The Washington times., 1901-12-25


has shown progressive increase. until
for the current year it is almost three
times as great as il was fifteen years ago
No one having the slightest familiarity
with the strides which the city has made
in wealth and permanent population dnr-
ing that time will be inclined TO wonder
at the enlarged bill of expense As a rule.
the appropriations fall considerably be-
low the Commissioners estimates. and
the reason for such action is not hard to
find The Commissioners figure upon
what they think ought TO be done, while
the appropriations committees naturally
desire TO keep the expenditures down to
the point of what they consider to be
actual necessity. Between these two
standards OF computation there may be-
and frequently is. a rather wide mar
gin. as is evidenced b. the fact that in
making the appropriations Congress has
cut under the estimates all the way from
half million dollars 10 a million and a.
half annually-a rather large reduction
considering the total amount involved
Such action is not intended as any re-
fiection upon the Commiss toner's and. in
truth, there is frequently cutting of the
appropriations below the estimates for all
branches Of the service where the ex-
penses are not in the nature OF nxed
charges. The differences turn upon what
the departments and Congress, respec-
lively, deem to be necessary" The feel
ing in Congress is that IL is better to
! limit the appropriations and thus hold the
departments in check, making up the
shortage. If there is any. by deficiency
bills. on the other hand. the depart-
ments regard such action as misdirec,ed
economy. which cramps and crlpples them
in their operations. and saves nothing in
the end.
On Different Footing.
In these matters the District stands
upon a somewhat different footing from
the executive departments of the General
Government. Much of the money annual
ly expended is for municipal improve
ments OF various kinds and both the ex-
tent and nature OF the improvements to be
made are in a sense. matters Of conten-
ton The Congressional friends of i'm
provements upon an extended scale take
the position that Washington being the
Capital of the nation. its welfare is the
concern OF the entire country, and that
all should feel pride in giving to it
character befitting the grandeur of the
nation as whole. Thy point out that
half the property in tn, District belongs
to the Government and pays no taxes.
while the people are without representa-
tion. Conceding that the permanent resi-
dents sre benefited by the great works of
improvement, IL is. nevertheless. urged
that this is no argument against the
works. If they are necessary and proper.
That result always follows in every com
munity where public Improvement IS
made.
In reply TO the contention that the
District asks too much, they say that
while Washington is already very
beautiful city. there are still many things
needful. and that as yet ii cannot. in
fairness be said that conditions justify
the claim that too much has been done.
Government buildings. Of course. are not
30 be charged up agsinsttiD District. andif
they are left out OF consideration it is
not apparent that the public betterments
TO which the United States has contribut-
ed, are Of a very extraordinary character.
The most enthusiastic friends of the Dis
trict do not claim that there should be
extr1vagance in embellishiug and improy-
ing the city, but they feel that Congress
should be generous in the matter 10 the
end that Washington may. in the near
future, be a capital city OF which every
American citizen can justly De proud.
The Parking Commission.
The estimates above referred to do not
include anything ON account OF the great
system OF parking and other improve
ments planned by the special committee
having the matter in charge. This com
mirtee. It Is TO be understood has no off,
cial standing OF its own that is recognized
at the House end OF the Capitol. 1t was
created by a resolution OF the Senate only,
and it is a sort Of adjunct TO the Senate
. Committee on the District OF Columbia.
Up 20 this time il has made report,
and when it does so the report viii 60
10 the Senate committee referred to.
This committee may adopt the recon-
mendations in their entirety. or only GER
tain parts; It may modify those adopted,
or II may reject the scheme in toto This
latter. however. Is not in the least prob
able for IL IS scarcely 10 be doubted that
the senate Committee on the District viii
make the special report the basis OF some
important measure or measures affecting
the interest Of the District. Whatever
is done on this line viii not IL is said,
be intended for the benefit OF the people
living here, but will be advocated upon
the broad principle ;hat Washington is
the Capital OF the United States.
Admission of Territories.
Another matter which viii assume IN
interesting phase Immediately after The
holiday recess is that Of the admission OF
Arizona. New Mexico, and Oklahoma to
statehood Western representatives in
both houses are quite generally in favor
of the admission OF these Territories. but
Eastern sentiment Is less nearly unln-
nous. There is some indisposition on the
part OF the larger States TO accept into
full sisterhood any more small ones just
now. and IL is possible that party consd-
erations may play some little part.
Tie rarty question has already been
raised with reference to Oklahoma-not
/ in Congress. but among the people of the
! Territory. Two plans have been proposed
one looking TO the admission OF Oklahoma
! alone, and the other to It's union with the
/ Indian Territory. and their joint admis-
sion as On, State. Oklahoma alone Is
Republican While a State composed of the
two TcrritGrIes might be, and probably
would be, Ee no, ratio.
Some ar d, the opinion that the Terri
tories shLa- be united in order TO give
the state a size approximately that of
Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri, and /;
is not impossible that the hopes Of Okla
homa for immediate admission may be
dashed by the issue raised over The ques-
ton OF union with the Indian Territory.
But as yet the whole subject of Terri
toTial admissions is completely In the air,
and no one can tell what the present Con-
gress viii do in the premises
Colonel Ochiitrec Mur,s-ssriter-