Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-27
THE COMMISSIONERS REPLY.
The Request for a More Detailed state.
ment of District Expenditures Eiicits
Vigorous Answer.


The Commissioners to-day transmitted the
following letter:
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS,
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
WASHINGTON, October %, 1886.
10 NE Hon. c. s. Furchitd, Acting Secretary OF
the Treasury:
SIR: Your letter of the 18th instant invites
the attention OF the Commissioners to section
8, of the act OF June 11th, 1878. requiring the
commissioners to make annually statement
IN detail OF the work proposed to be under
taken by them during the fiscal year next en-
suing, and the estimated cost thereof and
aileges that the statement thus required has
not been submitted for the fiscal year ending
On the 1st day of October, instant, In scom-
pllance OF the above act. the Commissioners
their detailed estimates of appropriations for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1888, stating
July, ana with all practicable minuteness the
work proposed for the ensuing fiscal year and
the estimated cost of each item OF appropria-
tion.
1t appears that the Treasury department does
not regard this statement OF the Commissioners
as fuliy meeting the requirements of the act,
and now asks additional information as to the
Items OF S4Oo, 900 for streets and revenues.
S432,675 for public schools, and 100000 Tor
sites and buildings for schools. With regard to
these the commissioners specially re-
quested to state the number of teachers it is
proposed to employ, and the salary to be paid
10 each, the number of school buildings re-
Qulred, their location and estimated cost.
Inc commissioners beg leave to say that 1t is
quite impracticable for them to state with GER
tainty the number of teachers that can be
advantageously employed during the next fiscal
year, the increase OF the population having
always been in advance OF practicable school
facilities, and experience having SHOWN that
attempts to approximate to such estimates
futile. The Senate, at the request OF the Com
missloners, struck out of the act making apprO-
priations for the present fiscal year the clause
limiting the number of teachers, but the House
restored it, and the result is that the Commits
sioners now find themselves without sufficient
educational
and with an unexpenda6le balance OF the appro-
! priation sufficient to employ additional teach
ers had not the limitation been imposed.
The Comma lssioners, therefore, clearly OF
opinion that the estimates should be tor the
total amount OF salaries of teachers, and not for
any fixed number or rate of pay, establishing
| thereby limit within which the total salaries
paid shall be restricted.
The Commissioners are at a loss to determine
what is intended by the request for "a state
ment OF the number of buildings, where they
each, which the item tor sites aud buildings is
! intended to cover" The estimate as pre-
pared is for sites and buildings for pub
location OF such buildings is exclusively
within the judgment and discretion OF
dltions OF the act making the appropriation,
and as the need for additional buildings is
notorious and as it is Impossible TO say what
buildings, ii any, will be erected during the
coming year, and what the sites for such build
lnES Will cost, The Commissioners conclude that
the request has a meaning That is not apparent
to them. Furthermore, ii it were possible TO
make the statement req uired, il is obvious that
disclosure of the proposed sites would be inn
polite, as tending to enhance the price Of the
property, and the Commissioners are satisfied
that sucn cannot have been the intention OF
Congress in framing the act OF June 11th, 1878.
With regard to the improvement of streets
and avenues the request for additional inior-
nation tails TO indicate in what respect the es-
Inmates already forwarded are regarded as de-
tective.
The Commissioners have received applca-
tiors and petitions for Improvements under this
head which would cost IN the aggregate over
two millions OF dollars, and the list is steadily
lengthenlng 1t will be requisite of this list,
with such additions as will continue to be made
TO IT, to select those which the Commissioners
shall decide upon recommending TO Congress
for appropriation, but IN any case 1T will be
neediul to reduce the total amount at least
four-nfths. The Commissioners charged
under the law with the responsibility OF ex-
pending the appropriations tor street improve
their best judgment, exercised in the public in
terest and in accordance with the intention of
Congress us expressed in legislation.
In view of this grave responsibility to Con-
gress and TO the public, and OF the difficulty in
reaching the needtui adjustment between the
demand and the means of accomplishment
the Commissioners, having the subject under
careful investigation, deem it both expedient
and i'll conformity with the law, to submit their
estimates OF the amount to be appropriated for
this purpose and not to precipitale their judg-
ment by formulating final conclusion respect
ing the expenditure OF this amount in advance
OF any need therefor, upon u subject OF such
cOmpIeXity and Importance.
In this connection attention is called to the
fact that the estimates as already submitted
contain With reference to the item streets and
avenues precisely the same information as is
furnished with reference to other items of not
less actual Importance, but with regard to
which no further Information appears To be
desired. 1t Is not asked nor stated tor eX-
ample, nor can it be at this time, IN what
streets water pipes and sewers are to be laid,
repairs made or sidewalks improved. 1t cannot
be stated what alleys are to be paved under the
permitsystem nor what streets are to be swept or
iamD-DoStS "a
erected and where, what trees are to be planted,
nor tor what purpose the appropriation TO the.
Washington aQueduct is to be expended. Nor
Is further information asked as to what county
roads are to be opened or extended, nor even
In what building tue Commissioners propose to
establish the District offices in case additional
appropriation tor rental shall be made.
No reason is assigned tor excepting these sew
erai items from further scrutiny and selecting
those OF streets to b. improved and sites for
public schools to be purchased lor final express
sion at this time.
The Commissioners are fully of opinion that
the estimates and Information already fur
nished are those which Congress contemplated
IN the act OF June 11th, 1873; but inasmuch as
they are deslrous OF meeting the wishes
OF the department in the premises as far as
practicable they have ordered copy OF the
scheduled streets petitiOned Tor improvement
to be made, and beg to transmit the same here
with for the information OF your department.
The preparation OF the schedule has delayed to
this time the reply of the Commissioners
Very respectfully, w. b. WEBB, President.
THE REQUESTS FOR STREET IMPROVEMENT.
Accompanying this report is schedule of
the streets and avenues tor which petitions
have been filed requesting the improvement
thereof by the Commissioners. The total
amount represented is S2,225, go divided
as follows: GeorSetOwn. 25,9I3.2O; north
west section, SSS7 .SS5.O3; southwest section,
1919 9,46S.65; northeast section, $467, ,3a5. IL;
southeast section, $476, lO3.sU. For filling
streets below grade, provided the cost does not
exceed ten cents per cubic yard, SIS, 900.
The Barricaded Bridge.
COMMUNICATION ASKING THAT THE EMBARGO
ON FOOT PASSENGERS MAY BE LIFTED.
The following communication, dated .'West
Washington, d. c., October 81" has been sent
to Commissioner Ludlow:
"Last night about O'clock two ladies
living on the Virginia side had occasion to cross
the river to their home. their carriage awaiting
biackest imaginable and the rain was coming
down. Though suffering from the effects OF u
severe cold, 1elt it nay duty to accompany
them. Arriving at the aqleduct we lOunu
| policeman on hand to dispute the
passage OF the bridge, and the ladies
were obliged to descend those old di-
| lapidated stone steps, which are without ban
listers, and grope their way to the river through
mud aud debris OF every kind. A small boat
was then procured to row them over. Reaching
| the south END OF the aquedpct they were
Obliged 10 Chamber up over rough stones at
| angie of at least As degrees and then work
their way from ten to twenty rods. through
mud, along that old dilapidated canal EN- bank
ment TO reach the public highway, where their
| carriage was in waiting. Though the darkness
dition and telt it was "A most deplorabie state of
affairs. The bridge has been sufficiently re-
paired for the passage of foot passengers at
least, ana lazy government clerks permitted TO