Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-15
The Deficit in the District Fumes
and the Causes.
VIOLATION OF TEE ORGANIC act
Views of Commissioner Wight,
Mr. Edison and Mr. Babcock.
TIME TO CALL A HALT

1lSlIlCl DIS SIo"H ny llle statement pun
lished in yesterdays Star, attracted, as
might naturally be supposed, wide atten-
tion among the citizens of the District. who
were, rule. rot aware of the conditions
which are now known to exist. In speaking
on this subject today TO Star reporter
Commissioner Wight said that so far as he
ts concerned he will not, despite the eX-
pected deficiency, curtail in the slightest
degree the amount of the appropriations
asked for by the Commissioners to meet the
expenses Of the District government during
the coming fiscal year.
THE condition now before u.s. said Mr..
Wight, lis precisely that which the Com
missioners felt would occur, and is due, OF
course, to that requirement of Congress
that the whole expense incidental TO the
opening and extending of streets provided
for by existing law shall be borne by the
District. Such provision the Commissioners
recommended be stricken out in every re-
port made by them to Congress such
bills. The Commissioners believed then,
as they do now, that to require these eX-
penses to be paid wholly out of the Dis
trict revenues was and is not only unfair
and unjust to the people of the District, but
4 direct violation of the organic act of the
District. In this act Congress declared
that the United States should bear one
half of the expenses of the District govern
ment, and l fail to see any reason or oc-
casion for any departure from sucn
righteous decision.
Effect of Reductions.
IF the Commissioners estimates of eX-
penses for the next fiscal year are reduced
to the extent Of between 81 200, 900 and ST.,
100000, as they must be unless Congress in
some way comes to our relief in the mat
ter, the whole District government will be
simply demoraliZed, for would have to
reduce our police department, We would
have to curtail our force of school teachers,
limit our now too small fire department,
and would be unable to make practical
ly any improvements. But, as / have said.
/ should not be willing reduce in the
slightest degree the amount of appropria-
tions we have asked If Congress fails to
repeal that provision of existing law re-
quiring the District to bear the entire ex-
pense of opening and extending streets,
then l suppose We will be compelled to ask
for loan from the United States, or for
authority to make one with private parties,
LAS The Star explained yesterday, the
expense of opening and extending the
streets already provided for will amount to
about 81 100000. and the cost of those con-
templated would probably increase this
amount TO twice that sum. Therefore, If
we are compelled to borrow, we will prob
ably be required to borrow about 81 800 900,
II these streets are to be opened and ex-
tended, and l believe of course, that they
should be, no one will question the wisdom
of doing the work now for to do it five or
ten years later would cost probably twice
as much as it would at the present time.
If Congress VIII Act.
But l do not believe that the District
should be compelled to borrow money, and
1t will not be necessary to do SO If Con-
gress decides that the United States shall
bear half Of the expense attending the
opening and extending OF streets. The fact
that most of these streets are north of
Florida avenue Is not to my mind any rea-
son whatever why the United States should
depart from its association with the Dis
tr1ct in the matter of meeting such expense
Florida avenue, at best, is but an imaginary
boundary line between the city and the rest
OF the District, and about the only purpose
it serves is 10 provide an excuse for those
who feel that outside the city the District
shouid bear the whole cost Of opening and
extending streets. / feel that in expressing
these views l will have the sympathy of
the people of the District, and | hope and
believe that they will assist the Commits
Sidnefs In their effort to secure a repeal of
this to my mind most unjust, unfair and
unrlshteous provision of existing law"
President Edson's Opinion.
When a Star reporter today saw Mr. John
JOY Edison, the president of the board of
trade, and called his attention to the de-
ficit, Mr.. Edison said
The deficit referred to Is due to the an
preparations for the extension of streets,
tween the people of the District and Con-
sress when the present form of government
was permanently established, have been
charged exclusively upon the revenues of
the District instead of being shared be-
tween the general government and the Dis
trict. In my opinion, the Commissioners of
The District and The people should take a
firm stand on this subject and maintain the
principle upon which the local government
rests Congress should be informed
that rather than have appropriation
made in violation of this principle the peo-
pie of this District would rather 60 without
the money that may be needed for inn
portant public improvements. The princi-
pie is essential to the ell-being Of the Dis
trict, and its violation fraught with such
serious results that no one who has
opinion. hesitate moment in agreeing, that
1t should be sustained.
Board of Trades Action.
'The board Of trade in 1897 adopted strong
resolutions protesting against the policy
that was then already manifested to do
violence to the organic act of the District,
and that action remains the action of the
board today. Under the organic act pro-
viding for the permanent form of govern
ment for the District approved June IL,
1878. in making provisions for the expenses
of the municipal government 1t was di-
rected that to the extent to which Congress
shall approve said estimate Congress shall
appropriate 80 per centum thereof and the
remaining so per centum of such approved
estimate shall be levied and assessed upon
the taxable property and privileges in said
District other than property of the United
States and of the District of Columbia
This adjustment made by Congress at
that time to meet the necessary expenses
of the government OF the District of CO.
lumbia," continued Mr.. Edson was the
result of several years of patient and care
| full investigation of the relation of the
District to the general government and
as to the just proportion of expenses which
should be borne by the people of the Dis
| trict and by the general government An
examination of the debate in Congress
when this provision of the law was under
consideration shows clearly that it was
considered an equitable adjustment.
The First Violation
From the date of the enactment of the
| organic law until the appropriations were
| made for the fiscal year ending June 30
| 1891, all appropriations for current munich
| pal expenses, obligations, improvements
| and needs of whatever character were made
| IN accordance with the provisions of the Ia w
| quoted, namely. 30 per centum from the
| treasury of the United States and 80 per
! centum collected from taxes. licenses and so