Evening star., 1901-03-06
49,
Commissioners Satisfied With
Amounts Rated by Congress-
STATEMENT R. mr. ,,llCFARLAHD
Total Appropriation Larger Than
in Anyssious Year.
A PIP ROkIlATE FIGURE

r. The citi8ens OF the District, the Commits
stoners feel, have reason to be very CRATE
ful to the Fifty-sixth Congress. and espe-
csa4ay so for that body's just and generous
treatment Of the municipality and its needs
during the session which expired Monday
last~ More was done for the District a,
this session Of Congress than during any
previous one, the amount Of the appropria.
ton act providing for the expenses Of the
municipality during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1902, being about $500, 900. an in
crease OF nearly 1927 GOO over the current ap-
preparation act The Commissioners, in their
estimates. asked for 50. $50, 7O3S4. AS the bill
approved March i passed the House OF
Representatives. 1t appropriated the sum of
S.741. .664 81. 3usf n; $780, e59 less than the
amount requested by the Commissioners
but SIS, ,296 SO more Ehan the current bill.
AS the act of March I was reported to the
Senate 1t carried an appropriation of 49,
IA, 299 "a. but $;3,33, ,404 less than the amount
estimated for by the Commissioners. ST.
169,93O6 63 in excess Of the current bill and
$1,O21 ,6S5 in excess Of the amount allowed
by the House of Representatives.
After the bill was reported to the Senate,
several thousand dollars were added to 1t,
80 that when 1t went into conference 1t was
still nearer the sum asked for by the Com
missfSners. The amount agreed upon final
ly IS. S.504, 900. is, as stated above. the largest
amount ever granted the District
Commissioner Macfarland's Comment.
Commissioner Macfarland, in referring to
the matter today, said
Everything of Importance that the Com
missioners recommended in their annual
report was provided for except the District
building, and we have good hope of getting
that at the first session of the next Con-
gress. While Congress did not grant ell
the estimates of the Commissioners, 1t gave
us. taking all the appropriation bills to-
gether, about million dollars more for the
fiscal year than the appropriations for the
present year. This is all the more remark
able and praiseworthy because, when the
Commissioners went to Congress in Decem-
ber. they were face to face with an esti-
mated deficiency of over a million dollars,
caused by the appropriation of two millions
of District revenue within three years to
purchase land for street extensions. For
tunately. instead Of cutting down the ap-
preparation, Congress accepted the recon-
mendation of the Commissioners that 1t
should provide for the deficiency which it
had created, affd make advances from the
treasury. that whatever appropria tions
1t deemed necessary might be made without
regard to the deficiency. Under this ar
rangement Congress- made the best appro-
priations that have ever been made for the
District of Columbia. They provide not
only for the expedition of the filtration plant
and the sewage disposal system, and the
completion or the auueduCt tunnel and new
reservoir, but for preparation of plans for
the municipal hospital, a site for a munich
pal almshouse and the preparation of plans
for new almshouse.i and the construction
of a new morgue. besides much-needed in
ereases in the police, fire, health ana ether
departments. 'o"A ''
The District Code.
Congress also gave us the District code,
provided for the elimination Of steam rail-
road grade-crossings and for new terminal
facilities, including new stations. ond
passed the bill for the reorganization Of the
police force, besides other necessary meas
ures recommended by the Commissioners.
The District building bill was brought into
the best shape practicable. and was nearer
passage than is generally understood; and
the project was left in very favorable po-
sition for the next Congress. The Memorial
bridge project is in very much the same
situation. The Anacostia river improve
ments. which went down with the river and
harbor bill, will also stand a good chance
in the next Congress.
Nothing that Congress did was more
valuable to the District than it's cordial
participation In the centennial celebration.
The District had its day on the 18th of De-
cember, and made a deep impression
through it's celebration. 1t was apparent &
all that Congress did afterward. as 1t will
be in the future.