Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-20
THE DISTRICT BILL
20
Action Of House Committee
Defended.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
WHY THE REDUCTIONS IN EST
MATES WERE MADE.
He Believes That the Real Needs Of the
District Have Been Fully
Met.

The District of Columbia appropriation
bill was taken up In the House about 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon. General de-
bate will be had on the measure until 8
O. clock this afternoon, when the reading of
the bill will be begun under the f1ve-minute
rule.
A general statement was made on the bill
yesterday by Mr.. McCleary, chairman Of
the subcommittee Of the appropriations
committee in charge Of the measure. Every
member Of his committee. he declared, de
sires to treat this District well, as the capt.
tai of the country, and in treating 1t we'll
we had two thoughts in mind. In the first
place, we desired to make the appropria
lions as generous as they could be made
under the circumstances of the case, to go
as far as possible to make this indeed
worthy capital of a great nation. In treat
ing 1t we'll we had also in mind that we
SHOULD not, If possible, exceed the current
income. believing that it is not well for in
dividuals or corporations or communities to
run into debt, If debt be avoidable.
I'VE had this situation before u.s." con-
tinued Mr.. McCleary: Last year change
was made in the taxing laws of the District
Of Columbia by which the income of the
District was largely Increased The reve-
nues of the District for the coming fiscal
year from the taxation within the District
Is. according to careful estimates. s., 419,O
We find liked charges as follows:
Fixed Charges.
Advances have been made from the gem
eral treasury amounting to s1,9O1. 72615.
payable In three years. In equal install
ments Of the principal, beginning with this
coming year, the one for which we are ap-
propriatng. One-third of that sum, with
interest at per cent. amounts to SOL, 943 80.
"A highway bridge was by law provided
To- 10 ha xIa 4
Long bridge and the limit of cost was
1906, 600, of which sum $56S. 900 is to be ap-
propriated the coming year. OF this sum
the District is to pay one-half. or s2s4OO
"a bill now In conference provides for a
union railway station to cost 81, 10, OOO the
share of the District being 81 ,S55, 600 This
is to be paid in five years, one-fifth the
coming year, making charge of $371 900
coming year.
"A municipal building was provided for in
the act of last year, and 100000 was esti-
mated as the sum that should be expended
upon the building the coming year. One
half Of this, or $4,000. Is payable out of
the revenues of the District
I'm other bills that have passed the
there is appropriated s90,O43
so that We found In approaching this
matter that there We're. for these purposes,
what may be called fixed charges amount
ing to 81 ,566. 9s623. leaving for other pur-
poses balance of s., ,O1377. This bill
makes an appropriation which will take
from the District revenues s., $40, 47O5O, be-
ing $42,oo0 within the income of the Dis
trict, and we believe the amounts appro-
prlated will cover the needs of the District
WITHOUT sacrificing any material interest in
the District. , SO
How was this economy effected? Cen
tiemen will note on page 3 Of the report of
the committee that $4,000 in round num-
bers in the bill for the current year does
not appear in this bill. This is because
the several projects afa1
vided for and need no further appropria-
tions