New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-10
A NIGGARDLY BILL.
COLUMBIA CUT DOWN WITHOUT
RTIYMD OR REASON
My TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.)

My TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE)
Washington. March 9.-The District of Columbia
Appropriation bill. which annually offers to states
men of a certain sort an opportunity TO play the
role of economists and gives to statesmen OF GER
tain other sort opportunity to exhibit them
selves prime demagogues was again debated
and considered by the House of Representatives to-
day. The provisions of the bill show that the Dem
ocrats who framed il did so in careful obedience
to President Clevelands orders and utterly regard
less of the fact that instead of being n whose
population is declining and whose municipal needs
are annually lessening the National CAPITAL is
fourishIng city. rapidly growing in population and
area. The number of inhabitants has increased
some thousands in the last and. of course the
amount of money required TO maintain public
schools. open and improve streets build and extend
sewers support the departments of public health
police and fire. and do all the other things neces-
sary in order that the capital of the United States
may be a credit and not a disgrace to the Nation. will
be greater for the coming year than II for last
year. Yet the Committee Appropriations recon-
mends amount less by s22442 than that appro-
priated for the fiscal year. and 81 13ssl less
than the estimates submitted by the District Com
missioners, which amounted to 610l.079.
The Secretary Of the Treasury arbitrarily reduced
these estimates to s.14S.G56. although, to use his
own words. he was unable to indicate the several
items in which changes should be made" He there
fore "disapproved of the total amount recon-
II should be remembered that only one-half OF the
sum appropriated comes out of the National Treas
ury although the Government of the United states
and holds considerable more than one-half Of
the assessed vauation of property in the District
of Columbia. which property. of course. is exempt
from taxation. The total general revenues of the
District for the fiscal year. II is estimated by
the Commissioners. will amount to sS.i691D. or
more than 100000 in excess of the amount that
the District VIII contribute on account or eXpendl,
lures for that year. in case the bill shall be passed
reported. Among the most urgent needs Of the
District Is ~ Increase in the number of school
houses. For new school buildings and sites the
Commissioners recommended an appropriation of
$4,000. The Appropriations Committee has cut
this down to the beggarly sum Of $4,000. which IS
rent year. The number os teachers IS to be in
their salaries from SGi$s5 ' to s67s4co Where the
forty-nine teachers and their pupils to be
sheltered would seem to BE- somewhat Of a mystery
The Commissioners asked for $1,000 for the re-
pair and Improvement of streets. The committee
Is $4,000 less than the estimates. and 10000 less
than was granted for the current year. and that
that could be properly ana wisely expended for that
purpose. The amount asked To build. extend and
mends ony $500. or $1,000 less than the est-
mates and $500 less than the appropriation for
the purposes this year.
These examples are enough to show the nggarliy
spirit in which the bin was framed ana TO prov
that the amounts to be appropriated are utterly
But even these appropriations are attacked by
Representatives. not the ground that they are
inadequate but that the property -owners and res
idents OF the District OF Columbia ought to be com
PEELED to pay every dollar Of them and that not
dollar ought to he taken from the National
Treasury for that purpose. Mr.. De Almond. Of Mis-
souri,. has given notice Of amendment TO this
effect and supported II in an elaborate If not a
logical or convincing argument. Mr.. Kngore. or
Texas. spoke in the same behalf and decla Jared thai
he is overwhelmed with shame and Indignation
when he thinks how "the people OF my district must
be bled to contribute to the magnilcence of Wash
ngtOn." This is sad. The statesman from wills
Point Texas. represents district which contained
population Of 1900 in 1880 If the people Of that
revenues of the Government according To their
number. and the pending bill shall become a law
I'm its present form they Will be "bed' - the eN-
tent OF $40 81 TO contribute TO the magnhcence II
Washington during the coming fiscal year; ana
Mr. Kilgore's OF this bleeding Will he repre-
scented 10y the prncely sum of %i@-l1o or one cent
No wonder ne rs overwhelmed with shame ana
Indignation when he contemplates such appalling
figures