The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-08

The framing Of the District AppropTia-
ton iii at the present session Of Con-
gress VIII require considerable thought and
study on the part Of the House District
Committee and afterward when the Sen
ate amendments are added. There is a call
for the expenditure of large sums of mon
ey in the expansion Of the municipal serv-
ice. III the extension OF streets, sewers,
water mains. and other public work, and
in the carrying out OF extensive plans OF
Improvement. like the elimination OF the
grade crossings and the erection of the
Memorial Bridge.
II is understood that the outlook for Dis
trict legislation is favorable. The com
mittees OF both houses of Congress, which
control the affairs of the District are made
up Of men familiar with the needs OF the
city and who have good Judgment as to
what should enter into schemes OF improve
ment of various sorts which will come be-
fore them for consideration. These com
mittees are beset from the opening Of Goa
gress to its closing hours with delegations
seeking this or that improvement many
times OF a private character rather than
one which fits into systematic better
ment of the whole city. When these dele
gators fail at TIE Capitol they charge
upon the District Building and seek TO have
the Commissioners interfere with the gen
sraI course Of legislation in order that the
bill which affects private interests may be
included in the appropriations
Commissioner MacfaTIand has had sew
eraI conferences with Senators and mem
bers OF the House, mostly with reference to
the coming Centennial, but the question OF
District legislation was also a subject Of
conversation in several cases and the Com
missioner came away with the impression
that the committees as a whole and as in
dfvidaaI members would do all that they
consistently could 10 give the District the
money that it needs to carry odt pressing
improvements
Commissioner Macfariand. IN speaking
about the matter TO a reporter OF The
Times today, said that not much atten-
tlon could be given to the subject until
the Centennial Celebration is over He
stated that the minds of the Commits
siouers. those of the committees in charge
of the several parts OF the programme,
and those of members CT Congress were
engrOssed with the exercises which are
to take place en- December IL Mr. Mac
fariand said that he was very glad to
find so great interest in the Centennial
Celebration in Congress. He thought 1t
showed a friendiiRess to the District
which would be seen in practical results
when the District Appropriation bill IS
framed. Mr.. MacfaTland said that II was
yet too early 10 venture an opinion as 20
what particular legislation asked for
would be passed. but he seemed 10 be i'm
pressed with the idea that the District
committees would do all ii their power
10 aid the Commissioners in securing
such amounts in the various departments
and for public Improvement as could BE
given under the existing circumstances
In this connection 1t may be recalled
that il the schedule OF estimates prepar-
ed by the Commissioners they asked tor
larger appropriations in connection with
the Police aud Fire Departments. in or
der that these two branches Ct the public
service might be strengthened and made
more efficient for the important duties
which they have TO perform. IN the eXecu-
tive Offices additional sums were asked
that more clerks might be employed and
the current business OF these depart
mems nut uGOn 2 better BASIS ms was
especially the case with the Assessor
office and hat OF the Attorney for the
District The items for street cleaning
were larger than formerly to keep race
with the growth OF the city
Outside Of the current work of the de-
parJments the Commissioners gave ap-
prevail to several special appropriations
which are to be considered. One of these
was the project for a municipal loan TO
make several millions of dollars availa-
Bile Immediately for improvements of
streets, the extension OF sewers and the
laying of curb and sidewalk. The author
ity given to the Commissioners to borrow
a considerable sum CT money would ena-
bic them to clean up the schedule of
street Improvement within the limits OF
the city, which Is now about Eve years be-
hind. It would also enable the authorities
to open certain avenues and principal
streets 10 the District line. and thus lay
the foundation for the extension OF the
city in the suburban territory. This pro-
ject, it is believed, has a fair show for
favorable consideration in Congress.
Another scheme of Improvement in
which which the Commissioners are in
terested, and which is not strictly Dis
trict matter, in that the Improvement
from the nature of the case must be IN
dertaken by the United States, is the
granting OF an appropriation to make a
beginning upon Memorial Bridge across
the Potomac. from the city to Arlington
A similar Improvement, indeed a part of
1t. is the parking of the Mall and its con-
lection with Geological Park
The Improvement Of the Anaeostia flats
also favored by the Commissioners as
remedy against the prevalence of maia-
ial and typhoid fevers. A statement is
Ontained in the annual report of the Com
lissioners compiled in the Health Office
h0wing that these feyeTs are more COM
aon in the region bordering upon the
wamps OF the Eastern Branch than In