Evening star., 1902-04-28
The District Bill.

The heavy cuts made by the House ap-
prppria tons committee in the District Com
missioncrs' estimates are explained by the
committee on the ground that there is no
prospect of sufficient revenue to carry all
the items which the Commissioners recon-
meuded. The committee refuses to depart
from its strict jurisdiction and to suggest
or incidentally to provide for the contem-
plated deficit, holding that it can recognize
only the law and the absolutely assured
revenue. 1t has official knowledge of ef-
forts to secure legislation for either bond
issue or federal advance. 1t even refuses
to take cognizance of the assured increase
In the local tax revenues through the new
assessment now being completed.
Were the record always so clear in the
matter of restraint within the specific ju-
ristiiction of committee there could be no
ground for complaint in this instance But
the appropriations committee has not al
ways been averse to using the District bill
vehicle for general legislation affecting
the capital. In point of fact, it so uses it
now. by an indlrection which has greatly
surprised the community. Taking undenia-
ble cognizance of the fact that a PROPOSE
tion is pending elsewhere than In the House
for the imposition of personal tax upon
the District citizens, the committee pro-
poses horizontal 10 per cent reduction of
all the Items carried by the bill unless a
personal tax law IS enacted before the first
of the fiscal year.
In the past. when through congressional
violation of the terms of the national capi-
tai partnership the Districts revenues have
fallen below the mark of needed appropria-
tions. the federal government by specific
legislation has advanced a sufficient sum to
enable the District to maintain itself at the
proper rate. That expedient has been pro-
posed in this instance, in anticipatio of
the failure of the revenues upon the cur
rent basis to meet the needs of the COM
munitys share IN the partnership But for
some reason not satisfa ctorily understood
by the people. nothing has yet been done
toward such solution of the problem The
House appropriations committe prefers to
assume. first, that the revenues will be
insufficient. despite the certain increase
through the increased assessment of real
property; second, that there is no other way
to meet this deficit than by personal tax
or by horizontal reduction in the appro-
priatiOns.
If the committee preferred to ignore the
prospective increase in the real property
taxes. which the Senate District committee
~
ly and complacently have postponed cross
Ing the deficit bridge before coming to it. 1t
might properly have waited until next ses-
sion to perfect the adjustment of the reve-
nues and the appropriations 1t could then
have provided for a federal advance to meet
the cost of great permanent municipal i'm
proycments which figure in the current ex-
penditureS, if it were found that the reve-
nueS were in fact insufficient Such n course
would have been better for all interests
than this superfluous, bulldozing threat of
a serious curtailment of the income of ey-
cry servant of the District, the possible
shutting off of supplies. the crippling of the
agencies for the preservation of the health,
property and lives of the people
The bill actually carries exclusive of the
water department. appropriations asgregat-
ing $500, 9,J0o.OS, for the total of the bill
must be considered at It's lowest possible
hgure- with The 10 per cent deducted In
case certain legislation is enacted before
July l. 1902, the bill will be Increased to
STE s>S91; provided, of course. no in
creases are ordered by the House or by the
Senate Comparing the bill as reported
viewed in this light, with the bills at the
same stage for the past five Years il will
be seen that the committee has proposed a
very sparing sum for the local mainta-
nance The bill reported in January. 1901.
carried S'.6lG,01694; that reported in March
1900. carried ST. COS. .:}Is 81; that reported in
December, 1898. carried ST 80 500 -. thar
reported in January 1Sge carried 81; Of7
o'o93. and that reported in January. 1897.
carried S1,Gi2, sJd.93 The natural annual
Increase of past years is lacking.