Code, 712); transfers not to be issued, sold, or given except to
passenger lawfully entitled thereto (35/250); transfer arrange-
ments between Washington Railway and Electric Company and
Metropolitan Coach Company not to be terminated except by
authority of Congress (35/249). '
Trollcya—No overhead trolleys are allowed within the limits
of the city proper without special permission of Congress; East
Washington Heights Traction Railroad Company allowed to use
(30/47 9) ; \Vashington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway
Company authorized to use overhead wire at north end ofI-Iigh-
way Bridge over Potomac, 350 feet, to make change to under-
ground s'ystem (35/617) ; commissioners not to permit any over-
head wires over streets or avenues (25/323).
Vestibnlos. Cars to be provided with glass vestibules sur-
rounding motorman’s place, as protection from inclement weather
(33/1001).
Police regulations.

Charters generally confer upon the commissioners supervisory
powers over all plans of construction, paving, furnishing of pas-
senger houses and accommodations, time schedules, etc.; but Con-
gress has conferred upon the Interstate Commerce Commission
the authority to make regulations relative to the equipment and
operation of cars (35/250). The commission, therefore, to assist
in the duties assigned to it, appointed three residents of the Dis-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
STREET RAILWAYS—-—Continued.
Police regulations—Continued. -
' trict to act as a “District- electric railway commission.” The
commission, under date of Sept. 15, 1909, adopted a code of
“regulations for the operation and equipment of street railway
cars in the District of Columbia.”
‘STREETS.
The streets generally are laid out into (1) roadways, (2) side-
walks, and (3) parking, which is the space between the back
of the sidewalk and the building line. The title to the streets of
Washington, as originally laid out, is in the United States.
Commissioners authorized to change name of street, road,
avenue, or highway when two have same name (30/532) ; author-
ized to name or rename, outside of city; names to be official when
recorded in surveyor’s oflice; upon abandonment of street, avenue,
road, or highway, under provisions of act for permanent system
of highways, title to land to revert to owners abutting thereon
(33/14); appropriations for superintendent of streets in engi-
neer’s ofﬁce, $2,000 (35/691).
Sanitary inspection of streets, etc., provided for by ordinances
of former board of health; regulation of streets and roads, com-
missioners’ police regulations, article xv; regulation of vendors
and speakers on streets and public places, commissioners’ police
regulations, article iii.
Appropriations for various street, avenue, and alley improve-
ments (35/696—99).
Business streets.
Commissioners authorized to denominate portions of .streets
as business streets and allow use by abutting owners, for busi-
ness purposes, of so much of sidewalk and parking as may not
be needed by general public, under following conditions: (1)
WVhere a majority of frontage, not less than three blocks, is occu-
pied and used for business purposes; (2) where a portion of a
street has already been denominated as such and there exists
adjoining a block or more whose frontage is so occupied and
used (33/10).
Cleaning.
Many portions of paved streets are swept by horse machines
under a ﬁve-year contract. Other portions are cleaned by hand
sweeping machines owned by the District and operated by em-
ployees of the superintendent of the street-cleaning department.
Unpaved streets and alleys are cleaned under ﬁve-year contracts.
The commissioners are authorized to sell street sweepings,
amounts realized to be deposited in the Treasury (33/37 3).
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 81
STREETS—Continued.
Cleaning—Continued.
Appropriations for sprinkling. sweeping, and cleaning (lim-
ited to 19 cents per 1,000 square yards, with descretionary power
to pay 20), $250,000 (35/700) ; appropriations for street-sweep-
ing oﬂice: Superintendent, $2,500; assistant and clerk, $1,600;
clerks, inspectors, mechanics, laborers, etc., $41,100 (35 /692—3).
Condemnation.
Land may be condemned for extension of streets and avenues,
when authorized by Congress, by the institution by the commis-
sioners of proceedings in rem in the District supreme court.
Beneﬁts are assessed and dai'nages awarded by a. jury. The-
assessments for beneﬁts, as ﬁnally ratiﬁed and conﬁrmed, are a.
lien upon the land assessed and collectible as special improve»
ments, being‘ payable in ﬁve equal annual installments, with
interest at 4 per cent after sixty days from conﬁrmation. ( 34 / 151,.
930; 35/582; Code, 491a—n.)
The present policy‘ of Congress in authorizing street exten-
sions, etc., is to direct that the total amount of the award for-
damages and the expenses be assessed as beneﬁts against the par-
cels of land beneﬁted.
Curbing and sidewalks.
Laying of new curbing and sidewalks on streets being im»
proved. See ASSESSMENT Axn PERMIT VVoBK.
Removal of snow, etc., from sidewalks. See Sxow Axn ICE.
Sidewalks are now constructed of cement. Present prices-—
paid: Within city limits, 94 cents per square yard; outside,
$1.20. One-half the cost of laying sidewalks is assessed against
the abutting property.
Lighting.
The street-lighting service consists of gas, electric, and oil
lights, the use of the latter being almost ‘entirely conﬁned to
country roads and remote suburbs. Street lamps and posts are-
protected. by commissioners’ police regulations, article xii.
Commissioners authorized to maintain lamps, etc., outside of
city when necessary (20/ 104) ; authorized to extend street—light-
ing system along Conduit road to District line (35/7 00).
