Evening star., 1898-10-14
ANNUAL ESTIMATES
Commissioners Budget
for Year 1900,
INCREASE OVER PRESENT YEAR
Sum Of S8,795,006.52 Consid-
cred to Be Necessary.
REASONS ADVANCED BY TIE BOARD
Advance in Salaries in Several of
the Bureaus.
REASONS ADVANCED BY TIE BOARD
THE ITEMIzED STATEMENT

| The District Commissioners have COM
| pleted their estimates for the fiscal year
| ending June 30, 1900, and will submit them
| to Congress with their annual report
| The total amount asked for is SS 1885,
| o86.o2 including the appropriation of $129,-
| 141 for the water department. The esti-
mates for the year ending June 30, 1899,
| amounted in total to So, 124 1880, the in
crease in the estimates for 1900 being near
| ly $60O,OO
| The work Of preparing the annual esti-
mates is labor requiring the entire time
| of the executive office of the District gov
| ernment for many weeks. The task is an
| immense one, and the relief at completing
! the work is great. Secretary Tindall and
| his corps of assistants are now engaged in
| putting the finishing touches on the cleri-
cal work connected with the preparation
! of the voluminous document.
Where increase in appropriation is
| asked or a new item is added to the esti-
mates the Commissioners note the fact and
| explain the reason for their action in this
respect
| At the last session of Congress provision
was made for a veterinary surgeon, who
inspection of dairy farms furnishing milk
to the District of Columbia, and to caJLie,
so that the services of the veterinary sur
geon to examine and care for horses be-
longing to the several departments of the
District of Columbia could be devoted ex-
clusively to that duty. The new surgeon
is provided for in the executive office esti
mates
The Commissioners request an increase of
the salaries of two assistant inspectors CT
plumbing from 81 900 to 81 300, because the
present salaries are insufficient to secure
the retention in the service of those who
nave becom: Skilled in the complicated du-
ties required to be rendered Many reSig-
nations Of capable men are attributed to
the present compensation. which IS less
than is paid for such services in cities COM
parable with Washington.
The Hurbor Boat.
An estimate for a night crew for the har-
Dor boat is made, and it is pointed out that
most of the violations of the game ana fish
laws occur at night, the vioIators taking
advantage of the absence of the harbcr
boat.
There is now no provision for the patrol
OF the river between Z o'clock in the even
1rg and in the morning. 1t is further
stated in support of the appropriation that
ost Of the robberies and fires along the
river front occur at night also, and that
any persons congregate at night on the
Potomac flats drinking and gambling The
need of night protection on the river is
fully and strongly set forth, and the esti-
r ate will almost certainly be approved by
Congress.
The recommendation for an increase in
| the salary of the auditor from s3UuO to
$500 is based upon the nature of the
| duties of the office and the services of the
present incumbent
All of the accounts of the District pass
under his inspection and nearly ali are sub-
a tas
| toned probity, a thorough knowledge Of
accounts and the law and constant vigilance
and industry. From the character of some
| of the old records in his custody he is call
ed to examine claims involving questions
OF great financial delicacy, and his find
| ings often save the government from the
payment OF thousands of dollars upon
claims founded on inaccurate or fraudu-
| lent data.
The increase in the estimate for the posi-
tions Of clerks for the sinking fund office
Is based upon the recommendation of the
treasurer of the United States.
The need of a clerk in the office of the
sealer of weights and measures has been
fully set forth in The Star.
| An increase Of the salary of the superin-
tendent of sewers to 81. 900 is recommended
| because of the high professional skill and
| judgment required for the proper discharge
of the duties of the office, and the great
responsibility imposed upon the incumbent
| The present superintendent is civil en-
| gineer of maly years experience and ma
| tlOnal reputation. ana Is considered one OF
the ablest sanitary engineers of today.
| The recommended increase in the salary
| of the permit clerk is based upon the re-
sponsbility and labor of the office. The
| duty is arduouS and demands extreme care
| and watchfulne3s.
| Street Cleaning Department.
| For superintendent of street cleaning a
| salary Of 5000 is asked as the duties OF
| this officer, always onerous and respon-
/ Gil hINr 1ore fy,a
adoption of the hand-cieaning method as q
part Of the street cleaning system. He is
| almost constantly actively employed from
| g o'clock in the morning, and often earlier,
| until late hour in the evening. Sundays
| and holidays included. With daily hand
| cleaning without contract the superin en-
| dent will have a force of from 100 70 500
men under his control.
| The estimated raise of $500 in the pay of
| three inspectors of street sweeping IS to
| secure equal compensation for the thirteen
inspectors who do the same kind of work.
| For rent Of District offices $4,000 is asked.
| When thu Commissioners first leased the
building now occupied 1t was with the un-
| derstanding they would recommend to Con-
gress provision be made for the rental at
| $4,000, without obligation on the part of
! the District to pay more than 5000 unless
| an appropriation for the larger amount be
| made.
New MorGue Estimated For.
| The estimate of $4,000 for morgue is
based on the cost of brick building about
| 40 by so feet, and two stories, with Office,
morgue, inquest and autopsy rooms, coro-
| ner's office, waiting rooms, etc, and cellar
| for heating and cooling apparatus. The
building would cost about 81 800 of the very
| simplest construction and finish, some walls
| not plastered.
The heating would cost about $500 and
the refrigerating plant about 81 500 or less
| leaving all margin Of $500 for prepara- :
ton of plans and specifications ana super
irtendence. No estimate Is made for the
ground necessary.
An appropriation of $1,000 is asked for
the restoration Of portraits belonging to the
District of Columbia. as outlined in The
| Star yesterday.
For street cleaning and sprinkling an Ap-
preparation of s207. .493 is asked. Under the
present appropriation (l45, 600 it is ffnpos-
sible. it is declared. to give the public good
| service. About one-fourth the area is clean
Cd only once q week. one-fourth twice a