Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-12-02
DISTRICT ESTIMATES
Secretary Gage Recommends a Cut
of Nearly SS,0OO,000.
TO KEEP WITHIN fHE REVENUES
Commissioner MacfarIand Expects
Congress to Make Ample Provision.
AUDITOR TIMME'S LETTER

The Secretary of the Treasury, in trans
hitting to Congress the estimates for the
general government, recommends that the
amount asked by the Commissioners for
the District of Columbia, $40, AL .4S1 81, be
reduced in round figures to 81 100000. The
reduction thus recommended by the Secre-
tary is s2,941, 4s1.97.
When the matter was called to the atten-
ton of Commissioner Mcfarland president
of the District board of Commissioners, to-
day, he said that the Commissioners would
endeavor to present the matter of District
appropriations to Congress in such light
that ample provision would be made for
the support and improvement OF the Dis
trict of Columbia, was done last year.
Secretary Gage does not specify which de-
partments of the District shall suffer from
the reduction he recommends, but merely
suggests that the total amount of appro-
priations be kept within $7,50O,OOO, as he
believes that Is all the District revenues
justify. For the current fiscal year Con-
gress allowed the District s., 197, 6OS.97 re-
CARELESS of the fact that the revenues will
be inadequate to meet one-half the amount.
The Secretary makes no comment on the
estimate of S326, 0l6 asked by the Commits
SfonerS for the water department. That de-
partment of the local government provides
sufficient revenue TO cover the total of the
appropriation.
Reason for the Cut.
The estimates of the Commissioners, call
ing for S10.4i1, 81 for the next fiscal
year. are transmitted by the Secretary of
the Treasury in full. In conclusion, how
ever, he recommends the reduction as
stated above, with the following explana-
ton:
In view of the considerable actual in
debtedness of the District of Columbia,
amounting on June 30, 1901, to S116 1927,
and its probable further increase under
laws already enacted to 81 10000 on June
30, 1902. exclusive of items chargeable to
the District for extension Of streets, for
highway bridge across Potomac river and
for Baltimore and Ohio railroad terminals,
the Secretary of the Treasury withholds
his approval of the estimates as submitted
by the Commissioners for the fiscal year
1903, and recommends that they be reduced
to ST 100000 one-half of which is equal 20
the estimated revenues of the District for
the same period.
The reduction thus proposed will operate
to bring appropriations for the support of
the District within the restrictions provid-
ed by existing law. to wit:
To the extent to which Congress shall
approve of said estimates Congress shall
appropriate the amoung of 80 per centum
thereof and the remaining % per centum of
such approved estimates shall be levied and
assessed upon the taxable property and
privileges in said District other than the
property of the United States and the Dis
trict of Columbia. (Act June IL, 1879.
Continuing, Secretary Gage says:
The revenues raised by the District dur
ing the last fiscal year, exclusive of water
taxes. amounted to So. 1884 So. 90; the amount
estimated for the current fiscal year Is
placed at $500 900 and there is no appa-
rent indication that the revenues for the
next fiscal year will exceed the estimate
of s. 10000
Action for the Current Year.
Commissioner Mcfarland called attention
to the fact, in speaking of the estimates to-
day, that for the current year Congress
appropriated amount far in excess of
what is recommended for the next fiscal
year by the Secretary of the Treasury, and
he is confident that the body will allow the
Commissioners ample funds.
The Commissioners followed this year,
as last he said, lin making up the esti-
mates for Congress of the appropriations
needed for the next fiscal year the policy
of asking for what Is really necessary re-
gardless of the possible deficit due to the
diversion of District funds by Congress to
street extension purchases. The growth Of
the District means an increase in its needs.
All its services require larger appropria-
lions, naturally, from year to year. Be
sides this We must complete projects and
begin new ones for improvements of vari-
Gus kinds on large scale, as for example,
in regard to the water supply. The total
amount required Cor what ought to be
done in the next fiscal year is larger than
ever, and larger than the revenues can
meet.
Cost of Extraordinary Projects.
THE general expenses of the District
can" he continued, 'be met by the rev.
enues, but the cost of the extraordinary
projects of general improvement here, as
elsewhere, cannot be met out of the rev.
in hat
be distributed through as many years as
necessary. The Commissioners. in present
ing this matter to Congress al the coming
session. will have to repeat what they said
last winter, that the threatened deficit in
revenue is due to the diversion of District
funds from the half-and-haf plan to ex-
elusive use for street extensions, and that
Congress should meet this. and also the
cost of extraordinary projects, by advances
from the federal treasury, Of course, with
out interest.
Congress recognized the Justice of this
claim by providing at the last session for
advances from the federal treasury for the
current fiscal year. although it charged in
terest upon the deferred payments, and by
making larger appropriations than ever be-
fore. Doubtless Congress will do at least as
well for the District at the coming session.
L believe it will do even better. The new
interest of the country, and therefore of
Congress, in the development of the ma
tonal capital assures the success of all our
plans for the improvement and beautifca-
ton of the District. The Commissioners
acting under this hope. will ask and expect
large things of Congress-"
Secretary Gage. in Withholding his APP
prevail Of the District estimates refers Com
sress to the report of the auditor for the
State and other departments.
LETTER FROM AUDITOR TIMNE.
Points Out the Deficit in the District
Revenues.