Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-27
Trx p1srxIcr APPROPRIATIONS.
Heavy Cut BY the subcommiefse Of the Hoos>
Appropriations Committee.

Heavy Cut by the subcommitfse Of the Houss
Appropriations Committee.
The subcommittee Of the committee on APP
nronriations having charge Of the District
annronriation bill have completed their work
and will report 10 the whole committee on
Monday. The subcommittee did not consider
the estimates Of the District Commits
sioners, but started out with last years appro-
priation, the total recommended by the Sec
Rotary Of the Treasury, about 81 900. 600 under
the aggregate Of the items Of the Commits
sioners estimates, as the maximum total and
then cut below that The bill as re-
ported by the subcommittee aggregates about
half q million dollars less than the appropria-
tons 1or the current year. The principal cuts
are In the provision for school buildings, but
one new building being authorized, and the re-
auction amounting 10 nearly $2OO, OOo, and IN the
provision for the improvement for repairs OF
streets where a cut OF 1900, 900 is made under
the amount appropriated for the current year:
There are no increases anywhere in the bill
over the current year, and small cuts are made
In many places
The Commissioners estimated the revenues
OF the District for the coming year in the Gus
tomary manner and recommended appropria-
tions Tor various municipal objects safely
within the total revenues. The Secretary OF
the treasury did not question that the revenue
would be as large rs estimated and
did not critioise the wisdom Of any specific
Items OF the Commissioner recommendations.
He merely knocked OF u million. or so from
the estimates, reporting the totals OF last
years appropriation. The House subcom-
mittee following the Secretary in his action
ignored the estimates, which are based on the
coming years needs and the coming years
revenues, took last years figures. representing
this years needs and revenues, and made a
further cut Of half a million. 1t is perfectly
understood that the Washington of the coming
year ID not In any respect limited in needs
or revenues by the showing OF the current
year, and that there is no good reason for
establishing such q limitation upon expend-
itures. 1t is also perfectly understood that
under the law there il practically an
appropriation in advance for current
District needs of an amount equal
to the tax revenues and the governments pro-
Porhonate contribution, the tax total determn-
ing the aggregate revenues, and that failure to
e4peno this revenue in meeting lntelligently
the local needs creates equita surplus to the
Districts credit Washington has represented
what is obviously the truth, that the amount
needed to meet its municipal wants, when the
money is wisely and economically expended, is
greater oven than the current revenues and
that an arbitrary cut Of million, as proposed
by the Secretary, and million and half
as proposed by the subcommittee, resulting
merely In locking up part of the revenue in
the treasury, will be unreasonable and indie
fensible. Washington does not want sur
plu'. 1t wants the money which the
law and the tax collector provides as
in its current development. But between the
Secretary of the Treasury and the House COM
mittee on appropriations it is likely to be dis
appointed.