Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-11
The Districts Urgent Need.

On both sides Of the Capitol the question
Of the adjustment Of the Districts financial
needs IL about to be taken under considers
ton. This Is mono too early in the session
In view Of the vital interests which depend
upon q proper establishment Of principles
and Upon the formulation Of a definite pol
icy on the part of Congress toward Its ward.
The Commissioners state the needs OF the
District plainly In their annual report. They
have submitted estimates which represent
the actual local requirements. II the large
permanent works are provided for as they
are IN other cities, on a sinking fund basis.
there win be no occasion to curtail these ex-
penditures. The new tax assessment VIII
result In sufficient revenue to meet every
dollar Of the Districts half Of these appro-
priations. But on the other hand II the
large works are to be financed on practi-
cally an immediate payment basis the cur
rent revenues will not suffice to meet the
current needs.
For many years the District. despite the
steady increase in the annual budgets, has
been behindhand in its provisions for the
present and the future. Springing into a
new growth. after the present form Of gov
eminent was established, with the nation
slowly awakening to its duty to the capital,
1t found itself seriously in arrears in many
departments OF municipal administration.
In proportion to its size and industrial ac-
tivities Washington has expanded perhaps
as rapidly during the last two decades as
any other city in the country. The years Of
neglect however, had left their debts, which
in some cases are just now being paid
During the past ten years the advances
have been phenomenal New streets have
been laid In the suburbs to make room for
the rapidly growing population and in re-
Spouse TO q demand for a wholesome
spreading Of the people over a wide area.
Pavements have been demanded as never
before. Sewers, water mains. schools. po-
licemen. fremen, all of the necessities of
city life have been imperatively needed at
q rate of increase which some members Of
Congress have been unable justly to appre-
ciate. Had the organic act been respected
to the full during these past ten years there
would today be far less necessity for care
full readjustment. But with the surplus Of
local money-itself a result Of a disregard
for that acts provisions-wiped out by ap-
propriations unjustly falling wholly on the
District and with the current needs contin-
uing to grow and the spirit of true capital
making finally taking form in Congress
there Is serious need Of the adoption Of
specific principle Of procedure based upon
business sense and the practice in other
municipalities.
III Congress wishes to deal with the Dis
trict with exact justice 1t will restore to the
local account one-hah Of the moneys which
have been appropriated wholly out Of the
Districts own tax revenues. That will Of
itself materially aid in solving present
problems But It will not obviate the neces-
sity for the formal adoption Of the sinking
fund policy with respect to present and
prospective large public works. No other
principle should ever obtain. No elaborate
constructions designed to benefit posterity
as much as the present generation should
be paid for out Of current revenues. No
such enterprise should be financed on less
than ten-year term-the longer the better
So, whatever may be done as regards the
reimbursement Of the moneys which belong
to the District. Congress should at this ses-
siOn write into the statutes formal decla-
ration that henceforth all works Of this
character known as permanent. planned on
a large scale, should be paid for by some
form OF loan. As there are objections to
bond issues, she government should ad-
vance to the District such sums as are
needed to meet its share of the cost. to be
repaid year by year at a rate proportionate
to the outlay and the prospective resources
OF the District.
Other cities have their debt limits" to
which they can go at any time in the rails
Ing of funds for extraordinary uses. The
District today has no such limit no such
opportunity to provide for new equipment
without impairing the income which serves
to sustain the municipality In its current
needs. loan by the government to the
District Of say. $4,000. 600 this year would
serve all practical purposes of a debt limit
and would enable Congress both to respect
the carefully prepared estimates and per-
init the unchecked advancement Of the Dis
trict