Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-01
DISTRICT BUDGET
Commissioners to Begin Tomorrow
the Work Of Preparation.
INCREASE IN ESTIMATES PROBABLE
Arrangements Made to Cover
Deficits in Available Revenue.
THE ITEMS CONSIDERED

THE ITEMS CONSIDERED
The District Commissioners will tomorrow
morning begin the work of preparing their
annual estimates, covering all the items of
expense for running the District govern
ment for the fiscal year beginning July /
next. The estimates will be submitted to
Congress early in the coming session.
Until the estimates are completed the Com
missioners will deny themselves to all call
ers, except in matters of the utmost
urgency. The work of preparing the esti-
mates is very tedious and exacting, and
will require all the time the Commissioners
can give It. The reports which have been
submitted to the Commissioners from the
various heads Of District departments will
be carefully gone over, and the needs of
these departments as set forth in the esti-
mates prepared by those in immediate
charge will be considered, and as much
money as Is deemed necessary will be
asked
The Commissioners will undoubtedly ask
for a much larger budget this year than
they have heretofore. The increase is rec
essary because of the growing importance
of the capital. the enlargement of it's enter
prises and institutions and the demands
justly made upon the community by the
multiplying population. Last year the
Commissioners asked for total appropria-
ton Of $S,94S, 1865. 94, exclusive of the water
department, which Is self-sustaining. In
GLIDING the water department., however,
the total expenses Of maintenance for the
District institutions and the improvements
contemplated was footed up at 5000, 703. "a.
Under the form of government in vogue in
CfrSN holf 10 fhn
elusive of the water department, is paid
from District revenues and one-half out of
the United States treasury.
Apparent Deficit.
1t is probable that the Commissioners
Will this year, as they were twelve months
ago, be confronted by an apparent deficit
In District revenues, such as will seeming
ly indicate that the revenues will not meet
one-half the amount Of larger budget.
Such was the case last year, but despite
an apparent lack Of about 81 600 900 in the
amount of revenues necessary to cover one
half of the total of appropriations asked,
the Commissioners went ahead and asked
Congress for an increased allowance, and
were rewarded by appropriations amount
ing to nearly 81 100000 more than those of
the year previous.
The Commissioners take the stand before
Congress that the District revenues are
more than sufficient to meet one-half of
improvement included in the estimates. The
apparent deficit Is the result of the appli-
cation of District revenues to cover all
the expense Of street extensions. The Com
missioners, as well the citizens gener-
ally, claim that according to the agree
ment of 1873 the federal government should
bear one-half the expense of the street ex-
tensions.
gress that in case the District revenues
during this fiscal year do not meet the Dis
trict's half of the burden of general ex-
penses the amount necessary to cover the
deficit shall be advanced by the treasury,
and paid up later by the District with
interest on deferred payments at per
cent per year. The Commissioners hope
to secure continuance of this arrange
ment in the future, with an earnest protest
against the paying of interest. such as is
now imposed. The Commissioners claim
that If the District revenues were equi-
tably applied with government revenues
In the matter of street extensions there
would be no question as to their suf1iciency
to meet the ordinary demands made upon
them. The Commissioners also feel that
many improvements which are badly want
ed in the District cannot be had because
Of the diversion of such an amount of
revenues for street extension expenses.
Appeals for improvements
The Commissioners have recently been
in receipt of large number Of commune
cations from the various citizens organi-
cations Of the District, asking for various
improvements: The Commissioners cannot,
of course, include all of these recommen-
dations in their estimates to Congress, but
will report favorably many as are rea-
sonable under the circumstances. It will
also be impracticable probably for the
Commissioners to include in their estimates
all of the recommendations made by the
various heads Of departments, but all mat
ters which seem pressing and particularly
dno ay,d ly ~
of the Commissioners to keep abreast as
nearly as possible of the growth Of the
District, will be touched upon.
The Commissioners will again urge before
Congress the necessity for municipal
building. bill for such a structure has
been prepared by Representative Mercer,
chairman Of the committee on public build
ings and grounds, and will be introduced
have in view what they believe to be a most
desirable site for the building-a site which
is in keeping with the recently expressed
feeling that Pennsylvania avenue should be
made a thoroughfare of government institu-
lions on the south side.
The Commissioners will also undoubtedly
ask for an appropriation for making pre-
liminary surveys for a second aqueduct
The need of new aqueduct has been
strongly pointed out by the engineer officer
in charge Of the waterway and is generally
recognized by those who have studied the
cIludlioH. HC PR dQueuuCI, II is de-
clared will not meet the demands made
upon it in few years time.
Regarded as Important.
Among the larger projects for which the
Commissioners will estimate running ap-
preparations will be the sewage disposal
system and the municipal hospital. Several
hundred thousand dollars have already been
spent on the former, and the big pumping
station at the foot Of New Jersey avenue is
under way.
Nearly half million dollars is wanted
for the coming year in which to carry for
ward the work at the station and on the
trunk sewers which will lead into it. When
the system is completed all of the sewage
Of Washington and Georgetown will be
gathered at the pumping station, at a
necessarily low level. raised by enormous
pumps, conveyed across the Anacostia
river by means of syphon pipes, and passed
through outlet sewers to Magazine Point.
where 1t will be discharged into the Poto-
mac. Magazine Point is about midway be-
tween this city and Alexandria, and it is