Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-05
THE APPROPRIATIONS
A Siege Expected Over Those For
the District.
SECRETARY CARLISLE'S GENERAL CUT.
Money Asked For Public Buildings
and Grounds.
WASHINGTON MONUMENT

The House appropriations committee is
preparing fer siege over the District of
Columbia appropriation bill. The issue has
already been raised between the Secretary
of the Treasury and the District Commits
siOners as TO the amount of money to be
appropriated for the expenses of the Dis
trict for the next fiscal year and the COM
mittee will have to decide whose recon-
mendation to take.
In submitting the annual estimates of ap-
preparations to the House. as published in
The Star yesterday. the Secretary OF the
Treasury added the following statement TO
the District estimates:
District Cut Recommended.
'"The Secretary of the Treasury, being
unable to Indicate tine several items OF the
estimates for the expenses of the District
of Columbia in which changes should be
made disapproves of the total amount as
submitted by the Commissioners and recon-
mends that the total appropriation for said
expenses for the next hscal year be limited
to the amount appropriated for the current
year for that purpose" The amount rec
commended by the Commissioners, as here
tofore stated in the Star, was 1896. 1876
while the appropriations for the current
year are S5.3S1, ,4I3-9l.
For Public Grounds.
Accompanying
yesterday is the following explanation as to
the amounts requested for the pupuc
grounds OF Washington:
AN estimate for captain OF the Watch
is submitted and recommended. Such an
officer is much needed in order that the
park Watchrnen may be under proper su-
pervision- An estimate is submitted 1or
$1,000 for the ordinary care OF Lincoln ParA'
situated in the extreme eastern section OF
the city and covering an area or over SIX
acres 1t is highly improved, contains the
bronze "EmanCIpati ton Statue" and Is VS.
Ited BY 4 large number OF people; numerous
important Improvements have been made
in the private properly in its vicinity, ana
a large number of weil-built dwellings con-
structed during the past two years For
painting watchman's lodges, iron fences,
vases. lamps and lamp-posts, $1,000 Is re-
QueSted. For trees, tree and plant stakes,
- etc, and stock for nursery. 5000 is asked
in place of the 5000 last granted The
larger sum the amount appropriated an
nually for more than twelve years ending
June 30. 1892. For removing snow and ice,
the sum Of S1,50O is asked. The sum usually
granted. viz, s., 200. Is generally sufficient,
but sometimes IL is not. The latter was the
case during the last fiscal year. For lay
ing asphalt walks in various reservations,
5000. 1t is proposed to replace with first
class asphalt walks the gravel paths IN
Washington circle. Mount Vernon square,
Executive Mansion grounds (south side).
Lincoln square Stanton square, Folger
square. Marion square. Henry and Seaton
Parks. and TO renew those in Farragut
square. In the late fall winter and early
spring these walks are muddy, and pedes-
tr1anS seek the lawns, which are thus de-
stroyed by uespassers. The amount OF
these paths which it is proposed to lay is
about $500 square yards Each autumn II
becomes necessary to put down plank walks
which must again be removed in the spring.
II asphalt walks laid the annual eX-
pense incident to plank walks will be avoid
Henry and Seaton Parks.
For improvement. care and maintenance
Of Henry (Armory) and Seaton Parks. 5000
These reservations. extending from 9TH
street to the Botanic Gardens. cover an
area of 81 acres. with road and walk sur
faces of over 10000 square yards. They are
in an advanced state of improvement. Their
beauty has been marred by the depot and
tracks of the Baltimore and Potomac rail-
road A mound has been constructed
around the depot, upon which it is intended
To plant trees and shrubs, that in time
the depot will be hidden partially from view.
The materials for this mound have thus far
been obtained free of expense to the United
states, and II is now proposed to grade the
mound and TO seed and plant it, The funds
requested are needed for this purpose, and
Tor the care of roads. lawns, cutters, ETC.,
and laying out additional paths. For re-
placing the old tagging pavement of the
sldeWalks In the grounds north of the Ex-
s--OVo IheSe sidewalks lead from the en-
trance gates on Pennsylvania avenue to
the north front of the Executive Mansion.
Inc old nagg1ng at present composing them
ID IN bad condition, and should be replaced
by granohthtc pavement. For lodges for
park watchmen in Stanton, Mount Vernon,
iowa, dupont, Thomas. Mcpherson and Fol-
ger reservations at 500 each, s. 500 The
watchmen in these reservations are ex-
posed to the inclemency of the weather at
an seasons OF the year. Rain or shine. hot
t.
they must be at their stations and take
shelter when necessary either under n tree
or IN such dwelling or store as will offer
its hospitality. The dictates of humanity
can for this appropriation.
The Executive Mansion
IAN increase in the appronriatt tton ,or
care, etc, of the Executive Mansion 10 ra-
Quested- The building should be renaintaa
Inside and out; much Of the furniture needs
to be reupholstered; new carpets are nec-
essary, and it is desired to change the of
fee rooms into bed rooms and use the on
tire mansion simply for the home of the
President Of the United States The sum
OF N,5Oo is requested for renewing the Sill
perstructure of one OF the green houses
connected with the Executive Mansion. The
present structure is weak and should be
rebuilt at the earliest opportunity This
estimate was submitted last year. but only
N.OOO was appropriated. AS a proper su-
perstructure could not be built for that
sum. the money will not be used, and Will
revert to the treasury. Two thousand dol
lars is requested for repair of conservatory
The structure is old, in bad condition and
requires continual repairs and patching to
preserve the splendid collection of plants
II contains. For portrait of eX-President
harrison and frame for portrait, $500
ThiS sum was appropriated for the portrait
OF ex-President Harrison'S immediate pre-
oecessor. The Executive Mansion now
contains the portraits of all the ex-Presi-
dents OF the United States except President
harrison The appropriation requested for
lighting Executive Mansion and public
grounds, and which is in excess of that
made last year. is deemed very necessary
IN order TO extend the electric light system
tnrouSh the monument grounds, now en-
urely without Illumination, and to change
the system in Lafayette and Franklin parks
from gas TO electric lights. In the interest
OF morality, as we'll for the protection
OF persons visiting or passing through the
parks after dark, 1t is desired to make them
as light as possible at night. The estimate
Tor repairs 10 water pipes and fire plugs
mas been increased from $500 to 5000
Inc sources or the spring which supplies
the United states Capitol with water were
mdch impaired by the excavations made IN
connection with the construction OF the
large reservoir near the Howard University
Tor the increase OF the city'S supply of PO-
tOInac water, which has resulted in dimia-
- Il