Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-21
The District Bill.

The managers of the District appropria-
ton bill yesterday undertook to show that
the measure carried ample provision for
all current needs and still left enough
money untouched of the anticipated. rev.
enueS to take care of all the Immediately
projected public works, on cash basis.
Nevertheless the riddled estimates of the
Commissioners, which were put partly in
evidence in the debate, show the ruthless
work Of reduction. All along the line the
Commissioners recommendations were
sliced. Big works and little, salaries and
additions were denied allotmentS- A rev
increases were made in the line of current
maintenance funds, but these were onset
by decreases and the looping off OF i'm
portant projects falling strictly under the
head Of current advances. so that the total
carried by the bill Is smaller than that
carried by the budget at the corresponding
stage a year ago. 80 .-,. .-.
SO much for properly taking care of the
Districts growth The fact is that the
House has told the capital to make out
next year with suit of clothes no larger
than that which 1t is wearing this year,
although every member has heightened and
the girth measure is greater than ever
This has been done in order that the Dis
; erly fitting clothes, but for the provisions
t for the future which are now being pur-
: chased. Until youi, have paid for every
thing now building, which will benefit pos
terity far more than 1t will benefit you to-
day." says the House to the capital, you
must make your old buds serve you.
The House committee apparently took
great pride in its work on the bill 1t
seemed to think it remarkable achieve
ment to force all the imperative needs into
such small compass that 1t was possible to
load upon the local revenues in addition
provision for all the pending great projects
on a cash basis. AS a piece OF municipal
firanciering this probably stands unique In
American annals, But it is hardly states
manlike solution of the Districts compare
lively simple problem. 1t must not be for
gotten that even this solution was made
possible by reason of the fact that the tax
revenues of the District are now far higher
than they should be in justice to the prop
| erty owners of the capital, owing to last
years legislation. ~ .r'
Having thus forced the revenues UP to
the straining point, with the property
sroaning under the burden Of excessive
taxation, in order to compel the District to
keep out of debt and while paying for the
great permanent works, the House has
given no guarantee that when these works
have been paid for in the next five years
the tax burden will be lightened. 1t is in
order to look ahead through those five
years and to ask what will happen when
the pending big projects have been COM
pleted and paid for Will Congress, realiz-
ing that the forced tax increases of 1892
have accomplished their ends. remit them?
Or will it declare that the increased rev.
enues are needed to enable the District to
catch up in it's equipment with Its material
growth? Either alternative Is logical. But
IL the latter is chosen where then will the
declaration made by the House yesterday
stand in the record? If all the necessities
of the capital have been met by this budget
while taking care of the great projects at
the same time, assuredly the annual sums
needed for the latter purpose represent ex-
cessive taxation Of the present local prop
erty owners.