Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-30
representative McCleary
Talks on Appropriations.
TWOIMPORTANTTHINGS
COMPLETION OF SEWERAGE AND
WATER SYSTEMS.
Will Provide All Necessary for the
Filtration Plant-No Issue of
Bonds to Be Authorized.


in the Improvement of the District of Co
lunrhia is the completion of the sewerage
and water systems, which will give to the
people here sanitary conditions that should
be above everything else" said Representa-
tive McCleary, chairman of the suocommit-
tee the District of Columbia of the APP
propriations committee of the House OF
Representatives.
Mr.. McCleary has remained In the city
during the holidays and spent his time in
studying the estimates of the Commission
ers and In going about the District TO see
what is actually needed here. Yesterday he
joined the Commissioners in a tour about
the city.
81 find, he continued, In reply to Ques-
tion that of the 1915, 600 appropriated for
continuing the system of trunk sewers and
sewage disposal only two-thirds can be ex-
pended by July L; so that going over into
the next fiscal year we will have one-third
of the money provided by the last session
of Congress. The Commissioners are 10
come before the subcommittee on the Dis
trict a week from tomorrow and they will
be asked to name the amount they can ex-
pend during the next fiscal year That VIII
be what we will wish to give them. 1t does
not seem to me now that the sewage trunk
lines and disposal system can be completed
during the next fiscal year: so that the next
session will be called on to provide more
money for that purpose.
The Filtration Plant.
I'VE will wish to provide all the money
for the filtration plant that can be ex-
pended. There IS one thing in relation to
the use of water here that think should be
taken into consideration. That Is the
question of having meters put in the houses
to regulate the amount of water USED.
spoke to the Commissioners yesterday about
the large amount of water used mere 1ney
replied that the water system more than
paid for itself as 1T is now conducted But
when YOU think that over ii Is NOT u
co,nplete answer, because even II Ii does
pay for itself with an excessive use OF
water careful use of the water would
result in benefit to the District IN allowing
us to use money for other purposes tilat
will under the present system, be needed
for an increase of the water. Supply &y5isehsss
has already been brought Jpn ztuh "a siassr'
as matter to be given our attention:
From my present view of this question
cannot see why we should not have water
meters here
Judging from the estimates of the Com
nissioners for the schools. should say we
have about caught up with the schooi
needs so far providing additional school
houses is concerned.
When Mr.. McCleary was told that the
SCI col facilities of the District of Columbia
are so restricted that it would not be pos
sible to enforce the compulsory educational
act which has been on the statute DOCKS
'N-
No Bond Issue Likely.
Speaking of the proposition for the issu-
ance of bonds to care for the extraordinary
improvements in the District MI NC
Cleary promptly said that he satisfied
that such a proposition could not be put
through the House. He believed if the
proposition for the issuance of bonds
should pe brought up there would be
enough votes in the House to defeat it
He believed Congress should follow the
plan that has been followed recently py
which any shortage in the Districts reve-
.nues should be maue up by an adV@hce'
from the Treasury Department. He re-
should be authorized of sufficient amount
to care for all the extraordinary improve
ments now contemplated TO be paid back IN
a term of twenty or twenty-five years as
practically similar to a loan issue ana just
as objections BILE.
II am not inclined to look with favor,
he said ION the proposition which know
will be pressed by Commissioner Maciaf-
land for an appropriate ton for a municipal
hospital The fact is, We have good nos
pital service here already, and even in re
lation to those hospitals, / thlnk Congress g
should do less rather than more in the
future It has been represented that We
have a site for municipal hospital Ihe
site is all right. 1t IS an improving sec
ton of the District and it is increasing in
value 1t will not be bad transaction Tor
the District even if that site is sold
Municipal Administration.
81 have been gathering data continued
Mr. McCleary ION the expense involved in
the administration OF municipalities. See
that pile of books there?'' he said, pointing
to his desk. We'll they are on that SUBJ
ject l have come to the conclusion that
the District is a very expensive city.
few days ago l saw the budget of st. Paul.
Mimi. which is city OF 10000 inhabitants
budget
Suppose we have twice that population. at
the same rate 1T would give us an expense
of So Geo. coo. Yet in the budget of the Com
missonerS asked for $13,Wo,0U0.'
1t was suggested that st. Paul would not
provide for such expenses as sewer systems
and water filtration plants from current
revenues. Mr. McCleary replied that there
would be some of the expenses in the ST.
Paul budget that could not be regarded
current in their nature.
II am glad TO see one thing about the
Commissioners estimates. That is they
have not made a long Hist of recommended
tions for Increases OF salaries There are a
we have had whole pages of them. which
we have been obliged to cut out in a whole
sale way.
Committee Will Be Conservative.
II think the appropriations committee will
wish to be conservative in its recommends
tions to the House of Representatives. We
can do a great deal more for the District
in the long run in that way than if we
should bring in recommendations that
could not be fully sustained. The House
has confidence in the committee, and it is
desirable to have 1t continue its conf
dence. At the same time 1 think you will
find that the District viii be properly
taken care of.
1.-THE people all over this country take
pride in the capital, and We want to do
the right thing in improving 1t, but at the
same time want - go ahead on con-
servative lines. / have had great many
of my constituents come here. Not one
of them has ever said were spending
too much money in the District They
generally say this and that ought to be
better. They refer to the Congressional
Library and say that is all right. SO when
speak OF being conservative ! do not
mean that there should be curtailsnent, but
merely that we should go ahead with de-
liberate steRsj
Mr.. Mccleary said he expected to see tn