Appropriations—For illuminating materials, lighting, extin-
guishing, repairing and-cleaning, purchase and erection of new
posts, etc., $280,000; not more than $18 per annum to be paid
for each gas lamp having ﬁat-ﬂame burner, nor more than $20.85
per annum for ~gas lamp, or $22.80 for oil lamp with incan-
descent mantle not less than 60 candlepower (construed to mean
22907—1 O————“6
82
DISTRICT OF COLUlVIBIA HANDBOOK.
STREETS——Continued.
Lighting—Continued.
entire cost of ﬁxtures and maintenance); lamps to burn from
ﬁfteen minutes after sunset to forty-ﬁve minutes before sunrise;
commissioners may purchase additional posts, lanterns, etc., for
street designation (35/702-3) ; for electric—arc lighting and ex—
tensions of service. $125,000; not more than $85 to be paid per
annum for any are light burning from ﬁfteen minutes after
sunset to forty-ﬁve minutes before sunrise. of not less than 1,000
actual candlepower; contracts for street lighting to be for not
exceeding three years (35/703).
Paving.
\Vater and gas mains, service pipes, and sewer connections to
be laid before permanent improvements on streets: gas mains
to be taken up, laid and replaced as commissioners direct
(20/107) ; commissioners authorized to make service connections
for water and sewers for abutting premises. to be paid from
current appropriations and repaid by assessments on premises
(28/44) ; kind and character of pavement to be determined by
commissioners (20/105) ; none but very best material known to
be accepted and laid in most substantial manner; new, to be
kept in repair by contractors for ﬁve years (20/1013) ; no street
or avenue to be paved less in width than now provided by law,
except by express authority of Congress, upon estimates sub-
mitted by con'nnissioners (34/1127); street railway company
to bear expense of laying and repairing pavement between ex-
terior rails of track and 2 feet each side; may use cobble—
stone or Belgian block as commissioners may direct; pavement
of tracks crossing streets to conform to street pavement and be
paid for by companies (20/106).
Materials used in roadway pavements are sheet asphalt and
asphalt blocks. The prices paid per square yard for the cur-
rent year are as follows:
Laying sheet-asphalt pavements ___________________ __- $1.455;
Laying vitriﬁed-brick gutters ______________________ __ 1.21
Laying 4-inch asphalt block pavements:
Within city limits ____________________________ __ 1.65
Outside city limits ____________________________ __ 1. 80
Laying 5-inch asphalt block pavement within city limits_ 1. 80
Laying 3-inch asphalt block pavement on a 4-inch con-
crete base ___________________________________ __ 2. 00
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HAxDRoox. 83
STREETS—Continued.
Pipes in streets.
Commissioners authorized. to grant permit to Rene C. Baugh-
man to lay pipes for transmission of petroleum. etc.. in certain
streets (29/120); authorized to grant. PQFlllll to Pintsch Com-
pressing Company to lay pipes for distribution of in certain
streets (29/124) :_ extension of. to Union Station( 33 1'8).
SUBSTATION. See llxiox STATIoX.
SUNDAY.
Place where liquors are sold to be closed on (27,4565) ; no
beer or other intoxicants to be sold on (27/565 ; 30/ 1013) ;bowling
alleys and places where billiard tables, etc. are kept for hire to
be closed on (29 /595) ; unlawful to open barber shop on L. A.) ;
unlawful to shoot game on, or have in possession in open air im-
plements therefor, except to transport them ( 30,/1.011)) _: warrants
may issue on (34/126).
SUPPLIES.
The current supplies of the government of the District are pur-
chased through a property clerk and a superintendent of prop-
erty. The latter buys the supplies for the engineer department,
and the former for the other branches of the District govern-
ment. These supplies are furnished under contracts entered
__ into with the lowest responsible bidders after due newspaper
advertisement, except in cases of emergency, when special author—
ity is given to purchase in open market. (T indall.)
SURGERY. See MEDK'IXE .\.\'n Stunner.
SURVEYOR.
To be appointed by commissioners: term, four years; con‘n'nis-
sioners to appoint assistant on recomn'iendation of surveyor;
connnissioners to prescribe schedule of fees to be charged private
parties for services (28/689—90) ; daily transcripts from convey-
ances, wills, COlKlQlllllallODS, decrees, etc., of changes in bounda—
ries to be made in surveyor’s office and copy furnished to assessor
(33/738).
The fees received for private work during the ﬁscal year ended
June 30, 1909, aggregated $20,544.76. ‘ ‘
Appropriations for surveyor’s office: Surveyor, $3,000; assist-
ant, $l,800; clerks and various helpers, $18,625 /693).
TAVERN. See HOTEL on TAVERN.
84
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
TAXATION.
Real property.
Assessment made by board of three assistant assessors every
third year (28/283), at not less than two-thirds of true value
(32/616), from actual view'or best information; commissioners
make regulations as to description in assessment; must be com-
pleted and returned to assessor on or before ﬁrst Monday of
January (28/283).
