Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-05
THE CUT IN ESTIMATES.
Secretary Shaw's Action Dis
Cussed.
THE LOCAL RE VENUES
ARE SUFFICIENT FOR THE CUR
RENT EXPENSES.
Commissioner Macfarland's Statement
of the Condition of Dis
trict Finances.
HE LOCAL RE VENUES

tue Disrict estimates 81, ,493, ,SO6.OJ, said:
The reduction of the total amount of the
estimates made by Secretary Shaw forcibly
emphasizes the necessity for adopting the
Commissioners recommendation that Con-
gress separate the extraordinary expendi-
| lures from the current expenditures. and
provide for the Districts share of the for
iner by permanent arrangement which
would give the District time to pay without
drawing heavily upon its current revenues
| and thereby cutting down its current ex-
penditures. For two years the Secretary OF
the Treasury has allowed the Commission
els estimates to go to Congress without
reduction, upon the statement by the Com
missioners that they hoped to secure from
Congress legislation for such an arrange
ment. This year, Congress having made
only temporary provision from year 20
year, the latest expiring at the beginning
OF the next fiscal year, the Treasury De-
partment apparently feels that it can wait
no longer, and, therefore, recommends this
large reduction
"Of course, such a reduction is logical, IL
Congress is not to make such arrange
ment the Commissioners have recon-
mended. Yet it cannot be made without
either suspending the extraordinary i'm
provements or crippling the Districts serv-
ices. Neither of these things can be done
without prejudice to the Districts interests
Therefore ii is to be eXpec. ed that Congress
will meet the necessity now sharply pre-
sented and make the necessary provision.
Plenty of Revenue.
''It cannot be too often repeated that 1t is
not question of our current expenditures.
Our current revenues. amounting for the
next fiscal year, exclusive of the water de-
partmept to s.. 462,325, ample TO meet
our cne-half of the current expenditures. as
recommended by the Commissioners. The
Commissioners recommended the apprepria-
ton of IS 7S6 iJ6 this account after re-
ducing by nearly $1.S00,000 the estimates
for current expenditures subraitted to them
n the Districts half OF the amount thus
Eo131neufed can be easily met, leavfn0 IN
ample margin for the repayment of ad-
yances from the United States treasury on
account of the Districts share of the ex-
traordinafy improvements appropria tions
and for other obligations of the District
The estimate for current expenditures 10
modest one. The District taxpayers would
have to meet only one-half of 1t. or $4.3ss'.-
22S or s14.64 per capita for a population OF
300 O00
Where the Need Comes.
but the extraordinary improvements.
like the filtration plant railway terminal
work. sewage disposal system, District
building. swell the estimates in all to sl2,-
AIS 456 since they call for S,632,Vo, for
next year 1t is of course, Impossible TO pay
for such improvements currently out OF the
regular revenues without Gripping the cur
rent expenditures. and it is not attempted
anywhere else. Bonds cannot be issued
Eere under the policy of Congress. ana
have not been recommended by the COM
nissioners since the fact was ascertained
The Congressional Practice.
But the principle of making advances
from the United States treasury to provide
for the Districts share of extr3ordinaFy
appropriations has been approved by Con-
g1ess in the temporary arrangements which
1t has made annually for the past four
wears. Now. IL Congress will make per-
manent arrangement on the same principe
our extraordinary expenditures Will be sep
arated on the books OF the treasury ,,a ION
our current expenditures. our current reve-
nues will amply provide for the repay
ment of the advances. gradually and win
interest as well as for the current expend
lures and we shall not again be in the
embarrassing dilemma in which We ma
ourselves today
congress can limit absolutely the total
amount of the advances because not one
dollar can be spent in extraordinary I'M
provements without its expressed sanction,
first by authorization, and then by APP
propriation. There has been no eXtrava-
gance in the congressional action respect
ing extraordinary improvements Iney are
all of pressing necessity, but they cannot
be paid for currently, so far as the DIS
trict's share is concerned. The Commls-
sioners will, of course, earnestly represent
to Congress that arrangements should pe
made so that no reductions shall De mace
in their estimates.
The Secretary's Cut.
Secretary Shaw makes the reduction of
s.. .49S SO6 o. he states, so that the esti-
mates may be brought within the esti-
mated revenues of the District for the next
wear The reduction made by the Secretary.
however. will reduce the District budget to
only S11 O62 31O while the estimated reve-
nues of the District for the next year with
the United States one-half added, will
amount to only about S10,56O,O09. 1t is
presumed that Secretary Shaw expects
Congress to still further scale down the es-
Inmates to bring them within the rev.
enues.
the reduction of nearly a million and half
dollars should be made. The question is
asked What improvement project shall be
stopped or what department of the District
government shall be crippled In order TO re-
duce the total amount of the budgety 1t is
pointed out that the Commissioners reduced
the estimates for the current expeditures
of the District government, submitted by
the heads of the departments, by about
81 500. 600. Where, then, shall the cut of
over a million and half dollars be made?
Shall the terminal work be stopped? Shall
the construction of the new home of the
District government be interrupted? Shall
the work on the sewage-disposal system be
brought to a standstill? Or shall the inn
provements needed in the public schools.
the police and fire departments and other
branches of the municipal service be post
poned indefinitely?
.It is pointed out that in addition to pro-
yitifng for the current expenditures the Dis
trict will owe to the United States govern
ment July l next, about 81 .313,gJ9 on adj
vances made to the District from the
treasury This amount will be further in
creased by about $4,000 on the advances
Besides the advance 10 the treasury, the
District will owe to the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad s750.000. All these amounts will
have to come out of the District revenues
Unless something is done, it is suggested.
the District viii have to shut up shop for
awhile.
Commissioner Vests Comment.
In speaking of the action of Secretary
Shaw, Commissioner West said:
.'The Commissioners submitted their esli-
mates after careful inquiry into the needa