Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-12-02
The District Deficit.

Auditor Timmes extraordinary note re-
ferring to the District estimates. printed In
the news columns today. brings directly be-
fore Congress from the governments side
of the case the financial predicament of the
District The auditor shows that the Dis
trict is already in debt to the government
on account of the deficit incurred last fiscal
year that It is certain to become more
deeply indebted this year as a result or the
failure of the revenues to meet the swollen
expenditures and that certain liabilities
will fall due from time to time in the future
to make the debit still heavier. His figures
STOW that II the responsibilities Of the Dis
trict to the government for the past and
the present fiscal years were all discharged
this year the Districts appropriations
would need to be cat to very low figure
There is no reason whatever why the Dis
trict's annual budget should be curtaiied
because of this debit balance against the
capital. The District is in nowise respon-
sibIe for that debt. The bulk of it has been
incurred on account of the street extern
sions. the cost of which were thrown wholly
upon the District without warrant in law
or in equity The District protested to the
end against this violation of the organic
act, and finally besought Congress, if 1t
was bent upon ignoring the plea for an
equal division of the cost. 10 drop the whole
matter and leave the extensions for some
later period. The present difficulty was
fOreseen and prOphesied-
Congress insisted upon forcing this work
upon the District. wholly at Its expense,
having already saddled the District with
the burden of the cost of the aqueduct tun-
mel failure. for which the local government
was in no sense accountable. Having thus
placed lien upon the Districts revenues
for years to come. it went further and leg
islated with reference TO the steam railroad
terminals in a manner to ensure additional
heavy and unjust drains upon the local re-
sources. Now all these items are falling In
at once and the Districts balance sheet has
been demoralized in consequence.
The Immediate question is not whether
Congress shall call a halt upon District APP
propriatiOns. but in what manner 1t shall
provide for the liquidation of this indebted
ness which is annually growing greater as
the Districts revenues are absorbed by its
current needs while the extraordinary la
biiitIes fall due. Congress can go far
toward solving the problem by amending
the legislative errors of the past, assuming
half Of the street extension cost, as 1t
should have done at the outset. II might
even, pursuing the pain OF Justice without
deviation relieve the District of the unwar
ranled tunnel liability. 1t might perhaps
lessen the local burden of the railroad ter
minal improvements.
But whether 1t Corrects the past mistakes
or not. it must not curtail the annual ap
preparations, which today represent the alb
sOIute needs Of the District. and for which
the District stands ready TO pay its just
share at all times. Congress may choose, in
financing the debit account, between law
authorizing a lOng-term, lOw-nterest Dis
trict bond issue, and an extension of the
arrangement Of a few months ago whereby
the government advanced TO the District
the funds necessary to meet It's needs.
Whether by bonds or by federal loan this
problem is solved. the time of settlement
must he placed sufficiently far in the future
TO enable the District 10 meet all its obliga-
tions without an extraordinary strain and
without being deprived in any degree of its
annual allotment of money for schools,
pavements. sewers, police and fire protec-
ton and the various extensions of the pub
lie service which its natural growth and
betterrnent require.