Assessed valuation of real estate, for ﬁscal year ended June
30, 1908 [1909—1911] :
\Vashington (city) :
Assessed valuation of land"- $105, 570. 679
Assessed valuation of im-
provements ______________ __ 93, 435, 045
Total assessed valuation _______________ __ $199, 005. 724
Washington (county) :
Assessed valuation of land__._
Assessed valuation of im-
provements _______________ __
31, 629, 910
24, 689, 200
Total assessed valuation ______________ __ 56, 319.110
Total assessed valuation of real estate in
the District of Columbia for the ﬁscal
year ended June 30, 1908 _____________ ._ 255, 324, 83-1
Reassessment whenever subdivision is made and recorded
(32/616); commissioners to reassess taxes within ninety days
when quashed, set aside, or voided for technical reasons other
than right to levy (29/98; 30/721).
Additions to assessment—On or prior to July 1 assessors to
add property becoming taxable, and ﬁx value; to raise assess-
ments for improvements over $500 and reduce for damage or
destruction (28/284); property omitted for previous years—
not over three unless in litigation—to be assessed for such years
(28/284—5).
E gualieation and review—Board to meet ﬁrst Monday of
January after new assessment (28/284); to hear complaints
(28/283); summon witnesses and administer'oaths (28/285);
may raise or reduce valuations; equalization to be completed as
nearly as practicable on ﬁrst Monday of June; assessment as
equalized and approved by commissioners to be basis of taxation
for three years; annual changes made in assessment to be re-
viewed between ﬁrst and third Mondays of July (28/284).
DISTRICT or coLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 85
TAXATION—Continued.
Real property—Continued.
Books of assessment prepared by assessor before November 1;
upon completion. assessor to make statement of total assessment,
real and personal, and total amount of taxes to be collected; col-
lector to receipt statement in triplicate—original for Comptroller
of Treasury, duplicate for auditor, and triplicate for himself
(27/13).
T6693 bills must be prepared under direction of assessor (27/ 13) ;
assessor to deliver to collector bills for taxes of dealers and com-
mon carriers by vessels engaging in business after June 30
(33 /564).
Payment of tapes—Collector, on receipt of triplicate of assess?
ment, to publish notice of readiness to receive (20/ 105) ; payable
in May, but may be paid one-half in November and one-half in
May; penalty of 1 per cent per month if not paid before June 1
(32/33).
Sale for overdue taxes—Assessor to prepare list of taxes in
arrears on July 1; commissioners to ﬁx date of sale, publish list,
and advertise sale beginning on third Monday in February; sale
to be at collector’s office under commissioners’ direction; descrip-
tion sufﬁcient to identify property deemed proper (32/632—3);
deposit required of purchaser; forfeited if bid not paid in ﬁve
days; next highest bidder to pay in two days or sale set aside and
collector deemed to have bid in for District (32/633); surplus
after collection deposited to credit of surplus fund for owner
(32/635).
Bidding in.-—-No sale to be for less than amount due, but col-
lector to bid in for District (32/ 633) ; property bid in not exempt
from taxation (32,.--’632-3) ; if notv redeemed, commissioners to sell
at public or private sale (32/633) ; before expiration of time for
redemption, collector may issue certiﬁcate of sale of such lands
upon payment of amount due (32/632—3).
Certiﬁcate of sale to issue to purchaser upon payment after
close of sale ( 32/633) ; commissionersmay issue duplicate of cer-
tiﬁcate, if satisﬁed of loss or destruction. (WV. D. 383.)
Report of salc—Collector to ﬁle with recorder of deeds within
twenty days (32/635).
Canceled salesr—Commissioners to make no conveyance, if sale
is discovered to be invalid; to cancel sale and refund purchase
money with 6 per cent interest ; property may be re-
advertised. and sold at next annual sale (32/635).
Redemption may be made by payment to collector within two
years with 12 per cent interest (32/635); land bid in for Dis-
trict redeemable by payment within two years with 8 per cent
DISTRICT orv eoiLUIvIBLA HANDBOOK.
TAXATION—C ontinued.
Real property—Continued.
interest (352/634); any surplus paid at time of sale to be paid
to holder of certiﬁcate (32/635); persons under disability al—
lowed one year afterwards to redeem property sold or v‘bid in,
with interest at 8 per cent (32/634).
'Taa' cleetla—Coimnissioners to issue after two years, unless
redeemed; prima facie evidence of title in fee simple; not to
issue until all taxes and charges are paid (32/633—4); when
conveyance is set aside by court, party getting decree to pay to
holder of conveyance amount- paid. with 6 per cent interest
(32/635).
Ll’ertifiecl statements of tapes due and payable-to be furnished
by assessor, upon' payment of 50 cents to collector; to be bar to
collection from subsequent purchaser of tax or assessment omit-
ted, but not to affect liability of property owner (27/37—8).
Tam lien—Failure to enforce does not release property from
tax (32/634). '
Designation of real property for assessment and taxation.
1 n ll’ashington—Each square, lot or parcel, block in subdivi-
sion, parcel of undivided land and land sold by metes and bounds
to have distinguishing number or designation; commissioners to
record in surveyor’s oﬁice; record oﬁicial for collection of taxes;
commissioners to cause transcripts of designations in conveyances
and wills to be made for assessor’s oflice (30/1377). .
