Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-28
Business Methods in Municipal Affairs.

One striking disadvantage of the present
rnetbod of squeezing the Districts revenues
in a futile effort to meet the current ex-
penses and a large part of the cost of
great permanent improvements at the
same time appears clearly IN the man
nor In which Congress has thus far acted
toward the item of $500 900 proposed by the
Commissioners for beginning the Districts
share of the work of embarrassing eilmi-
nation. This improvement is now well under
way. under auspices which promise prac-
teal conclusion within eighteen months. so
far as the actual handling of travellers at
the new terminal is concerned. Yet, de-
spite the fact that vast work is TO De
undertaken at the front of the building to
provide an artistic approach. and further,
despite the requirement that the District
shall provide the necessary approaches for
the streets which are to be carried over ana
under the viaduct, no provision has thus far
been made to warrant even the formal
preparation for this task. Thus. unless
Congress acts very early in this session, and
grants large sum and makes 1t imme-
diately available, the District will start In
on this important part of the undertak1ng
fully one year in arrears. Common knowi-
edge of the speed at which public work IS
carried on. in contrast with the pace at
which private work is forwarded does not
suggest that the Districts share OF the en-
terprise will be completed along with that
Of the railroad, even though the street ap-
proaches and the plaza are but small pro-
portion of the whole.
The reason this item was not included in
the appropriation bill last session. in sea-
son to enable the District to begin its WORK
together with the railroad companies, was
that the prospective revenues were more
than exhausted by the appropriations made
to carry on the current needs and the per-
manent improvements. The deficit was to
he met by means of one of the now familiar
federal advances The trainers of the bud
get felt it incumbent upon them, in the alb
sence of any definite plan of financing this
great obliga ton. to cut off all items which
could by any possibility be regarded as
negligible This one of the street APP
proaches and the plaza they argued could
Just as we'll come later. So 1t went out,
and the other day when the Commissioners
asked for its Inclusion in the deficiency
bill then in preparation on the ground that
it IS urgently needed today it was set aside
as one of the matters which could be at
tended to later without serious detriment
to the public service.
The fiscal situation is no more promising
this year than last. when the plaza and
street approach item was cut from the bill.
The current revenues will assuredy not
meet the current needs and the demands of
the great works. Some items will have to
be cut off unless broad. comprehensive
funding plan is adopted. Why not then
postpone once more this same item of
street approaches and plaza? This work
can be done at the last minute. Next year
viii do as well as this The money is
urgently needed now for other matters
Let it go by.
This is the reasoning which has led the
District into its present financial embar-
rassment From hand to mouth it has lived
for many seasons, without a business-like
provision for future needs or obligations