Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-06
The District Bill in the Senate.

When the House of Representatives passed
the District bill with a smaller total appro-
pria ton than that carried by the current
law it was confidently expected that the
Senate, pursuing it's additionally liberal
policy toward the capital, would materially
add to the items to bring the aggregate be-
yond the present allotment of money, so
that if the pruning process were applied In
conference the resultant would be at least
approximately equal to what the District is
now spending. This expectation however,
has not been realized. The bill as reported
Saturday carries total appropriation or
50, 939 525 g. or S94S. 1913 less than the cur
rent law. The Senate committee has added
only S4s2 80 to the bill.
The local revenues from taxation during
the fiscal year 1866 will be, according to
present estimates, S. 62, 1925, calling. under
the strict half-and-half principle, for total
appropriation of $10924, $50. On this point
of expected local revenues there has been a
peculiar divergence of policy between the
District Commissioners and the houses of
Congress. with the Commissioners voicing
the earnest demand of the citizens and Con-
gress standing by an unbusinesslike prin-
ciple. The Commissioners asked for larger
appropriation than the District could meet,
half and half. with its revenues. They did
on the sound basis of demand for
long-term arrangement for financing the
cost of the permanent improvements. The
House. however, refused to grant this just
measure, and cut the total of the bill down
below the expected revenues. even after the
Districts tax-money items had been offset
by the charges pending against it, amount
ing in all to s31s.OO6 in the form of interest
g. H. T-~~yt-
road account and miscellaneous appropria-
lions carried by other bills. With this dis
count the expected local revenues would
call for total appropriation of $40 3OS 63S,
whereas the House granted only s9.456,544
and the Senate committee has granted
50. 939, 525. 60.
Thus. unless the Senate itself comes to
the rescue. the District will not be per-
mitted to spend all Of it's money plus an
equal amount of federal money, but must
turn into the treasury of the United States,
on the basis of the bill as It stands 1884,
$3.50 on account of the federal advances
In this way the Senate has adopted the plan
of the House of making the District pay viz
tually as it goes for the great works that
are OF strictly permanent character and
should in justice to the present taxpayers
be financed on a long-te basis
A further addition to the total carried by
the bill may and certainly should be made
by the Senate when the bill is debated and
passed. There are many items that deserve
inclusion, which are now eliminated, in
creases demanded by good government In
salaries. allowances and provisions for as
sistance.
1t is a matter for congratulation that the
Senate has approved the requisition for an
increased cost limit for the municipal build
ing 1t would be impossible to erect this
structure of proper materials on the basis
of S2o00,OO0 Whatever else befalls, 1t is
most important that the addition of $500. 900
should be retained in the bill in the confer
ence adjustment. 1t means even more to
the capital and to the nation as it is af-
fected by the evolution of the federal city
than the precise terms of the appropriations
Tor general ends. For If this building is
constructed of second-class materials stand
ing as 1t does on the chief thoroughfare of
Washington, 1t will serve as an index of the
governments policy in the development Of
the District as seat of government.