Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-02
ESTIMATES AS MADE
SECRETARY SHAW SENDS DIS
TRIcT BUDGET TO CONGRESS.
Comment Made by the Secretary Re
garding Proposition Advanced by
the Commissioners.

The Secretary of the Treasury has for
warded to Congress the estimates of the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
just as they were presented to him. AS was
anticipated in The Star several days ago,
Secretary Shaw does not recommend that
there shall be any cuts in the estimates
He forwards the whole matter to Congress
with the suggestion that the District $
legislative body Is the competent authority
to deal with the local financial situation as
1t now presents itself.
The decision of Secretary Shaw to forward
the estimates without cut was based upon
a letter written to him some time ago by
Commissioner Mcfarland, president Of the
District board. In that letter Mr.. Macfar-
land pointed out the fact that the deficit OF
the last two years and the prospective
Shortage next year are due to the diversion
of District funds by Congress and the carry
ing forward of a number OF extraordinary
Improvement projects out of current reve-
nues Mr.. Mcfarland said the permanent
improvements should be provided for
through advances from the United States.
to be paid back in term Of years
Secretary's Comment.
In forwarding the estimates to Congress,
Secretary Shaw says:
"In passing upon the estimates OF the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
for expenditures covering the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1904, the Secretary OF the
Treasury would feel obliged, under author
ity of the act Of June 90 1878, to reduce
such estimate by the amount of 81, 40 1Ss.
This represents the difference between the
estimated revenues and the estimated ex-
peniitures submitted by the Commisst oners
of the District of Columbia, as passed upon
by the auditor for the State and other de-
partments. In view, however of the rep
lows do hxrf
their letter of November 6, 1902 published
herewith, I refrain from making such de-
duction, preferring to submit the whole
question for the consideration OF Con-
gress."
When Commissioner Macfarland, heard
officially of the action of the Secretary of
the Treasury he was much pleased, as
were the other Commissioners.
THE Commissioners" said Mr.. Macfar-
land, ''are very much gratif1ed by the
action of the Secretary of the Treasury in
submitting their estimates for the District
to Congress without recommending any re-
duction, on the strength Of the argument
presented to him by them, and in spite Of
an apparent deficit. This action will aid us
greatly in presenting the matter to Con-
gress. 1t leaves 1t free from the embarrass-
at the last session when Secretary Gage
recommended deep cut in the estimates.
Careful Consideration Assured.
FROM my INFORMAL conferences Win the
chairmen and members of the committees
on appropriat lions, / feel certain that We
shall have the most careful consideration
Of what we desire, namely, sufficient ap-
preparations for all current needs, and for
carrying on all the extraordinary projects
Of improvement, and the plan which we
have been pressing for the past two years
to provide the Districts half of the cost
of extraordinary improvements by adj
vances from the treasury to be paid by a
sinking fund arrangement in a limited
period. l believe that the advances on this
account need not amount to more than
$40. 100000. The advances could be made
gradually and repaid in a comparatively
short period of time. This would leave our
current revenues free, except for the sink
ing fund payments, to meet the growing
current needs of the District, which must
otherwise suffer If the present unbusiness-
like method of dealing with our finances Is
continued" 80