Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-09
Commissioners Reasons for Wanting
Advances From Treasury.
FOR GENERAL EXPENSES OF DISTRICT
In Absence of Legislation Esti-
mates Will Be Cut 100000.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

In transmitting the draft of the bill intro
duced in Congress yesterday Ito authorize
advances from the treasury of the United
States for the support of the government of
the District of Columbia" mentioned in
Yesterdays Star, the District Commission
ers explained that the legislation which has
been enacted within the past three years
providing for the extension of certain streets
and avenues and the payment Of all eX-
penses relating thereto out of the revenues
of the District of Columbia has caused a
deficiency in the revenues Of the District
which will have to be provided for by ap-
propriate legislation. The total estimated
deficiency, they further stated, at the close
Of the fiscal year 1902 will be $21oo, 639.'s
provided the estimates asked by the Com
missioners Of the District of Columbia at
this session are granted.
The proposed bill is to authorize the ad-
vance of any amount which may be neces-
sary to meet the general expenses of the
District, and to provide for the repayment
of the same in such annual payments as
may be justified by the condition of the
District finances. 1t is believed by the Com
missoners that the sum herein named can
be repaid by the District in about five years
and that but for the amount required to
meet the expenses of these street extensions
the District of Columbia would have had
an estimated surplus at the close of the
fiscal year lJU- VI dUUul tle SuLl VI 9foI,
644.1.
To Cure n Defect.
The latter clause of the proposed bill Is
intended, said the Commissioners, to pro-
vide for a defect in the act Of June 6. 1900
which is construed by the treasury officials
as susceptible Of being so construed as to
require the United States to meet One-half
of the street extension expenses. Inasmuch
as the clear intent Of Congress was that
-. l;~ ,l,~ oil 10
such expenses. the Commissioners deem it
but fair to make the legislation clear to
that intent and effect.
If no provision such as the Commission
erS recommend be made, notwithstanding
the fact that the current revenues are more
than ample for the general needs Of the
District of Columbia, the appropriations es-
timated for by the Commissioners for the
next fiscal year Will, they pointed out, have
to be reduced about 100000 in order to
bring them within the amount of the esti-
mated revenues of the District
Exhibit of Expenses.
The Commissioners also transmitted with
their draft of the bill an exhibit showing
the various expenses paid for street ex-
tensions, and the surplus, emitting street
extensions. at the end of the fiscal year
1902 From this exhibit it appears that on
account of street extensions there was paid
in 1899 S231 1887 in 1862 S222, 1856 20, and
in 1901, $3.50, 40, a total of STD, 609.J 81 The
awards which have been made and not yet
paid amount to S47s,999 10, and the extern
sions authorized by law are estimated at
$500 1888, making a grand total expended
and to be expended of $2,O1, 391 81. The
deficiency July I, 1901, shown on the state
ment is 81 1873 SOB 49, the estimated surplus
to June 80, 1901, emitting all street extern
sions, being 1897 90. Adding to the
last mentioned item the estimated revenue
Of the District for 1902, 1891 ,S29.S7 a
total of 1899 1916 is given. Deducting
from this last mentioned amount the sum
of 81, All 72297, which represents one-half
of the Commissioners estimate of appro-
priations for the coming fiscal year, sur
which surplus is that which would result
should there be no street extension ex-
penses to be paid.
Supplemental Statement.
In a subsequent statement sent to Repre-
sentative Babcock, chairman Of the House
District committee, today the Commission
ers say:
I'm the letter which was sent to you in
connection with the bill to authorize ad-
vances from the United States treasury to
the District of Columbia the difference be-
tween the Commissioners estimates and
the income for next year was stated with
out making discrimination between the
amount to be received from the District
tax funds and the amount to be received
from the United States treasury. There
would be, of course, no actual deficiency SO
far as the amount to be received from the
United States treasury is concerned. There
fore the actual deficiency is that in the es-
timated District revenues as compared with
one-half Of the estimated appropriation for
1902, namely, $4S5, 1910. plus the actual
deficiency on July 1, 1901, namely, 81 ,133, =
1853: 6s. or grand total for the fiscal year
ending June 80. 1902. Of 81 1918, 7466s, es-
TINA ted deficiency in the District of Column.