The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-27
FIRE Chief BELT
IS OPTIMISTIC
Despite Failure of That
S750,00O Appropriation.
BETTER RECORD IN FUTURE
District Commissioner mcfarland
Hopes for Better Things in
the Next Year.

Intspite of reports to the contrary. no
further effort is to be made this year
&c hare Congress appropriate the neces-
sary $3.50 600 for the installation OF the
high pressure fire service system in the
busin ess section of Washington.
We cannot get it this year." said
Fire Chief Belt yesterday to a Times
reporter but we hope to do so next
year. 1t is a thing which is necessary
for tlle safety Of the city. Our present
fire lighting system Is inadequate for
the protection Of local property. No
one tecOgnizes this more clearly than
do, end 1 shall not be content until the
conditions are bettered by our securing
the hdgh-pressure system
COntIadicted Rumor.
District Commissioner Nacfarland was
told yesterday of the report that an ef-
fort was to be made to have the appro-
priatkOn inserted in the District appro-
priat1on bin by the conferees of the
House and Senate. He contradicted the
rum,br sand said that the project for
this year was ended.
VIE ecu do nothing now, he said.
and the only thing for US is to wait for
the next Congressional session. It IS
eStrRmely rare for 4 totally new item
TO be inserted in an appropriation bill
COur sc, but only IN the case OF great
pressure, and in sudden emergencies. 1t
IS almost constant rule that, after
bill mas gone to conference, no new
item shall be added TO it
Business Men Aroused.
Although the appropriation was not
Obta med this time there have been
many advantages gained by the agita-
ton in regard to the matter. The
awake to the Importance Of securing
better facilities for protection from fire
and their efforts viii be unremitting
until the desired system has been OBJ
tanned.
Tlie attention Of the Senate and House
has, also been attracted TO the argu-
meIE advanced IN favor OF the pro-
Ject- and there can be little doubt that,
after thinking over the scheme, thsy
VIII see the necessity for IL Another
string argument for IL in their eyes Will
be the fiual economy in the measure, not
10 speak Of the greater safety of the
cit,F.
MacfaTlan1's Scheme.
Commissioner Mactarland. in speaking
Of the matter yesevrday said: III the
District finances were arranged on the
syaem which the Commissioners have
advocated. there would be no dinculty
ia installing the system Immediately.
II we could separate our current eX-
reu1es from the revenues necessary for
wlEzt we call 'extraordinary improve
merits, we could borrow from the
UliEted States the sum necessary Tor
this improvement and then repay II
VIII others within given time.
As long as the great projects OF i'm
pIOVcment are paid Tor along win the
I1-rent expenses. necessitaung extra
ordinary appropriations from the cul-
rent revenues each year, II Will DC
-ran-festIv impossible to do so many
things at once such as building the
filfrasion plant. the new Municipal
Building and carrying out other plans
II We could borrow from the General
Government and pay back at certain
rseriods we could enter upon these
lshings as need arose FOR them