Evening star., 1902-01-04
The Districts Problem.


The Districts urgent problem in the pres
ent financial emergency is not to Increase
its current tax revenue to improve and
put on a more scientific basis its present
.ystem of taxation. but to ascertain, and
put in operation, the wisest and most eHec-
tive methods OF meeting certain extraordi-
nary expenses for permanent public WORKS
which In no other city are met IN casn
from the current revenues.
1t Is not certain, and cannot be certain,
until these large and unusual expenses
have been Justly apportiOned between the
present generation and posterity. that the
current revenues will be insufficient to meet
current expenses, and except to provide for
an absolutely unavoidable and continuing
increase in these current outlays 1t is, of
course inadvisable and unjust to increase
the permanent tax burden of the Washing
tonian.
Among the heaviest of the items of neces-
sary permanent public improvements which,
il collected from the current revenues, will
cause the present taxpayers to stagger un-
der an excessive burden, are those which
relate to the Improvement of the quantity
and quality of the water supply. One mil
lion dollars have been estimated for carry
Ing on the construction of the filtration
plant. An estimate of half million has
been submitted for establishing a separate
high-pressure water service for fire protec-
ton in the downtown sections of the city.
The best method of financing permanent
Improvement in the city's water supply
system is quickly suggested by precedent
and by considerations of equity and COM
mon sense. In such enterprises in the past
the national government has taken the in
itiative, has advanced the money to con-
rIrS 1r,1 hos fharD Snh ha
District to reimburse it in the amount
which was deemed equitable from the fund
contributed in rents by the water takers of
the city.
The Hoxie tunnel was begun on this basis
The Districts share of it's cost was spread
over a long series of years and was to be
met under a sinking fund provision from
the water rents. 1t is true that after
portion of the Districts share had been
thus repaid and when, the tunnel being ap
parentfy abandoned. there seemed an alb
surd and unjust incongruity In collecting
from water-takers for additional water
which they did not and could not get, Con-
gress confscated the accumulated and ac-
cumulating surpluses OF the Districts gem
eral fund and thus wiped out this debt. But
Lydecker tunnel, the useless hole in the
ground. has now become Hoxie tunnel and
is ready TO perform its intended purpose of
rendering adequate the Districts water sup
ply. 1t is appropriate that the water
takers enjoying the benefit of the tunnel
should contribute directly to it's cost, and
the ends of justice would be met if now
the water fund were called upon to reim-
burse to the Districts general fund the
$3.50. .921 .3S which the District has advanced
for this purpose and which it now needs.
But if this unjust shifting of the tunnel
cost from the water fund to the current
tax revenue be entirely disregarded. the
cost of the filtration plant and of future
developments of the water supply system
should most certainly be imposed upon the
water fund and no attempt should be made
to pay for them from the current revenues.
II. then, the United States will advance for
filtration and separate high-pressure service
the million and a half estimated to be neces-
sary, just as 1t did in the case of the tun-
mel, and then spread the reimbursement of
this amount over a long series of years. say
twenty-five or fifty. many may be
necessary this reimbursement to be made
under sinking fund provision from the
ordinary revenues of the water service. the
problem will be solved In a manner satis-
factory to the District and just to all par
ties concerned.
The same general method of financing
thus applied to the water fund in the case
OF improvements of the water supply might
then be utilized to advantage in connection
with national advances for other public i'm
provement expenditures reimbursement TO
be made under sinking fund provision
from the current tax revenues. If the
United States can properly advance the
millions necessary TO create the capitals
In annual instailments from the water rev.
enues it can wisely and properly and on
the same ground advance what is necessary
to provide suitable sewerage system for
the capital, reimbursing itself in the same
way under sinking fund provision from
the current tax revenues in the course Of
long series Of years. And so with the other
permanent public improvements which the
District needs, which will benefit posterfty
even more than the taxpayers of the pres
ent. and which should be paid for not ex-
ciusiVely from the current tax funds, but
by all the taxpayers. within reasonable lin
Its. who would enjoy the benefits there
from II the United States. thus following
the tunnel precedent, will relieve the cur
rent taxes Of all but their proper share Of
the cost Of these great permanent improve
Haents the Districts problem will be solved.
for the local records show during the last
twelve years, with two exceptions a large
annual surplus Of tax revenues over ex-
pehditures, and this in spite of the fact
that several millions of extraordinary ex-
penditures on permanent public improve
mentss such as Rock Creek Park. increase
OF the water supply and suburban street
extensions. have during that period been
diverted from the current revenues.
The scientist who Is experimenting with
View to prolonging the life of man In