Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-27

After what seems to have been a sum-
GENTLY long deliberative period the House
committee on appropriations today re-
ported the bill through which the District
Of Columbia is to receive its public susie
nance for the fiscal year commencing July
1. 1894. As reported, the bill appropriates
A.921, 19497, a sum which Is S26O. 650.34 less
than the current appropriation. The city
grows daily, and its needs increase with
every hour, but the committee seems to
have acted upon the idea that the demands
of a rapidly growing population can be
met with a sum which is less by a quarter
of a million dollars than the one that now
keeps the affairs of local government in
motion.
Secretary Carlisle's recommendation that
the appropriation for ls94-ls95 should be no
greater than that for 1sy3-lSy4 was regard
ed as needlessly radical by those who have
n proper pride in the nations capital. out
the committee has been more extreme in
Its views than was the Secretary OF the
Treasury. 1t is admitted. even by the COM
mittee, that there will be a surplus OF reve-
nue. in the next fiscal year OF more than
eight hundred thousand dollars, even after
the Geological Park and Rock Creek Park
have been cared for. but instead OF apply
ing this surplus to public works for which
there Is imperative demand 1t is to be used
says the report. toward the satisfaction or
the Indebtedness OF the District to the
United States on account OF the cost or the
increased water supply OF the city or wash
ington under acts approved July 10. lso2,
and March 3. 1sSl;'' all OF which means
that this handsome balance will go to swell
the sum already sunk IN the useless aque-
duct tunnel. for which the District or Co
r,,r iS in athI
from which no Increased water supply
resulted.
With the great dearth Of employment
which now exists and which is likely 10
continue for some time, no appropriation
would have done more real good than that
of the $475,0OO asked for by the Commits
sioners to be discussed for work on streets
and avenues. but the committee appropri-
ated the sum of s1OOOOO-just one half of
the amount available for the present year.
Many other serious reductions have been
made. Estimates for the repair of obstruct-
ed sewers and for the construction Of main
and pipe sewers have been sliced in the
middle. while the effort to secure 100000
for suburban sewers-demanded by every
hygienic law-resulted in the appropriation
OF one-ffth Of the sum required.
For new school houses and Sites $243 900
were asked. and with justice, but the COM
mittee concluded that educational matters
were Of much less Importance than the
refunding to the general government of
money thrown away on Lydeckers elongat-
ed -the-ground. so it gave but $780,
90. Police department appropriations have
been somewhat reduced. although there is
demand all over the District for a greater
number Of officers and an extension of Do
lice machinery.
The appropriations committee, In reduc-
Ing these appropriations, is, of course, only
pursuing in respect to the District the
same economizing policy which 1t will ap-
ply to other government expenditures, and
which the financial condition of the treas
ury and OF the nation seems to demand
1t must not be forgotten, however, that
the tax contributions of the individual Dis
trfct tax payers. the partners OF Uncle Sam
IN paying the bills Of the national capital
are not abated to enable them to meet the
hard times In proportion to the reduction in
the appropriation bill. Under the recent
excessive assessment they are taxed more
heavily than ever. and the surplus which
they contribute instead OF being expended
In some way that will improve the city and
give work TO the destitute unemployed is
buried beyond the hope of resurrection in
Lydeckers acknowledgements