Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-29
APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Representative Business Men
Of the District
APPROVE LOAN BILL
URGE PROMPT "RELIEF FROM AN
INroLERABLE CONDITION"
Strong Resolutions Adopted at Meeting
Held at New Willard Yes
terday Afternoon
APPROVE LOAN BILL

A committee that included one hundred
OF the substantial business men of the Dis
trict held a meeting at the New Willard
yesterday afternoon. and. after listening
to report from subcommittee, agreed
unanimously that Congress ought to sane
ton an advance of $1O.000,OOO from the
treasury to the District of Columbia. Steps
were taken to bring the matter to the at
tention of Congress directly in the interest
of securing the passage Of the loan bill.
The needs Of the District were thoroughly
brought out in the report Of the subcor-
mittee, and the present financial situation
was deplored. A policy which would COM
pei the District to pay for extraordinary
expenditures out Of current revenues Was
referred to as unique in the history OF
municipal legislation. The committeeman
did not hesitate to state that they believed
Congress had not fully understood the sit
uation or the relief asked would have been
granted.
After the reading of the report the ques-
ton as to its adoption as the sense OF lac
entire meeting was put and decided unanl-
mously In the affirmative. There was Il
brief discussion of the report. and the COM
mittee adjourned to meet Wednesday at
the same place and hour.
Charles J. Bell Presided.
The meeting was called to order by Mr..
Charles T. Bell, and Mr.. s. w. Woodward
was called upon to act as secretary. I'M
mediately after the preliminary business
had been disposed of Mr.. George Trues-
dell, chairman Of the subcommittee, READ
the report, which was as follows:
1.-THE District of Columbia now faces a
crisis in its financial affairs which calls for
the earnest and careful consideration OF
every citizen interested in its growth and
prosperity, The estimated revenues under
the new assessment are IS. 100000. or H.
900. 600 greater than in any year OF its his
tory; thus making the amount from which
appropriations may be made $32OO.OOO more
than in any previous year. The funded
debt is reduced from So 108.650 on July l,
1873 to $13, 3OS 800, and by the pending ap
preparation bill the annual sinking fund
payments are reduced from 81 ,213,947.97 to
$975. 408: thus making the sum of $23S. 539.97
available for other purposes. The amount
appropriated by the District appropriation
bill, as 1t passed the House of Representa-
tives, is, nevertheless, s., 253,923 below the
carefully considered estimates Of the Dis
trict Commissioners and 1914, 474.97 less
than the appropriation for the current year.
An Unprecedented Cut.
This unprecedented cut is brought about
by emitting entirely from the budget many
important and necessary items, and by the
reduction of others to such an extent as to
seriously cripple much-needed work now
under way. and prevent the entering into
contracts for new school buildings duly au-
thorized by the appropriation bill.
I'm explaining and defending this action
to the House of Representatives the ap-
preparation committee declared, in effect.
its purpose to prevent, II possible, the Dis
trict from mourning any additional debt
and to limit its expenditures for all pur-
poses, ordinary and extraordinary, to its
current revenues. This new policy, in the
opinion Of the Commissioners and many
citizens who have Sfudied fha qifna io
under existing conditions, full Of peril to
the material interests of the District and
unless changed threatens to seriously re-
tard its welfare and development. It's full
import can only be seen and measured in
the light of the financial history of the Dis
trict under the present form Of government.
The organic act of June, 1873 provided
sections 10 and IT:
ITO the extent to which Congress shall
approve Of the Commissioners estimates
Congress shall appropriate the amount of
80 per centum thereof.
"And the remaining so per centum of
such approved estimates shall be levied
and assessed upon the taxable property
and privileges in said District other than
the property Of the United States and of
the District of Columbia.
Never Fully Observed.
1T will be noted that by that act it is
made mandatory upon Congress to appro-
pirate the first 80 per centum of the amount
naming so per centum only shall be levied
and assessed upon the taxable property of
the District. One-half of the total amount
OF the approved estimates was made the
measure of the tax levy upon District prop
erty after 80 per centum thereof had first
been appropriated by Congress.
ut is necessary to say that that law has
never been fully observed by Congress-
Taxes have always been levied without ref
erence to appropriations. and appropriations
W hoe Lose ho he
of the. District revenues and less than the
Commissioners estimates, even when the
District was in sore need of improvements,
which it was not allowed to purchase with
its own money.
ITO the credit of Congress be 1t said this
for several years resulted from lack of
money in the public treasury. The failure
to appropriate the revenues OF the District
for current needs Of pressing Importance
caused the accumulation of surplus to the
credit Of the District. This surplus was
ment to the District. in anticipating by
thirteen years the payments Of the Dis
trict's half of the debt for water tunnel
at a time when through neglect to complete
eft therefrom.
Refused Usual Privilege.
"A further large surplus. created like the
first by failure to appropriate current reve-
nues in accordance with recommendation
Ol Inc SOIuulSSioAcISp was u tu0 amount
OF 81. 6S7. 549.43, appropriated for street ex-
tensions. and in violation Of the organic act
charged exclusively to the revenues Of the
District. This, along with large appropria-
lions for projects Of permanent character.
again brought about deficit in our account
at the treasury. which made 1t necessary
for Congress to authorize an advance, pay
able in three years from July I. 1908, esti-
mated by the Secretary of the Treasury in
round numbers at $1,9O0.00O. One-third of
this sum, with interest. together with other
sums aggregating 81 5G6, 9S8.23. being the
estimated amount of the payments required
from the District on account Of extraor-
binary projects during the next fiscal year.
the House of Representatives has refused
to grant the District the usual privilege of
paying in installments. This accounts for
the reduction of more than 5000 600 in the
Commissioners estimates already referred
to. AS direct result of this policy IL it
continues in force, the fire department Of
the District will remain crippled by anti
Quated apparatus and buildings, insufficient
men and engines; the erection of sorely
needed school buildings and other important
DON'T Become