Outside of ll'iashington.—Commissioners' to number blocks,
squares, lots, or parcels recorded in surveyor’s oflice and place
numbers on highway extension plan; to prepare volumes of plats
to be kept in surveyor’s office; to cause daily transcripts from
conveyances, wills, condemnations, decrees, etc., changing bound-
aries, to be furnished to assessor; designations to be oflicial for
collection of taxes (33/737—8). [System approved by commis-
sioners’ order October 31, 1906.]
Personal property.
Schedule of taxable property, general merchandise, stock in
trade, and of classes of corporations and companies to be assessed,
prepared annually by assessor; schedules to be filled out and
returned to assessor within thirty days (32/ 617 ) ; 20 per cent
added to assessment for failure to return (32/618); persons
engaging in sale of general merchandise or as common carriers
by vessels after June 30 to ﬁle with assessor sworn statement of
value (33/5’63—4) ; banks and trust companies, gas, electric light-
ing, and telephone companies to make ,aﬁidavit to board of per~
sonal tax appraisers, on or before August 1, of gross earnings
DISTRICT or CCLDMBIA HANDBOOK. 87
TAXATION—Continued.
Personal property—Continued.
for preceding ﬁscal year; and incorporated savings banks paying
interest to depositors, of gross earnings less interest so paid for
preceding ﬁscal year (33/564); dealers in general merchandise
pay on average stock for preceding year (32 /563 ).
Board of personal tax appraisers- assess personal property; may
reject unsatisfactory return and assess on best information ob~
tainable, giving notice to party; party may appeal within ﬁfteen
days; assessment to be at fair cash value and entered on books for
taxation for ﬁscal year (36/618); board to assess immediately
property found omit-ted during current year. giving notice to
parties; appeal within ten days (32/620—21) ; to appraise at fair
cash value capital stock of. corporations not specially taxable,
except such as have no special franchises or privileges, deducting
value ‘of real property taxed (32/619—20).
Board of personal taw- appeals convenes on ﬁrst Monday in
‘February and continues to and including second Monday of
March /563), giving public notice of time and place; duty to
hear all appeals and impartially equalize valuations; may di-
minish or increase assessments; action ﬁnal (32/620).
Dz'straint and sale made by collector for taxes not paid on
or before June 1, with penalty and costs, or he may sell any inter-
est in land therefor; to publish notice of time and place; sale
not to be for less than amount due, but property to be bid in
by collector, to be sold at private sale by commissioners; Collector
to report to commissioners and submit accounts to auditor to
audit; surplus to be paid into Treasury, payable to owner on
collector’s certiﬁcate (32 /621; 33/564—5) ; collector may sell prop-
erty of dealer in merchandise or common carrier by vessels com—
ing into District after June 30 for nonpayment. of tax for rest
of ﬁscal year; redemption within thirty days by payment of tax,
_ 1 per cent penalty, and costs (33/564).
Personal tam payable May 1, subject to same penalties for non-
payment as real estate tax (32/33—4).
Property exempt from taxation.
Real property—Corcoran art building, free public library
buildings, churches, Soldiers’ Home, and grounds actually occu-
pied by such buildings; houses for reformation of offenders, alms-
houses, buildings belonging to institutions of purely public
charity; cemeteries dedicated and used solely for burial pur-
poses and without private proﬁt (19/399); property used for
educational purposes and not for private gain (32/616) ; prop-
erty of Daughters of American Revolution (19/399); orphan
88
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
‘TAXATION—Continued.
Property exempt from taxation—Continued.
asylums and grounds (21/513); property held as endowment
fund of Corcoran Art Gallery (24/364); property of Young
Mens’ Christian Association (24/364) and of .Young Womens’
Christian Association (24/413) ; grounds and property of cem-
etery associations (Code, 667).
Personal property of library, benevolent, charitable, and sci-
- entiﬁc institutions incorporated under United States or District
laws and not for private gain (32/620) ; libraries, schoolbooks,
wearing apparel and family portraits (33/564) ; household and
other belongings not held for sale, to value of $1,000, owned by
occupant of dwelling‘ (32/620).
Street railroads.——Charters of most companies exempt tracks
from taxation as real estate, but some provide that “roads ” shall
be deemed real estate.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal “ and all other works” connected
therewith “ forever exempt from the payment of any tax, impo-
sition or assessment.” (Act of Virginia of March 3, 1825, ratiﬁed
by Congress—4/ 7 96, 802.)
Foreign legationsr—Under advice of legal oﬁicers, real and
personal property of, excepted from taxation under the doc-
trine of extra-territoriality.
Rates of taxation.
Uniformly 13', per cent on real and personal property (232/616,
618).
Private banks or bankers, not incorporated, $500 per annum
(32/621).
Brokers—General, $250 per annum (32/621) ; member of
regularly organized stock exchange outside of, and doing busi-
ness within District. $100 per annum, but. one paying tax as
banker not taxable as broker; )Vashington stock exchange, $500
per annum in lieu of tax on members (32/ 622 .
Note brokers, $100 per annum. '
Banks and trust companies, 6 per cent on gross earnings of
preceding ﬁscal year (32/619; 33/564). '
Sayings hanh's, incorporated, 4 per cent on gross earnings less
interest paid depositors for preceding ﬁscal year (33/564).
Building associations, 2 per cent per annum on gross earnings
of preceding ﬁscal year 33/ 564).
