Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
CANNOT EXCEED REVENUES
HOUSE COMMITTEES VIEWS OF MS.
TRICT APPROPRIATIONS.
Pleased With Recep-
tion-The Estimates Explained
by President Macfarland.

Inc District Commissioners, it is under
stood, were much gratified with the re
ception they received yesterday in the hear
ing before the subcommittee of the House
appropriations committee, when they APP
Peared to explain their estimates for the
coming fiscal year. This subcommittee of
which Representative Grout of \, ermont is
chairman, did not commit itself, it is stated
TO the granting of any particular appro-
pr!ation recommended by the Commssion-
ers. but 1t Is believed 1t will go as far as
IL reasonably can in it's approval of the
estimates. although it intimated that the
appropriations could hardly go beyond tie
resources of the District
Commissioner Macfarland as the presi-
dent or the board of Commissioners ex-
pialned in general way the estimates sub
united, with the explanation that they
represent what in the opinion of the Com
missloners, are the actual needs of the
District That these estimates are larger
than those of former years is due, it was
explained to the committee. to the growth
OF the District the Commissioners feeling
that in making up their estimates they
should not confine them to the city proper
or Its immediate suburbs but extend them
TO the whole District, now in fact, Greater
Washington. 1t Is understood Mr.. Macfar-
iand stated that while his service as a
member of the board of Commissioners has
covered only about eight months he has
been IN service long enough to be con-
VlEced OF the absolute necessity for an in
crease in the number of employees in the
various departments of the municipality.
lie mas been surprised, he said, at the
amount OF work accomplished, adding that
IN ms opinion there is not office under
the national government 50 lacking in ...c
matter OF employees are those of the
District government. Therefore, while the
commissioners had asked for a considerable
increase along such a line, it is no more,
IN their Judgment, than is actually de-
nahded by the situation of affairs.
Congress Responsible.
referring to the fact that the estimates
exceed the resources of the District it is
understood that Mr.. mcfarland sub
m1tted that. had not Congress required the
District. against the consent of the Com
mssioners to bear the whole expense in
cldent to the extension of streets, such
situation would not have occurred 1t is
stated that he pointed out that this situa-
tlon Is but a temporary one, and urged that
congress-, being responsible for such a sit
Gatlon, should come to the relief of the
District and provide the means for making
the improvements recommended, which i'm
proVements, in the judgment of the Conn
mlssioners, are imperatiyeiy demanded and
ought to be made at once
Commissioners Ross and Beach, it is
understood. informed the committee that
their associate had fully represented their
views in the matter, and it is said that
Representative Grout, on behalf Of the
committee. complimented Mr.. Macfarand
upon the ciearness of his presentation of
the case, and remarked that it could not
fall to favorab.y impress Congress 1t is
said the committee intimated that in pre-
pairing the bill. earnest effort will be
made to meet as far possible all the in
tercStS of the District, but that it would
be useless to go beyond the resources of
the District, as to do So would be to
create a public debt. a disposition was de-
Ve.oped, it is said. to provide such an
amount as could be consistently DONE tax
ing al the facts into consideration.
The committee then took up the esti-
mates. and heard Mr.. II. II. Darneille the
District assessor: Mr. f. G. Davis the COL
!ector of taxes. and Mr.. Warner Stutler,
the superintendent of the street cleaning
department, who explained the require
ments of their respective departments.