The Washington times., 1902-04-28
House Appropriation Bill
Does Not Meet With
Much Favor.
LESS THAN PRESENT YEAR
oeiieved That Congress Owes the Dis
tnct Money Under the 1873 Compact
Hoped That When Measure Reaches
Senate Crudeness Will Be Removed.

hS iepoTl Oh tnc House Committee OF
appropriations on the District bill has
been the chief topic OF discussion by the
heads OF departments and the employees
OF the municipality since Saturday. The
commissioners are reticent. for obvious
reasons, but ii is well known that they
share in the general feeling OF disappoirt-
ment over the report. The fact that the
amount recommended to be appropriated
is $2,6s1,hs3 short of the estimates OF the
commissioners, and that in a certain con-
t1ngency the amount recommended is 10
DE treated to a horizontal cut of 10 per
cent is sufficient indication of the feeling
OF encouragement which pervades the
municipal government at this time.
Inc aggregate of appropriations recon-
mended in the report is s626, ,692.97 short
oil The amount appropriated for the pres
entn fiscal year. This shows that II the
Dill passes as recommended there will be
an actual going backward during the
next fiscal year, instead of an advance for
the Capital City. This does not sit we'll
on the men who give their time and labor
TO the conduct of municipal affairs.
The House committee explains that it
has no authority under the rules of the
House to recommend legislation increas-
ing the taxes of the District, or to au-
thorize further advances from the United
States Treasury than these provided for
IN The act of February II, 1901, and it is
further explained that the District
finances being already In strained condi-
tion. the committee has no option other
than TO keep the appropriations down to
the figures named.
Only Half of Truth Told.
Employees OF the District thoroughly con-
versant with the situation say that the
committee has told only half the truth in
this statement. They say that there is
no recognition of the fact that Congress
has in the past authorized the diversion
OF the revenues of the District to street
extensions and TO other expenses in vio-
lation of the compact CT 1878. which alone
is responsible for the deficit. The exten-
sion Of Sixteenth Street was mentioned as
an illustration. In the several acts au-
thorizing the opening and extension Of
that thoroughfare the net cost, amounting
TO s621, ,117.54, is required to be paid wholly
from the revenues of the District 1t hap
pens in the course OF events that this sum
must be paid by the District within the
next six months, which aggravates the
existing financial conditions. Those who
take this view Of the matter say that the
committee is silent upon the real cause and
has brought to the front and emphasized
the result, recommending that the Dis
trict shall be made to suffer for the
sbcrtcoming of Congress itself.
Local Expenditures.
A statement was prepared a few months
ago from the books in the Auditors Office
showing that since 1890 the sum OF 81, ,263,-
1l6-16 has been charged solely to the ac-
count of the District on the increase of
the water supply, the purchase of the
Zoo Park, street extension, and few mis-
cellaneous items. In the payment of this
sum within the last eleven years Congress
has had no share, openly violating the
agreement entered into in 1878 to share
Of the expenses of the District,
without reservation. In other words,
those who support the view that the COM
mittee has suppressed the true facts of
the situation. hold that the United States
literally owes the District of Columbia
at this time s2,131. .55s.oS which it ought
TO pay, and this sum is exclusive of the
sums paid during the present fiscal year
for street extensions and the s62l,0O0 TO
be paid Immediately for the extension of
Sixteenth Street. 1t is stated that if this
sum, or any part Of 1t, had been mad
advanced TO the District, the
House Committed would have been quick |
enough TO have called attention to the |
fact and TO have included it in their re- /
port. Moreover, the District would have |
1t 10 pay
Not Enough for Needs.
The amount called for in the estimates |
IF the Commissioners for the next fiscal /
year, aggregsting SIC, ABS, ,ssLs7, is recog- !
1izcd by the heads OF the municipal de- |
,artments as representing the actual |
needs of the District for the next year, |
% maintain the government and TO pro- |
vide for reasonable advance in public i'm |
In presenting their estimates |
n the Secretary of the Treasury the |
commissioners said that they had fol- |
owed the policy of making up the esti |
Yates by asking >ihat is really neces |
,arv regardless OF the possible deficit due |
n tho diversion of District funds by Con- |
ross 10 street extension purposes. The 1
,rowih OF the District. they said means |
IN increase in its needs. All It's ser /
ices they maintained, require larger ap- |
from year TO year. They |
.tsted that the general expenses of the |
district could be met by the revenues, 1
M, that the cost of extraordinary pro- |
cots of Improvement, here as elsewhere,
..nnot be met out OF the revenues Of a /
Ingle year. The Commissioners said that
he cost OF such expenditures ought to
No distributed through as many years as /
10 minimize and equalize the /
,xpense. =, a.. n,...a.
aka the ground that Congress has no
variant in saddling the cost OF the mira
ion plant upon the District OF Columbia.
rhey saw that the United States Govern
nent started out TO build the water sup
,Iy system TO the point where II was 10
,a delivered TO the municipality for dis
As result the Government
xns maintains, and operates the water
ys,c,n from Great Falls TO the disiribut-
g. reservoirs The Federal Government |
,,-,s and controls the HoNie tunnel and |
no Howard University reservoir, though
congress put a portion Of the cost Of
abiding the tunnel and reservoir upon
he District.
The Filtration Plant.
II is maintained by these who hold 10
he view here stated that ;he United
tates Government should have borne the
ntire expense CT these extensions OF the
ervice, and That IL should build ard pay
,r ,be filtration Diapt After that plant
! finished II will belorg to the United
tafcs. and Is recognized IN the report
4 fho House committee as United states
l.. .i..a .hn C1.rnfntu nf Wlr