Electric lighting and telephone companies, 4 per cent on gross
earnings of preceding ﬁscal year (32/619; 33/564).
Fidelity, bonding, abstract, and title insurance companies, 1%
per cent of gross receipts (33/564).
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 89
TAXATION—~Continued.
Rates of taxation—Continued.
Gas companies, 5 per cent on gross earnings of preceding ﬁscal
year (32/619; 33/564). '
Insurance companies, 1%- per cent on premium receipts (32 /619 ;
Code 650).
Street railroad companies, 4 per cent per annum on gross re-
ceipts within District (32/619: 33/564).
Disposition of taxes.
All taxes collected to be paid into United States Treasury and
disbursed on itemized vouchers audited and approved by auditor
and certiﬁed by commissioners (20/ 105).
Refunding taxes.
Commissioners authorized and instructed to cause taxes errone-
ously paid to be refunded by accounting and disbursing oﬁicers,
upon collector’s certiﬁcate, stating nature of error, name of per-
son paying, and other necessary particulars; moneys to be paid
out of, and charged to, fund credited with erroneous payment.
TAXICABS. See CABs. ETC.
TELEGRAPH COMPANIES. .
The taxes assessed against these companies for the ﬁscal year
ended June 30, 1909, were only $1,008.30.
Removal of wires of. See \VIREs.
Postal Telegraph Company.
Cable of, in ducts of Potomac Electric Power Company, may
be connected with its wires on Aqueduct Bridge, by connection
not exceeding 300 feet (30/664). '
TELEPHONE COMPANIES.
To report annually to Congress, under oath, on or before J an-
uary 15, classiﬁed statement of receipts and expenditures for
previous year (33 /37 5) ; to make report on or before August 1,
to personal tax appraisers, of gross earnings of preceding year,
and pay tax of 4 per cent thereon, and real estate tax (32/619;
33/564).
Removal of wires of. See ‘VIBES.
TELEPHONE POLES.
Commissioners may authorize, in alleys, subject to use without
charge for wires for ﬁre-alarm and police purposes (28 /256), and
in certain places where public interests do not require under-
ground wires, or where the latter are impracticable (34/394—5).
90 DIsT-RIOT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
TELEPHONE RATES.
Sixty dollars for telephone on individual. metallic circuit; $48
for each telephone on same premises, not more than two on same
metallic circuit; no more to be charged until population of city
is 350,000 or over /3'74).
TERMINAL COMPANY. See “Imumorox 'l’ERiI'IN-U. (‘oniln-ixr.
THEATERS.
Commissioners authorized to make and enforce reasonable
regulations for (27 /394) ; may terminate licenses of. for failure
to comply with regulations (31 / 1463) ; child may be employed in
exhibition in, with consent of commissioners (35/423).
THREE-SIXTY-FIVE BONDS.
In 1874 the then “ sinking-fund commissioners ” were author-
ized to cause ﬁfty-year bonds to be prepared in sums of $50 and
$500, dated August 1, 1874. to pay the indebtedness of the Dis-
trict. The bonds were exempted from all taxation and the faith
of the United States was pledged for the payment of the same
“ by proper proportional appropriations” and by causing to be
levied upon the property within the District taxes to provide
the revenues necessary to pay the interest and to create a sinking
fund for the payment of the principal (1.8/120) ; appropriations
to pay interest (18/305, 376; 21 /322) ; further issue of bonds pro-
hibited (19/211); further increase in indebtedness prohibited
(19/212); “sinking-fund commissioners” abolished and duties
of, transferred to United States Treasurer ( 20/107).
In 1879 (20/410) there were appropriated out of the United
States share of the District expenses, annually, such sums as,
with interest at 3.65 per cent, would be sufficient to pay the
principal of the 3.65 bonds at maturity, such sums to be invested
in said bonds at par, to be canceled and destroyed.
TOBACCO.
In any form, not to be sold to minor under 16 (26/736).
TREASURER OF DISTRICT.
Office of, abolished (21/460); taxes collected, appropriations
and revenues of District paid into Treasury and disbursed on
itemized vouchers, audited and approved by Auditor, and cer-
tiﬁed by commissioners (20/105; 21/460: 22/470).
TREES.
Protected, etc., under commissioners’ police regulations, arti-
cle xvi. See PARKING AND TREES.
DISTRICT or CoLUMBIA HAxDBooK. 91
TRUAN CY.
Habitual, persons charged with, tried in juvenile court: may
be committed to Board of Children's Guardians (EH/74) ; sent to
ungraded schools (34/220).
Truant officers. See (‘onrt'LsouY EDl'CXl‘lUX.
TRUST COMPANIES.
To pay personal tax of 6 per cent on gross earnings of preced~
ing year and real estate tax (32,1619; 323/564).
TRUST FUND DEPOSITS. See Mlsonnnxxnors Tm's'r Fr'xn Dnrosrrs.
TUBERCULOSIS.
Provisions for report and registration of cases and for preven~
tion of spread of (345/126).
Tuberculosis Hospital.
1-1ppropriations.-For superintendent, $1,800; physician, phar~
macist and clerk, superintendent of nurses, matron, nurses, and
various employees, $11,975; provisions, etc., $25,000; patholog-
ical laboratory equipment, $500; repairs, etc., $7 50 (35/721).
