Evening star., 1898-01-19
FOR THE DISTRICT
Money to Be Given to Run the Local
Government.
APPROPRIATION BILL REPORTED
A Big Cut From the Estimates
Submitted.
7 H E ITEMS IN ETAIL

priated for the general expenses of the
District of Columbia for the fiscal year
1879 In the bill submitted is, exclusive of
the water department, $500, 1861 of
Whlch sum the general government is re-
quired to pay 81, 746. 500. %, that being one
half of the whole. exclusive of the amount
Sl0W'O recommended for expenses under
| the highway act. The first-named sum is
s2.474,417.62 less than the estimates submit
ted by the Commissioners
The amount appropriated for the general
expenses of the District of Columbia for
the current fiscal year QS9s) is s5,O67 0tj0 33,
or So57,95i. 36 more than is recommended in
| the accompanying bill for 1859
|. The whole amount recommended in the
acc omranying BILL Including the sums for
the water department, payable wholly from
the water revenues, is SJG31 .G57.51 being
$'67. .3o1. 40 less than the like appropriations
| for the current fiscal year.
The Water Department.
The amount recommended for the water
department, all of which is payable from
the water revenues, is $12S,:51 being a re-
| duction of s9.4U3.13 under the appropria-
tions for the water department for the cur
rent fiscal year
1t is estimated that the water revenues
| available for the fiscal year 1899 will
an cunt to $'33.200, but it is provided IN
the accompanying BILL as 1t was in the acts
Tor the current and six preceding fiscal
years. that any surplus of these revenues
over the appropriations made specifically
therefrom shall be applied to the work of
extending the high-service system of water
distribution. This Improvement it was es-
ti1Lated by the engineer officer in charge at
| the time, would cost. when completed about
s6p,oO The surplus CT water revenues de-
voted TO this object on account of eXpenli-
lures made and obligations incurred since
the said authority was granted amount at
| this time to SOL. 1868.
In addition to the work of extending the
Sh-SerVice system of water distribution
the surplus water revenues are also au-
| thorized by the bill to be used for the pur-
chase, erection, maintenance and inspection
or water meters and for the gradual ex-
tel sion of the water-meter system to all
classes of consumers.
Inc total general revenues of the Dis
tret of Columbia for the fiscal year 1889, it
1S estimated by the Commissioners, will
amount, exclusive of any estimated sur
Plus of the revenues of prior years. to $3,-
ooo5iJ-2o, or surplus of $I22,212.01 after
meeting the appropriations proposed by
the accompanying bill, together with the
obligations ESTIMATED at So, ,6l0) imposed
uIon the District by the act of March >
1889. establishing the National Geological
Park, and for one-half the expense of the
Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of
the District.
Limitations.
Limitations with reference to appropria-
ticns made in the bill not heretofore I'M
posed, or changes in existing limit tioEs
are recommended as follows:
THAT hereafter all accounts for the DIS
brrsement OF appropriations, made either
from the revenues of the District of Column
bia jointly from the revenues of the
United States and the District of Columbia
shall he audited by the auditor of the Dis
RI of Nnl l.i,a
to the accounting officers Of the treasury,
unless otherwise specifically provided in
the law making such appropriations: Pro-
vided, That this provision shall not apply
to disbursements on account of the Court
OF Appeals and the Supreme Court Of the
District of Columbia and for interest and
sinking fund on the funded debt of the Dis
trict of Columbia, which disbursements
shall continue to be audited as heretofore
provided by law
Also the following:
THAT the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia shall hereafter have the power
and authority to change the name of any
street, road, avenue or other highway
whenever any two of such highways have
the same name"
Also the following:
THAT hereafter the Commissioners Of the
District Of Columbia may change the loca-
ton of any public scale in said District
whenever they may deem such change in
the public interest"
Also the following:
The Commissioners OF the District of
Columbia are hereby authorized to fur
nish Potomac water without charge TO
orphan asylums and charity schools, and
such Institutions as receive annual appro-
priations from Congress-, to an amount to
be fixed in each case by said Commission
erS, not TO exceed the rate of one hun
dred gallons per average capita of inmate
per diem; and for all water used beyond
such an amount the institution shall be
charged at the prevailing rate for the use
of water in the District. They are fur
ther authorized to furnish Potomac water
without charge to churches to an amount
20 be fixed in each case by said CommiS-
sioners, any amount Used In excess to
be charged as hereinbefora provided.
THE Secretary of the Treasury is here
by authorized to cover into the treasury,
one-half to the credit of the United States
and one-half to the credit of the District
Of Columbia, any uneXpended advances
standing upon the books of the treasurer
of the United States to the official credit
of former boards of Commissioners of the
District Of Columbia; and the Commits
sioners are authorized to cancel. when
presented for payment, all checks drawn
against said advances and to issue in lieu
thereof checks payable out of an appro-
priatfon to be raised by the Secretary Of
the Treasury for the purpose"
Charities.
In lieu of specific appropriations aggre-
eating 500. 100 made for the current fiscal
year to certain charitable institutions In
the District of Columbia the following
general appropriation is recommended
For the relief and care of the poor and
destitute. and for such charitable and
reformatory work, and such care and med
ical and surgical treatment of poor and
destitute patients in the District of CO.
lumbia as have teen heretofore usually
provided for by direct appropriations to
private institutions, and as the District
Commissioners may deem necessary, the
sum of sos, 200, to be expended under the
direction of said Commissioners. either un-
der contract with responsible and COM
petent persons or institutions or by en-
ploying for the purpose the public insti-
tutions or agencies OF said District,
where practicaEie: Provided, That no such
contract shall extend beyond the Both
day Of June, 1899. and that no payment
shall be made under any such contract
except for service actually rendered. for
which compensation shall be provided in
said contract; and that said Commission
ers shall report to Congress, on or before
the first Monday of December In each
year, detailed statement of their expen-
(Continued on Eohth Paoe)