Evening star., 1901-10-30
DISTRICT ESTIMATES
Total of Appropriations Desired for
Next Fiscal Year.
THE AMOUNT EXCEEDS TEN MILLIONS
Explanatory Statement by Com
missioner Macfarland
EXTRAORDINARY EXP ENSES

| En- RAORDlN AR1 EAf IN SES
| The District Commissioners have for
| warded their estimates of the expenses of
the District of Columbia during the fiscal
! year of 1302-19O3 to the Secretary of the
| Treasury. The estimates will be trans
mitted by the Secretary to Congrs IS when
1t convenes in December. The Commission
| ers ask for a total of $40 ,439, ,SS1.S7. For the
| current year they asked $9,0S0, 703.94, of
| which 7,532, ,519.a was appropriated. OF
| the amount asked by the Commissioners
the sum of S326,O16 will be derived from the
water revenues. Under the act constituting
| the present form of government in the
| District of Columbia the general expenses
| of the District are to be paid equally by
| the United States government and the Dis
| trict
| In announcing the transmission of the
estimates to the Secretary of the Treasury
| Commissioner Macfarland said there would
| apparently be quite deficit in the District
| revenues necessary to meet one-half of the
| amount estimated for. In explaining the
| Commissioners position in the matter he
| said:
"The Commissioners have followed this
| year. as last, in making up the estimates
| for Congress of the appropriations needed
| for the next fiscal year. the policy of ask
| ing for what is really necessary, regardless
| of the possible deficit due to the diversion
| of District funds by Congress to street ex-
| tension purchases. The growth of the Dis
| trict means an increase in its needs. All
| it's services require larger appropriations
| naturally, from year to year Besides this,
| We must complete projects and begin new
| ones for improvements of various kinds on
| large scale, as, for example, in regard to
| the water supply. The total amount re-
| quired for what ought to be done In the
| next fiscal year is larger than ever, and
| larger than the revenues can meet.
The Extraordinary Expenses.
THE general expenses of the District can
| be met by the revenues, but the cost of the
| extraordinary projects of general improve
| ment here, as elsewhere, cannot be met out
of the revenues in any one year That cost
| ought to be distributed through as many
| years as necessary. The Commissioners
| in presenting this matter to Congress at
| the coming session, will have t. repeat
| what they said last winter, that the threat
| ened deficit in revenue is due to the diver
| sion of District funds from the half-and-
half plan to exclusive use for street extern
| sions, and that Congress should meet this
and also the cost of extraordinary projects.
by advances from the federal treasury of
course, without interest. Congress recog-
nized the justice of this claim by providing
at the last session for advances from the
federal treasury for the current fiscal wear
although it charged interest upon the de-
ferred payments, and by making larger ap-
propriatfons than ever before. Doubtless
Congress will do at least as we'll for the
District at the coming session. | believe it
Will do even better. The new interest of
the country, and therefore of Congress- in
the development of the national capital as
sures the success of all our plans for the
Improvement and Identification of the Dis
trict. The Commissioners acting under
TINS nope, will ask and expect large things
of Congress"
Ihe estimates for the next fiscal year in
| clude many interesting items, among them
| being the provision for a library force to
take charge of the new public library build
ing now nearing completion in Mount Vernon
Square. Congress is also asked to provide
for the high pressure water service for fire
protection in the downtown business sec
tion, as heretofore detailed in The Star. A
material increase in the fire department and
a change in its personnel the Commission
ers request. A still further increase in the
police force is urged.
Engineer COmmissioner,s Salary.
| In tn salary list 1t is noted that the as
| slgnmer of Major John Biddle as Engi-
| neer Commissioner necessitates the asking
| OF only 1924 from Congress to bring the
| salary OF the officer up to the So 900 re-
| qulred by law. In the case of an Engineer
| Commissioner with the rank of captain the
| sum of I,76S was necessary The COM
| mutation for quarters allowed the officers is
| ary. The Commissioners recommend that
| the salary of DR.. VIM TindalI, secretary
| to the board, be increased from 81, 16O per
! year to 81, 800. 1t is recommended that two
| private secretaries to Commissioners be pro-
vided at 81 400 each They were formerly
carried as assistant secretaries at 81 300
each. A slight increase in salary for two
clerks is the only other change contem-
plated In the executive office
In the office of the property clerk the
| compensation of the deputy clerk is raised
from 81 200 to 400 the per diem force
placed on the annual roll and two clerks
| added
In the office of the assessor it is provided
| that instead of two assistant assessors at
| $1,000 each there shall be one first assistant
| assessor at 1000 and one assistant at
/ 81 800. One clerkship of 81, 400 is added and
| $500 is provided for temporary clerk hire
| 1t is recommended that the salary of the
! clerk to the board of assistant assessors be
| raised from $1,000 to 81 800. In the office of
| the collector of taxes ii is recommended
| that the deputy collector be given salary
| of 5000 instead of 81 800 Provision for an
assistant cashier at 81 400 is again asked
| The title of a clerk and messenger is
! changed to bank messenger, with an in
| crease in salary from 81 600 to 81 200. Two
| coupon clerks at 5000 each will be added to
! the force If Congress approves the esti-
mates. In the auditors office it Is re-
! quested that the salary of the chief clerk
| and acting auditor be raised from 2,1OO to
! 81 400 and that instead of one clerk at 81 900
and three at 81 400 there shall be three at
| 1900 and one at 81 400. One 81 200 clerk is
| added In the disbursing office it is recon-
mended that $1,000 per diem clerk be
| transferred to the annual roll, and that a
| messenger at $3.50 be provided
| Increase I'm Attorneys Salary.
| The Commissioners recommend to Con-
| gress that the salary of the attorney for
! the District of Columbia be raised from
| $1,000 to s4,50O. ard that of his first as
sstant from $1,000 to $500. In the coro-
| ners office provision is made for morgue-
| keeper at 5000 and an assistant morgue-
! keeper at $3.50.
| In the engineer department the Commits
| sioners recommend that a great many of
| the employees on the per diem rolls be trans
| ferred to the annual salary list. The salary
of the chief clerk Is raised from 81 800 to