UNGRADED SCHOOLS. See CUMI’I‘LSURY l‘lDt't‘ATlOX.
UNITED STATES.
To pay 50 per cent of appropriations for .l)istrict expenses
(20/104) and (me-half of cost of pavements. sewers. etc. or re
pairs 20/ 106) .
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS.
Appointed by District supreme court (Code, 65); fees and
records of (Code, 1113). They are essentially exan'iining magis-
trates. who investigate alleged violations of United States laws
and decide. whether the accused shall be brought before the grand
jury.
UNION STATION.
Commissioners authorized to recommend ‘suitable site for
(21/330); Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad
Company (created by consolidation and merger of Philadelphia,
lVilmington and Baltimore Railroad Company and Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad Company), or Terminal Company (an-
thorized and provided for (31/779), in interest of Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company), granted new terminal and track
privileges (32/909) ; location, plans, and erection of Union Sta-
tion (32/909—18); payment of damages on account of changes
of grade due to construction (33/250; 34/619); buildings on
plaza of, to be ﬁreproof and not more than 80 feet high ( 33/709).
92 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
UNION STATION—Continued.
Substation to be built. by Philadelphia, Baltimore and W ash-
ington Railroad Company; location and plans of, subject to
commissioners’ approval (35/593—4).
VACCINATION.
Of persons exposed to smallpox and varioloid; commissioners
may, by proclamation, declare necessary for public health
(29/639).
VAGRANTS.
Deﬁned—Idle persons having no visible means of support,
etc.; persons wandering abroad and visiting tippling shops or
houses of ill fame; beggars; persons leading immoral or proﬁi-
gate life; known pickpockets, thieves, burglars, or conﬁdence
operators found loitering around; persons having instruments,
etc., for committing burglary or other crimes against property
(35/711).
VEGETABLES.
Places for sale of, regulated by ordinance of former board
of health.
VEHICLES.
Movements of, on public streets, etc., regulated by commis-
sioners’ police regulations, article VENDERS AND SPEAKERS.
On streets, regulated by commissioners’ police regulations,
article iii.
_VESSELS. See BoA'rs, ETC.
VETERINARY MEDICINE.
Commissioners to appoint board of examiners, consisting of
ﬁve reputable practitioners engaged in profession, graduates of
college, and residents for last three years: term, ﬁve years; re—
movable by commissioners; to report to commissioners every
July; to ascertain by examinations held in January, April, July,
and October qualiﬁcations of applicants, and issue and revoke
licenses; appeal from board to commissioners, who may appoint-
board of review of three practitioners; appeal from revocation of
license to court. of appeals (34/870—73).
VETERINARY SURGEON. '
For all horses in departments; appropriation for, $1,200 (35/688) .
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 93
VIRUSES.
Serums, toxins, and antitoxins; trafﬁc in, prohibited, except
under certain restrictions; Surgeon-General of Army, Surgeon-
General of Navy, and Surgeon-General of h/Iarine-Hospital Serv-
ice constitute board to promulgate rules for issue of licenses for
establishments to propagate and prepare viruses, etc. (32/728—9).
VITAL STATISTICS.
The ordinances of the former board of health provided for the
appointment by the board of commissioners of a registrar of vital
statistics, to keep full and complete record of vital statistics,
issue permits, and make and publish weekly statement of births,
marriages, and deaths, etc; physician, accoucheur, or midwife to
report births to; physician to give undertaker certiﬁcate of
‘ death; undertaker to enter date and place of burial and forward
to registrar.
Births—Physician, etc., attending, to ﬁle report with health
oﬁ‘icer; father’s report of name of child to be part of record;
reports to be public record; health ofﬁcer to be custodian and to
publish abstracts, etc., as directed by commissioners 34/1010—11).
WASHINGTON.
The city is now the “Federal City ” as laid out by the com-
missioners appointed in 1791, under the act of July 16, 1790
(1/130), together with the town of Georgetown, which was
consolidated with it by act of Congress of February 11, 1895
(‘ZS/650). The original city was located on the Maryland side
of the Potomac conformably to the requirement of the act of
March 3, 1791 (1/214).
Boundaries.
The boundaries of the city were never speciﬁcally deﬁned by
acts of Congress, but those of the city as it existed prior to the
annexation of Georgetown were incidentally ﬁxed by‘ the Presi-
dent pursuant to the discretion vested in him by the act of
July 16, 1790 (1/130). They ran as follows: I
Beginning at the intersection of Florida avenue with Rock
Creek; thence eastward on Florida avenue to the intersection
of Maryland avenue and Fifteenth street; thence on Fifteenth
street to C street; thence eastward on C street to the Eastern
Branch of the Potomac River; thence down the Eastern Branch
to the Potomac; thence up the Potomac to the mouth of Rock
Creek; and thence up Rock Creek to the place of beginning.
Since the organization of the government of the entire Dis-
trict, however, the city has had no distinctive boundaries.
94 DIsTRIcT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT."
This aqueduct and the ﬁltration plant are under the jurisdic-
tion of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, but the lat-
ter officer has recommended, and the commissioners requested,
its transfer to the commissioners.
