Evening star., 1902-02-04
NO STREET EXTENSIONS.
other improvements to BE First Con.
sidered by Senate Committee

other improvements to BE First Con-
sidered by Senate Committee.
Ihe Senate committee on the District of
Columbia yesterday received a resolution
recently adopted by the Mount Pleasant
Citizens Association favoring the opening
OF 18th street. Bills have already been intro
ouced In the Senate for the opening of 18th
ana l4th- streets extending north. from
Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights.
AT the present time there is very gen.
erai sentiment in the Senate committee on
the District Of Columbia unfavorable to anv
!urtner opening of streets until there ia adj
dltfonal revenue The current expenses of
the District and the extraordinary demand
maoe Dy the building of a filtration plant, a
sewage disposal plant, &c, exceeds the
revenues, and street openings are forms of
Improvement, however desirable, that, in
the view OF the committee, can wait it Is
not likely that any street extension hill
wiz even be considered by the committee
until the question of revenue and an adj
vance from the general treasury to the Dis
trlct mas been settled. There is apparently
very little disposition to provide for street
Extensions from money to be advanced from
the general treasury, If that plan is finally
approved by Congress, as it Is Considered
ina tnat sueh an advance Of money, constitut-
ing debt on the District of Columbia.
should be used only for those urgent neces,q
stles winch involve the Improvement Of
sanitary conditions In the District, or which
are otherWlse regarded as essential to the
proper conduct Of the affairs of the Dis
trlct Under this latter head NAV be
ciassed the need for a municipal building.
the construction Of which would not oniv
allow the business of the District to be bet
ter performed, but would save the large
amount now paid out annually for rent
or those reasons 1t is believed the commits
Tee VIII desire to postpone all further open-
ing OF streets until the revenue Is sufficient
~ increased to allow such expense tn he
paio without creating any Indebtedness.
"A strong argument, made from a busi-
ness standpoint, for the early opening OF
streets Is the fact that such opening will
increase the assessed value of real esta to
along. the line Of the opening, but It Is said
tnat the practical operation of this prfnci- |
pie has not yet been sufficient to fully war
rant the committee in authorizing great
increase In the expense of the District with
q view OF very soon getting the money back
IN the form Of taxes. The need for street
opening Is recognized as urgent for the
reason that that is work that will eventual, /
y nave TO be done and for the benefit of the |
eupiic should be attended to as soon an
possible But improvements for bettering
me sanitary condition Of the city are re-
sarded as far more important and as de-
serving first attention. The COMMITTEES is |
ooklng forward to the results of the as
SCISSOR and the board of assistant assessors |
n the work of equalization now going on
and to the project for securing a personal
ak law In order to allow them to see eY
lcuy what revenue can be derived from the
District as basis for their future plans
or local improvements that are to he maid
or in part by the District. DN