The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-19
Congress Appropriates Only
$1,000 Each Year.
THE DANGER OF THIS POLICY
Heavy Fail Might Occur During a Re
cess and Street Department
Would Be Helpless.

of the superintendent of Street Clean
ing. 1t costs the District on the aver
age $4,000 10 keep the streets clear OF
snow and ice in the brief winters
which visit the Capital The policy Of
Congress is TO include in the District
appropriation bill each year an item
Of $1,000 for this work. and to sup
plement that amount by what is needed.
| as occasion may arise. This policy is
| defended by the Appropriations Com
mittees on the ground that Congress is
always in session in the winter. and
in position to act upon the emergency
of any big storm which may swoop
/ down upon the city.
| In 1897 the Street Cleaning Depart
ment spent 1898 in this work. and
| $1,000 the following year. In 1899. the
year of the blizzard the appropriation
bill carried the usual 81. OOO This was
spent on a storm in January, and Con-
gress was asked TO provide s. 900 more.
The resolution as it passed, however
| appropriated 81 900. Another deep fall
of snow the last Of January resulted
in an appropriation OF $40, 600, the great
er part Of which was spent in clearing
the streets.
Little Money for Present Needs.
Then came the blizzard and members
Of Congress. after wading to the Cap
itol from their homes. authorized the
expenditure of $50 600 in making the
thoroughfares OF Washington passabIe-
The sum OF S2.I70 was saved from the
appropriation. and this. added to the
regulation 81 600 was the amount spent
in 1900. In 1901 there was little snow.
and only ssO5 was required. In 1907
two severe storms called for the sum
Of s4,SS2. special appropriation OF
$1,000 was made last year. and S16S Of
it, with the $1,000 carried in the ap-
propriations for the present year. con-
stitutes the sum available at the pres
ent time for snow and ice work.
Last year the question arose among
the auditing officers OF the District and
the United States Government regard
ing the meaning OF the language of the
joint resolutions providing for the re-
, moval Of snow and ice. Up to that
time the law had been interpreted by
the Street Cleaning Department to
mean the clearing OF the cutters and
cross-walks and the carting away of
the snow and ice. and it's subsequent
| deposit on the Monument lot, in the
river or some convenient place else
where. 4 was decided last year the
law had been interpreted too literally.
: and the superintendent was directed to
remove the debris. so far as carting it
, away was concerned. only from the
cross walks.
The Commissioners Contention.
Mr.. Stutler and the Commissioners
p have held. and so reported 70 Congress.
: that the annual appropriation for the
. removal OF snow and ice should be
, s., 900 instead OF 81 900 Their conten-
5 tion is, under the law only such an
!. amount as might be needed could be
actually spent in the work. and the
: municipal authorities would be saved
. the necessity OF appealing TO Congress
r for hasty legislation every time SHOW
blows out of the North. The balance
OF the appropriation could be carried
forward. they say into the next year
and ;he sum OF s. 900 be always avail
able for emergencies.
| view is that Congress is not in session
from some day in the last OF December
until after the holidays. a period usu-
ally OF ten OF fifteen days. Storms are
q likely 10 come then. and-the Commits
Y sioners say in their reports they would
be helpless to cope with a heavy fall
of snow in that period.
= One of the chief reasons for this
r Warner Stutler, superintendent o.
D Street Cleaning. said today the 81 .1Ot
available from the appropriations would
J., be sufficient for the present storm. bu
81 more snow should fall now or a few
=, days hence, IL would be necessary q
:. go to Congress for additional money
10 keep the streets passable.