Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-12
Commissioners Before the
Senate Committee.
ESTIMATED REVENUES
MIR. MACFARLAND MAKES STATE
MENT OF FISCAL CONDITIONS.
Measures Which Are Deemed of Inn
portance and Require Prompt
Action.

lation that should be enacted at this session
of Congress There were present Senator
Galllnger, acting chairman; Senators Stew
art. Foster of Washington. Martin. NAL
lory. Heitfeld and Foster of Louisiana The
meeting assembled at IL O'clock ana the
proceedings were of unusual interest.
Commissioner Mcfarland, after being In
vited to discuss important legislation for
the District. began with a statement con-
corning the fiscal affairs of the District
of Columbia He said that according to
the assessors unofficial estimate the In
crease of revenue on the assessment of
realty. the new tax on personally and the
licenses will be for the next fiscal year
Sufficient to bring the Districts revenues
I'D to between 81, 100000 and s., 100000. He
said the assessor thought it would reach
the latter amount This was exclusive OF
the water department.
Ample Revenue Expected.
THAT means" said Mr. mcfarland, that
the amount available for precipitation will
be between $40, 400. 900 and S10.SO0, 600 Our
estimates for the next fiscal year, exclusive
of the municipal building appropriation,
which cannot now be estimated because the
plans are not ready. amount to S1O.SI2,312
But of this amount S2.3S3, 4Oo Is for extra
ordinary municipal Improvement, as 1ol-
lows: Filtration plant, 81. 46S, 4O5; sewage
disposal system. S565. 900; municipal hospi-
tai. $3.50 900: Connecticut avenue bridge.
100000.
This leaves for what may be properly cur
rent expenditures only s., ASS. 1867. If, there
fore, the amount needed for the Districts
one-half of the cost OF its extraordinary
projects should be advanced by the treas
ury and repaid by a sinking fund arrange
ment there would be ample revenue for the
current expenditures and for the new sink
Ing fund"
amount of the deficit in District revenues.
He said that the main thing under pres
ent conditions would be to put this matter
on some business basis. as is done in SINH
lar cases elsewhere, so that extraordinary
projects of municipal Improvement, such
as are provided elsewhere by bond issues,
should be advanced from the treasury, and
met by a sinking fund out of current ex
penScS
"If'' said Mr.. mcfarland, provision Is
not made for the separation of the two
classes of expenditures at this session either
work on the extraordinary projects. such as
the filtration plant, must be suspended or
the appropriations for the current needs
must be so cut to be crippled or new
advances must be made under the head Of
general expenses as before None of these
things is desirable"
During this statement Senator Mallory
asked If the District paid half of the ex-
pense involved In the Geological Park. Mr..
Mcfarland replied that it did, and Mr..
that that was just.
ut would be better" replied Mr.. Mac
farland. ito make that point on the Ma
tional Rock Creek Park. There seems no
more reason why the District should be
taxed for that expense than that the state
Of Wyoming should be expected to pay half
the expense Of the Yellowstone Park
Senator Stewart said that he thought the
point should be made against both of these
charges against the District
In showing the amount of increased taxa.
ton that will be secured by the District,
Mr. Mcfarland said that the assessor ex.
pected that from real property there would
be an Increase of $3.50, 900; from personal
property an increase of $S0000O and from
licenses an Increase of 1000, making
total of 81, 100000. He said these figures
were not official, as the records were not
made up.
Bills Needing Attention.
The calendar of business pending before
the Senate District committee was handed
to Mr.. mcfarland and he was requested to
indicate the bills that should receive first
attention during the remaining months of
the present Congress. He first named Sem
ate bill 1906, TO regulate electric wiring In
the District of Columbia, and said that the
bill Is approved now by insurance people
and electrical workers.
The second bill named was Senate bill
3244 to create board for the condemna-
tion of insanitary buildings. Mr.. Macfar-
ing the evil that has grown out of insani-
tary buildings In the alleys of the District,
and Commissioner Biddle also suggested the
great Importance of this measure Mr..
mcfarland suggested that some OF the
most insanitary buildings were in alleys In
the neghborhood Of the British embassy,
and, in fact, scattered in the heart Of the
fashionable northwest
Slums Not Equaled Elsewhere.
Senator Galinger said that he had gone
Summing with the late Senator Mcmillan
and Secretary Weller of the Associated
Charities, In order to investigate this very
question. and, he declared, that its i'm
portance could not be oyerstated. He said
that the miserable conditions that exist in
this city, in regard to alley habitations,
he thought. were not equaled anywhere The
difficulty had been to meet this question In
way that would be legal.
He said that Mr.. Weller had consented to
give an exhibition of Stereopticon pictures
before the committee during the holiday
recess in the committee room, and then all
the members would have an opportunity to
see for themselves what miserable habita-
lions exist in the heart of the city.
This will emphasize" said Senator Gal
linger, the necessity for remedying this
horrible condition.
Senate bill 1862. to regulate appointments
and promotions in the District government,
was then taken up, and 1t led to some dis
cussion as to the merits Of civil service re-
form.
Senator Stewart thought that the Dis
trict government Is getting better service
from It's employees now than 1t would under
civil service reform.
Extension Of Streets.
Inc desirability of at once extending sth
street. School street ana Euclid place was
urged upon the committee by all the Com
missioners. Commissioner Biddie said that
the people living on School street now have
to cross private property to get in and out
and on the other streets there was but one
means for egress and ingress, which might
be a matter Of danger under some condi-
lions.
Senator Gallinger remarked that the bill
for the extension Of Euclid place had been
favorably reported, and he appointed a
subcommittee to look up the matter Of the
extension OF 9Th street and School street,
consisting Of Senators Stewart and NAL
lory. who will at once investigate the sub
Ject.
Operation Of Street Railways.
Mr.. Mcfarland referred to Senate bill
A20d. in regard to the operation Of street
railways in the District. and said that this
ball had been prepared by the Commission
srs and had the approval Of all the citizens
aasociations. Senator GaIiinger appointed
q subcommittee consisting Of the acting