Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-12
ANNUAL EST|M ATES
The District Budget in Course
Of Preparation.
PROBABLE INCREASE
REVENUES BELIEVED TO JUSTIFY
A 100000 BILL.
Commissioners Expected to Recommend
Separation of Permanent Improve
ments From Current Expenses.

The Commissioners began this morning
at II o'clock the consideration of their an
nual estimates, which will be transmitted
to Congress through the Secretary of the
Treasury with whatever Recommendation
the latter officer may see fit to make. Two
years ago the Commissioners estimates
were seriously cut down by the then Secre-
tary of the Treasury, the reduction being
mere than two millions of dollars. Last
year. however, Secretary Shaw turned the
whole subject of District finances over to
Congress and forwarded the estimates as
the Commissioners had presented them.
Fully a week will be consumed in the con-
sideration of the estimates as submitted to
the Commissioners by the various depart
ment chiefs Consequently the members Of
the District board announce that they will
not be able to see any visitors this week
Practically their whole time will be given
over to hearing the department chiefs in
support of the figures presented.
The District revenues for the past year
were more than 81 800 900 from all sources,
including real estate and personal taxes,
licenses, etc. 1t is believed the estimate for
the present tax year will show material
increase over this amount. The Commits
sioners will therefore base their estimates
for the next fiscal year upon the estimate
of revenues, which is not yet complete. The
revenues will justify more than a 50, OOOOO0
bill The various projects of permanent i'm
provement going on however, will bring the
total of appropriations chargeab bic one-half
to the District of Columbia up beyond the
$40, COO 600 mark.
The new District building, the filtra-
ton plant the highway bridge across the
Potomac, the terminal improvement ex-
penses. etc, must all be met concurrent
IT, and the probabilities are that the Dis
trict deficit will be augmented.
Probable Recommendation.
To Offset this deficit the Commissioners
will probably recommend once more that
the works of permanent Improvement be
segregated from the current expenses
They suggested last year to Congress
that s10O00,000 loan be made to the Dis
trict to cover the cost of these improve
ments, and to be paid back at the rate of
100000 year. The proposed legislation
to this end defeated, however, under
adverse action by the appropriation COM
mttees.
The current appropriation bill carries
only a total of $7,6J00OO Various items
carried in other acts affecting the Dis
trict, however, bring the total up to $lo,-
269, 1886. The sundry civil act, for In
stance, carries appropriations to the
amount of 1903, 100, chargeable one-half
to the District of Columbia. The items
covered Dy IulS ACT GTe llOSS LII lilC
support of the various hospitals, for the
Geological Park, public buildings and
grounds. etc. For advancing the work
of the new District building the sum OF
S25OOO was made available this year in
the omnibus building act. For a new
building at Garfield Hospital 100000 was
appropriated and toward the cost OF the
new Freedmens Hospital $4,000. The
expenses of the judiciary, etc, make up
the total, stated above.
Estimates Received
The Commissioners received today from
the department chiefs the estimates for the
sewer department. the building department
and the repair division. Mr.. D. E. McComb
Superintendent of sewers. asks for an APP
preparation of more than 100000. This
includes the cost of carrying forward the
vast project for sewage disposal. The con-
struction of this system is another of the
items of permanent Improvement which
the Commissioners think should be sepa-
rated from the current expenses. They feel
that future generations of taxpayers should
help bear the cost of this work which will
give sewage facilities for years and years
to come Superintendent McComb estimates
$5S, 600 for cleaning and repairing sewers
and basins. $4,000 for the construction Of
suburban sewers. $4,000 for main and pipe
sewers and receiving basins. For the Ari-
IONA avenue sewer he requests an appro-
priation of $4,000 This amount will com
plete the upper trunk section between Tun-
law road and Tenleytown. For the COM
pletiOn of the extension of the Boundary
sewer in the vicinity of 22d and A streets
northeast $4,000 is requested. For the
Ivy City trunk sewer $4,000 is estimated.
This sewer is required to serve Ivy City
and the nOrtherly portion of Trinidad. For
work on the sewage disposal pumping sta
ton at the foot of New Jersey avenue
southeast Mr.. McComb requests $250,000.
The sum of sSG0.Uv0 has already been APP
propriated for this purpose and the total
cost is estimated 81, liz, 1o1 .OS
For the low area trunk sewer $40 600 is
requested to complete the work, $4,000
having heretofore been appropriated. For
the b street and New Jersey avenue trunk
sewer $34O,0O3 is requested, the complete
cost being $3.50 GEO. and $65O,OOO having al
ready been appropriated. For the outfall
sewer, siphon across the Anacostia river
and outlet below Magazine Point. including
the purchase of right of way, the sum of
100000 is requested. This outfall sewer
leads from the pumping station through the
hills beyond the Anacostia to the outlet in
the river.
The sum of $3.50 600 has already been ap-
propriated toward this work, the total cost
being estimated at $1G0OOO Other appro
priatiOnS asked for by the superintendent
of sewers follow: Lower section of Rock
creek and 3 street intercepting sewer, SOL
COO; water and l. street intercepting sewer,
SOS, 600; Az street intercepting sewer, $114,-
0tO; outlet to old street sewer, $50, 600;
dykes, $4,000.
The Building Department.
In submitting estimates for the building
department Mr.. Snowden Ashford. the in
spector, recommends a number of increases
in salary and also asks for an increase of
force. He suggests that $500 be appro-
priated for the pay of members of an ex-
amning board to pass on qualifications of
architects and builders applying for license,
said board to be composed of three men,
bers, to transact business under regulations
made by the Commissioners. Some of the
other new items in the building depart
ment estimates are follows:
For two permit clerks to assist in the ex-
animation of plans revision of applca tons,
assigning of house numbers giving of in