Placing of poles, etc. and use of Conduit road for extension
of street-lighting system over it, to be subject to regulations of
oflicer in charge of it (35/703); appropriation for operation,
maintenance, and repair. ii'icluding Conduit road, Mcll'lillan
Park reservoir and tunnel, $33,000; salaries of employees, etc.,
$82,000; for emergency fund. $5,000 35/703—4). _
WASHINGTON ASYLUM. See (‘IIARrrIEs ((‘IIARI'I'ABLE 'lxs'rrrij-
TIoNs).
WASHINGTON GASLIGHT COMPANY. See (irAs COMPANIES.
WASHINGTON HUMANE SOCIETY.
Commissioners authorized to detail members of police force,
from time to time, to aid society in protection of children and
prevention of cruelty to children and animals (23,/302; 27/60).
WASHINGTON MARKET COMPANY.
Authorized to lay conduit from market across and under F
street west for refrigerating purposes, under certain conditions
(33/741).
WASHINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE.
Taxable $500 annually, in lieu of taxation of members
(32/622).
WASHINGTON TERMINAL COMPANY.
Incorporation of, authorized (31/779); to pay District for
lighting streets, avenues, alleys, and grounds along its right of
way, etc. (35/288) ; to convey to United States certain portions
of terminal area prior to improvements of plaza by Commis-
sioners (35/696).
WATER-CLOSETS. See PR1 vIEs.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Commissioners vested with powers and duties imposed in
chapter 8, Revised Statutes of the District of Columbia, relat-
ing to “water service,” except such as belong to Chief of Engi-
neers (21 /9) ; operations of department to be under direction of
’ engineer’s oﬁice, subject to control of commissioners (22/ 143).
On June 30, 1909, there were 60,117 water-service connections,
and the revenues for that ﬁscal year were $572,752.74; expendi-
tures, $532,716.74; leaving, with previous year’s balance, a bal-
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 95
WATER DEPARTMENT—Continued.
ance at that date of $83,678.56. There were then 478 miles of
water mains, 2,542 ﬁre hydrants, 241 public hydrants, and 128
public fountains; also 11 shallow and 30 deep wells.
Daily consumption of water, 61,200,000 gallons; supply to
principal buildings of United States Government, daily, 8,583,000
gallons, or 14 per cent of the entire supply.
Water supply.
' The water-supply system is owned and controlled by the Gov-
ernment. Water .is obtained from the Potomac River by means
ofa dam at Great Falls, and thence through an aqueduct, about
17 miles long, and a system of settling and storage reservoirs.
This aqueduct has a circular section of 9,feet diameter for the
upper 14 miles, and a D-shaped section of the same diameter for
the remainder. This part of the system is under charge of the
Chief of Engineers of the United States Army. A sand ﬁltra-
tion plant is an adjunct to this service. The distribution to
private consumers is effected by a System of mains and services
under the supervision of the District government. (Tindall.)
Supply may be extended to points in District outside of cities
upon like terms and conditions as within (23/319) ; no portion
of water conveyed through aqueduct to be diverted to Supply or
use outside of District (27 /544). ~
Regulations as to use of water in commissioners’ police regula-
tions. article xxiv—a.
Water mains and service sewers.
To be laid before permanent improvements on streets (20/107) ;
when street is to be paved, etc., commissioners authorized to
make water and sewer Service connections and assess cost against
property (28/44) ; whenever deemed necessary for public safety,
health, comfort, or convenience, commissioners may construct
water mains and service sewers in any street, etc.; assessor to
levy assessments against abutting property of $1.25 for mains
and $1 for sewers per linear front foot (33/244—46) ; water-main
taxes and water rents to be uniform (21/9).
Exemption from water rates.
Commissioners authorized to furnish water, without charge,
to churches, orphan asylums and charity schools, and institutions
receiving annual appropriations from Congress, to a limited
amount ﬁxed by them, all excess to be charged at usual rates
(30/543).
96 DISTRICT OF COLUNIBIA HANDBOOK.
WATER DEPARTMENT—Continued.
Appropriations.
In revenue and inspection branch, water registrar, $2,100; in
distribution branch, superintendent, $3,000; with a force of
assistants and total allowance of $81,860; fuel, repairs, etc.,
$41,000; contingent expenses, $3,500; extensions, purchase of
appurtenances, etc., authorized out of water fund (35/72F—6).
WEAPONS.
Commissioners authorized to make and enforce regulations as
to use of (32/809). '
Concealed, dangerous, deadly—Unlawful to have concealed
on person or carry openly with intent to use; act not to apply
in certain cases; judge of police court may grant written permit
to carry, for not more than one month, upon proof of necessity
and ﬁling bond (27/116; 30/405).
WEEDS.
Duty of landowner in city or densely populated suburbs to
remove after notice from health ofﬁcer; commissioners to cause
removal of, fro-m unoccupied lands of unknown owners; cost
to be lien and tax on land (30/959).
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Public scales. Are located at several places, where hay may
be weighed and certiﬁed by a public weighmaster, which must
be done before it can be sold (L. A., 367) ; commissioners author-
ized to make regulations for sale of use of public hay scales and
place weighmasters in charge (34/ 72) ; and may change location
of scales when public interest requires 29/673, 30/533) ; appro-
priation for purchase, repair, and replacement, $200 (35/701).
