The morning times., 1896-06-02
TnEEMAscULaTEDDIsTRIcTRsLL

Il II NASH LA IEDDlSIRlCIh hALI
The action OF the conference committee
on the District appropriation bin, so far
as it has gone. will prove severe disap-
polntment to our people, for among the
items eliminated are a number the elision
OF which will seriously affect many of
the most important branches of the local
government. Nor is the logic of their re-
lection apparent; the emasculation of the
bin appears TO have been carried on upon
the principle only that the sum total had
to Toe cut Gown. no matter where or how.
For instance. the Senate amendment grant
ing 81 coo for Il morguc has been struck
out, and Vet there is nothing that Wash
ington needs more urgently. The Eole i'll
the wall which now does service as a
inoreue would be a disgrace TO a fourth
rate country town. What objection there
can bc TO SET aside the Potomac Flats as
public park. il is impossible TO conjecture,
from which the Senate oonferees receded.
Far more serious. however, than the fore
going is the cXcison OF the amendments
relating 10 Improving the fire department,
increasing tiic police force, giving additional
school accommodations, providing for the
incarceration of combustible waste and in
creasing the allowance for enforcing the
act 20 prevent the spread of scarlet fever
and diphtheria. An these, excepting the
school accommodations, have Il direct bear
ing upon the safety OF person and property
and the health OF the District, and it is
difficult 10 conceive what arguments could
have been advanced 20 cause the confereeS
on the part OF the Senate TO yield on these
points. The insuflicicncy OF our police
force has been painfully exhibited during
the past winter, the necessity for ma
tcriaI Strengthening OF the fire department
was clearly demonstrated during the recent
fire on louisiana avenue; the necessity of
a fire boat as an accessory TO our fire ex-
tiuguishing apparatus is beyond all qucs-
tion, and that the funds placed at tie dis
posal OF the hcaith officer for preventing
the spread OF HE conta sioas diseases named
is altogether inadequate, admits OF 10 dis
pute. As regards the refusal TO give in
creased school accommodations all that
can and need he said about it is that it
is an outrage upon the people of the Dis
trict who pay taxes FOR the support of tIie
schools AMI Yet find themselves deprived
OF the facilities required 10 give all the
children a full days teaching for nine
months in the year.
There are other items that have been
thrown out without rh yme or reason. In
fact, il is the old story over again that the
District is made TO suffer in the conduct
OF its local affairs on account Of the appli-
cation OF what passes for economy in
dealing with appropriations for the country
aJiarge. NodOuht history villa gainrepeat
Itself at the close of the next fiscal year
in that considerable sum of the District
revenues will lie unused and have to be
turned into thc Treasury. Its anadditicnal
and forcefui argument for restoring to tine
people of The District control over their
municipal affairs. the share which the
United States ought 20 pay into the District
treasury. TO be determined by proper
VALUATION OF th. real estate and buildings
owned by it. l? this is done, our people
will be oble 10 provide and will provide
neutrality-suspicious. Gccpa'!theaepartment
Of the local government we'll supplied with
funds.