Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-30
DISTRICT EXPENSES
House Appropriation Committee
Makes Big Cuts.
REPORT ON THE BILL As AGREED ON
Limitations Proposed as to Certain
Expenditures.
SOME OF THE REDUCTIONS

appropriation Ull, as dSTeeo upou tulS
afternoon by the House committee on ap-
propriations, Is as follows:
The committee on appropriations, in pre-
senting the bill making appropriations for
the support of the government Of the Dis
trict of Columbia for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1897, submit the following in ex-
planation thereof:
The estimates of yhe Commissioners Of
the District of Columbia, upon which the
bill Is based, will be found on pages 267 to
2S4 of the Book of Estimates, and, exclu-
sive of the water department., aggregate
S,491 ,357.47, one-half of which amount, or
SO much thereof as Congress may appro-
pirate, is required to be drawn from the
revenues of the general government, and
the remaining one-half to be levied upon
the taxable property and privileges in the
District of Columbia other than the prop
erty of the United States and the District
of Columbia, pursuant to section 3 of the
act approved June II, 1878, entitled IAN act
providing permanent form of government
for the District of Columbia" (Stat. L.,
vol. 20, p. 1922
The Secretary of the Treasury, on page
2S4 of the Book OF Estimates for 1897, SUBJ
mitted the following recommendation:
The Secretary of the Treasury not being
in posse sson of such information as would
enable him to formulate a proper estimate
of the needs Of the District government,
and not desiring that its interests should be
prejudiced thereby, approves the estimates
submitted by the Commissioners with
the recommendation that Congress appro-
PIRATES as much of the desired amount as
may, upon careful examination, appear to
be necessary.
propriated for the general expenses CT the
District OF Columbia for the fiscal year 1897,
in the bill submitted herewith, is, exclusive
of the water department, s., 225, G65.37 of
is
qIired to pay 81, 612, S32 9S, that being one
half of the whole. The former amount is
Sa,265, 80 less than the estimates SUBJ
m.ttei.
The amount appropriated for the general
expenses OF the District Of Columbia for the
current fiscal year. 1895 ,inclldins sl5a4O
acts. is S5,559, 26397, being 33,:,9s more
than Is recommended in the accompanying
bill for 1897, and the whole amount recon-
mended In tn. accompanying bill, including
the sums for the water department is
$3i3, 122.S6 less than was appropriated for
the current fiscal year.
The amount recommended for the water
department, all of which is payable from
the water revenues, is sl92,53i42. The
amount appropriated for the water depart
ment for the current fiscal year is S2U2,-
lbs, being reduction of S9,32tSj.
1t is estimated that the water revenues
for the fiscal year 1897 will amount to s3O7,-
500, but it is provided in the accompanying
bill, SIS it was in the acts for the current
and Tour preceding fiscal years. that any
surplus of these revenues over the apDro-
priations made specifically therefrom shall
be applied to the work of extending the
hlSh-seryIce system Of water distribution.
This improvement, 1t was estimated by the
engineer officer in charge at the time
would cost, when completed, about 5000 600
The surplus of water revenues devoted to
this object, on account Of expenditures
made and obligations incurred since the
said authority was granted amount at this
The total general revenues of the District
of Columbia for the fiscal year 1897, it is
estimated by the Commissioners, will
amount, exclusive Of any estimated sur
plus of the revenues Of prior years, to $3,-
225. 5.osl.56 or a surplus Of $547,3SS. IS after
meeting the appropriations proposed by the
legations ESTIMATED at s64. 500 imposed up
On the District by the act of March 2, 1889,
establishing the National Geological Park,
and fer one-half the expenses of the Court
ct Appeals and Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict. This surplus, to the extent Of $780,
600, will be applied under the operation of
section of the District of Columbia appro-
priatton act for the fiscal year 1893 and
provision of the accompanying bill to the
satisfaction of the Indebtedness of the Dis
trict TO the United States on account of
the cost of the increased water supply of
the city of Washington under acts approx
ed July 1o 1857, and March 3, 1891.
Limitations.
Limitations with reference to appropria-
tions made in the bill, not heretofore i'm
posed. or changes in existing limitations,
are recommended as follows:
In connection with the appropriation for
market masters and for hire of laborers for
cleaning markets. the following:
That hereafter all rents, fees and income
derived from the markets herein appropri-
ated for shall be paid to the collector of
taxes; and no person employed by the Dis
COlIInhla "a col ohon
receive any fees or compensation of any
kind in addition to the salary provided by
law.
In connection with the appropriation for
contingent expenses of the government of
the District of Columbia the following:
That the whole cost Of maintaining and
keeping in good order the laboratory and
apparatus in the Office of the inspector of
gas and meters shall hereafter be paid by
the Washington Gaslight Company.
In connection with the appropriations for
making or repairing concrete or asphalt
pavement the maximum prices authorized
to be paid are reduced from 81 to $1.75 per
square yard for quality equal to the best
laid in the District prior to July 1, 1886, and
with same depth of base, and from 81 25 to
81 per square yard for pavements required
to be of more than ordinary strength.
In connection with the appropriation for
current work Of repairs Of county roads and
suburban streets, the following:
That this appropriation shall be available
for the repair of all county roads, except
such as are rendered useless by the opening
and improving Of new highways established
under the act approved March 2, 1893.
In connection with the appropriation for
grading and regulating Sherman avenue
Roanoke and Irving streets, the following:
That this appropriation shall be available
for removing buildings, terracing banks and
replacing fences Of Garfield Hospital
grounds and other premises abutting on
Sherman avenue between Grant and Prince
ton streets: Provided, That the owners
thereof dedicate to the District of Columbia
the ground for widening Sherman avenue
for conformity with the adopted and re-
corded plans of highway extensions.
In connection with the appropriations for
lighting streets, the maximum price for gas
lighting is limited to not exceeding $16 per
annum per lamp burning every night on
the average from As minutes after sunset
to 45 minutes before sunrise, instead of
5000 per lamp burning not less than 5000
hours per annum; and the maximum price
per arc electric light, burning from 45 min
utes after sunset to 45 minutes before sun
rise, is limited to not exceeding % cents per
night, instead of 40 cents per night burning
from sunset to sunrise; and It is required
that contracts for the entire gas and cleo
trio light services, respectively, shall be let
after due advertisement to the lowest re-
sponsible bidders therefor"