Receipts for use of public scales during last ﬁscal year, $1,955.

Weighmaster.
Not appointed, but is a person who has bought at public sale,
held each year about July 1, the right to use the public scales for
one year and exact fees prescribed by law for his services; un-
lawful to impersonate. weiglnnaster (30/1346).
Sealer of weights and measures.
Appointed by commissioners; has custody and control of
standard weights and measures; assistant appointed by commis-
sioners on his recommendation; commissioners authorized to pre-
pare schedule of fees, so as to provide for salaries and expenses of
office; sealers to try and prove all scales, weights, and measures
from time to time; none to be used without inspection; to inspect
weight of coal sold (28/811; 29/75; 34/94, 315, 854).
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA. HANDBOOK. 97
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES—Continued.
Sealer of weights and measures—Continued.
The District markets, farmers‘ street'markets adjacent, and
wholesale producers’ market. together with inspectors of lumber,
wood. and flour, and the wood and ﬁsh wharf privileges are
under the immediate supervision of this oﬁicer. The receipts of
his office for the last ﬁscal year were $30.10L21.
Appropriations for office: Sealer, $2,500; ﬁrst assistant,
$1,200; second assistant. $900; clerk. $1.000: laborer. $180
(35/091). '
WELLS. ’
Cisterns and excavations, dangerous: regulated by commission-
ers’ police regulations, article xvii.
Declared to be nuisance: to be abated by owner; neglect pun-
ishable by ﬁne; commissioners may cause to be inclosed and
assess cost against land, with 10 per cent interest until paid, to
be carried on regular tax rolls and collected as general taxes
(30/923—4).
WHARF PROPERTY.
River banks from north line of Arsenal grounds to southern
curb of N street south, also 500 feet of shore line in Flushing
reservoir at foot of Seventeenth street west, and west from west-
ern curb of said street, including levee 100 feet wide, to be
under control of Chief of Engineers. United States Army
(30/1378) ; except as above, commissioners to have control of all
wharf property, etc. (330/1377): commissioners and Chief of
Engineers to make regulations for care, building, repairing, and
rental of wharves and rates; no lease to be beyond ten years
(30/1378).
Fish far/2arﬁ—Commissioners authorized to make regulations
for sale of rights and privileges, for not more than one year
(34/72).
The receipts from rental of wharf property during last ﬁscal
year were $16,604.50.
WIFE 0R CHILDREN.
Abandonment or willful neglect or ‘refusal to provide for,
' deemed misdemeanor (311/86) ; superintendent of workhouse to
pay out of funds available for support of, 50 cents for each day’s
hard labor of person conﬁned for nonsupport of (311/87) ; appro-
priation for such payments, $2,000 (35/719).
22907—10-——7
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK.
WIRES.
Elec-z‘ria—Commissioners not to permit additional, to be
erected on or over streets, and to report to Congress best method
of placing under ground and maintaining conduits (225/323);
may, under reasonable conditions, authorize overhead wires to be
laid under street, alley, highway, footway, or sidewalk when
public interest requires (Q5/8041) ; hereafter no wires to be strung
on any alley pole less than 50 feet from ground (29/67 8).
Regulations as to wires in commissioners’ police regulations,
article Xviii.
Fire-alarm, police j)atrol.——.Appropriation for placing in eX-
isting conduits, $11,000 (35/702).
Telegraph—Not. property of United States or District, re-
moval of, from ﬁre limits, under direction of commissioners;
system of conduits for; commissioners may authorize certain
poles and wires; overhead wires and conduits subject to com-
missioners’ regulations; space in conduits to be furnished free
to District and United States for telegraph, ﬁre-alarm, and
police wires (33/984—6).
Telephone.-—Except those of United States and District, re-
moval of, from streets within speciﬁed district; conduit system
for; all poles and wires to be removed, except such as commis-
sioners permit for distributing wires for house connect-ions
(32/393—4).
WIRING.
Electrical engineer and assistants to inspect building under
erection and to enter building where electric current is produced
or utilized; to notify contractor‘, owner, or agent of violation of
law or regulations, requiring correction; unlawful to connect
electrical generating plant with building where wiring has not
been inspected; inspector to notify owner to cut off connection;
inspector may, with commissioners’ approval, cause connection
to be removed and not replaced until wiring is put in proper
condition (33/307—8).
WOMEN.
No barroom licensee to permit female to sell, give, or furnish
liquor (27/568) ; employer of female help in stores, shops, offices,
inanufactories, etc., to provide seats and allow use thereof,
when not actively employed (28/964).
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HANDBOOK. 99
WORKHOUSE.
The workhouse, situated on the asylum grounds, is for the
conﬁnement of persons convicted of minor oﬂi'enses against the
laws and sentenced to imprisonment for comparatively short
terms. Prisoners who are able to Work and Whom it is deemed
prudent to employ outside of the workhouse are required to do
various kinds of labor in the various departments of the asylum
and on the asylum grounds and the public Works. tTindall.)
Good time (ﬁve days per month) allowed to inmates of, for
good conduct (26/20) ; appropriation for carrying prisoners to,
etc., $2,000 (35/720).
ZOOLOGICAL PARK. See PARK SYSTEM.
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