Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-19

There ought not to be any political competitive
eheese-paring in respect to the District sppro-
priatOns- To be satisfactorily met the needs Of
the developing capital will require more than
the amount OF the probable District revenues
In respect to some great improvements, Of
which the cost is much reduced and the pc
euniary benefits enlarged by prompt compile
ton. it would even be wise economy to borrow
money to finish the proposed works speedily.
In any event there is not the slightest reason
Why the full revenues of the District from tax
alton and other sources provided by law
should not be applied as far as they
will go to meet municipal needs whose full
satisfaction would absorb a much larger amount
There Is no cause for accommodating a surplus.
The wise financial policy concerning District ex-
penditures is exhibited in the intelligent and
economical apportionment of the local revs-
nues upon local needs. in proportion to their
importance and urgency. looping off extrava-
giant and foolish items. and applying the money
thus saved upon deserving municipal projects.
True economy is shown in the manner IN which
the District revenues are expended in making
every cent go the farthest in promotion of the
capitals welfare, and not IN refusing to spend
q large part Of those revenues and permitting
them to lie idle and unfruItful in the treasury.
The Commissioners o: tie District have based
their estimates of proposed expenditures upon
q reasonable calculation OF the revenues. The
Secretary of the Treasury in the book Of estimates
states that he is unable to indicate items in
which changes should iudiciousIy be made,
but recommends that the District appropria-
fion be limited to last year amount, more than
. million dollars less than the Commissioners
He oA hot
revenues will be unequal to the proposed ex-
penditure. he does not critfeise any item Of
expenditure proposed by the Commissioners
as unnecessary or otherwise Objectionable he
does not indicate any reasonfor the creation of
O surplus,-but he thinks that million dollars
of the current local revenues, one-half derived
from the taxation of citizens. should remain
unexpended in the treasury vaults. The sug-
gestion TO the House committee on appropria-
tons is a bad one. That committee always
shows disposition to cut appropriations TO
the lowest point, and encouragement is fur
nished by the Secretary's action to make a
like unreasonable and unreasoning shave in
the District bill and to go the Secretary's cut
of a million n million or two better. But the OBJ
legation OF Congress as the Districts legislature
Is to spend the local revenues Intelligently and
economically. not 20 refuse to spend them at
all The House has sometimes in order to earn
cheaply a reputation for economy made some
what similar hap-hazard. slap-dash disposition
of the District bill, cutting items recklessly and
promiscuously in order to boast of a reduction
Of the estimates by so much, leaving the meas
ure to be considered. corrected and perfected
In the Senate. But this procedure imposes
disproportiona:e share of the thought and bur-
den of District legislation upon the Senate.
is clearly unfair and injurious to the District,
and ought to be stopped.