The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-23
DISTRICT Tn CONGRESS
Legislation Which lie Commission
erS Viii Urge.

Appropriation for the Erection of a
City Hospital Earnestly Desired.
Money for Purchasing u Site for "A
Municipal BuIIding-Issue Of Bonds
for the Improvement of Streets.
The District Commissioners are looking
forward to the coming meeting Of Con
gress with a good deal Of interest, be-
cause a considerable number Of municipal
projects await action by the lawmakers
on Capitol Hill. Aside from interest in
the current Appropriations bill, in which
it is hoped that Congress viii provide Lbs
orally for the expenses OF the local gov-
eminent, there are other matters, some
OF which VIII be subjects of special leg
islation, IN which the Commissioners are
deeply concerned. They naturally hope,
and, doubtless will work for, the favor
able consideration by Congress Of sew
eraI schemes which have for their object
the permanent Improvement of the city
Perhaps the one matter which lies up
permost in their minds is the appropria-
tion OF money to 90 on with the prePara-
lions for the erection OF the municipal
hospital, a site for which was recently
purchased. Commissioner Macfarland IN
speaking about this matter recently, said
that in his view the best course . pf-s''c
E9gld be for Congress 10 make q sH-aA
appropriation which. adde1 a. me b8l-
ance left over from the purchase fgnd
for the site, would enable the Copauass-
Eioners 20 Interest cerEain architects and
hospital experts 20 decide upon plans
etc before the zeal voTA CT construction
should be pToVll-G lOL. 4 year hence
This course. he thought, would give ample
tine 20 settle certain m9oted qussl2ns
by the Commissioners ana the Beard 81
Charities, ana place them in alOal Better
posiion with regard 20 the dnal work OF
building the hospital.
Another matter Of equal interest TO the
Commissioners is the purchase of a site and
the preliminary arrangements for erecting
q new Municipal Building. They are Of the
opinion that if Congress should appropri-
ate at the coming session a sum Of money
Tor the purchase OF suitable site for the
proposed building, making the provision IN
about the same terms as was done in the
case of the Municipal Hospital it would
pursue the wisest course. In this way the
construction Of the building for the munich
pal Offices would be in progress and the ex-
peRse OF the structure would be spread over
several years The Commissioners would
at the coming session of Congress
The Commissioners are as much inter
ested in the United States Government es-
tablishiug filtration plant to purify the
muddy and iiSease-laden water of the Po-
tomac as any three citizs rs Of the District
They are fully aware OF the danger to the
health OF the community that turks in the
water supply. and they would gladly see 1t
changed While this is purely a project for
the National Government, still it is one
that concerns the District ST Columbia
more intimately perhaps than any other
proposed improvement The question is yet
undetermined whether the English or the
a1 method OF filtration shall be en-
y+l but the Commissioners. IN their
Est on estimates. recommended he adoption
% The american system
The Commissioners also take an active
rest in the railroad bills which We're
f by the Senate at the last session
z=alL action By the House These
measures uror5de for tte changing of the
tracks Of The tT0 railroads SO tSat they
shall enter tha city above or below gEade
The general subject contained n these
bills has been long discussed and has been
before Congress u one fern oT another
for many years. ii is hoped that the mat
ter may be decided at the coming ceesion-
AS now drafted these bills provide Tor the
paying of a considerable portion OF the
expense by the District. This feature of
the bills has been objected to, and it has
served to delay action upon the project
by Congress because the frances Of the
District have been in no shape to stand
the added expense Of outlay provided 1cr
in these bills
Another project to which two oE the
Commissioners. at least, are favorably in
clined is that OF the issue Of & District
loan to pay for some CT the improvements
most urgently needed. especially the ex-
+nOCtCu Of CT and h
miSsioners are of the opinion that the
progress of the city has reachel a point
where 1t IS necessary to expend larger
sums than has been the case in paving
streets and establishing drainage OF the
growth of the city VIII be much retarded
and perhaps permanently so. It is not
thought that the loan need be veFv
large one. and the impression IS that the
necessary amount can be borrowed at
low rate of interest without detriment
to the District finances. while the i'm
provementS needed can he secured at once
The Commissioners are of the opinion
however. that the United States Govern
ment should shoulder one-half of the cost
OF the Improvements, whatever they be,
and should be an equal partner with the
District in the loan.
The Commissioners are looking forward
to busy session of Congress. though il
is TO be a short one The number of Dis
tTict matters to be considered will be per
haps greater than ever before. while the
projecSs outlined and others IN prospect
VIII keep the heads of the municipal Gov
eminent busy as we'll as the two houses
of Congress.
The District Commissioners have adj
dressed letters to the several architects
chosen TO prepare plans fer the public
school houses 10 be erected under the PRO
visions of the appropriation act approved
June s, 1900. The letters inform them that
they have been chosen for the particular
work mentioned, the amount of compen-
sation is stated and general instructions
given.
1t is stipulated in each letter that a
rough or preliminary sketch must be sub
mitted for the approval Of the Commits
siOners- All complete drawings are to be
on tracing linen, adapted for blue print
ing. It is also stated that it is part OF
the conditions of the award that the draw
ings and specifications shall be returned
ready for advertisement on or before De
cember 81, 1900, and the Commissioners
say that if the drawings could be returned
within month it would be highly appre-
ciated by them.