Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-07
The Commissioners Comments.

Commenting upon the cut advocated by
Secretary Shaw, ito bring the total within
the estimated revenues Commissioner
mcfarland said:
The Commissioners, of course. regret
that the Secretary of the Treasury has rec
commended any reduction IN their estimates.
but we may be thankful that 1t is no worse.
Until Congress permanently settles the Dis
trict's finances, that in estimates and APP
proprlations the extraordinary are kept sep
- arate from the current expenditures, the
Secretary of the Treasury viii probably
feel obliged to cut the estimates. The let
ter of the Commissioners may have had the
effect of minimizing the reduction. The
Commissioners, OF course. will advocate the
original estimates before Congress. The
task is made more difficult by the Treasury
Departments recommendation.
Commissioner West said:
THE small reduction made In the Dis
trict estimates by the Secretary of the
Treasury Is a recognition of the care exer-
c!sed by the Commissioners in reducing the
estimates to the smallest amount common
surate with the development of the District.
The preparation of these estimates is a
difficult task, inasmuch compelled
to provide for the extraordinary improve
ments and at the same time take into con-
slderation the very proper demands of the
various sections of the District for increased
school facilities, additional police and fire
protection, sewers, street pavements, light
ing, etc. The estimates submitted were
the result VI careful sCuuy ana presented q
logical scheme for the expenditure of the
District revenues. 1t IS gratifying to note
the appreciation shown by the Secretary of
the Treasury of the work of the Commits
sionerS.
Districts Finances.
4 resume of the Districts finances
brought up to date, shows about the fol-
lowing condition: Il all authorized appro-
priations, including the Districts one-haIf
of the appropriation of $1,000 900 made by
the act of February H. 1901, for payment
to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany on account of railway terminals, with
a probable further increase of $4,000 as
the Districts one-haIf of the amount that
will be required by June 80, 1903. for pay
meLt of damages on account of changes of
grade in connection with the construction
of the new union station, and an additional
charge of S44. SEQ 81 for interest on indebted
ness of the District to the United States on
July l. 1905, on excess of advances by the
United States over revenues of the District
o. Columbia to enable the District to meet
IT'S proportion of appropriations. should be
paid by the LIST of July next the District
would then owe the United States s4,715-
SS32S. 1t is estimated that 81, 900, 600 of
the proportion of the appropriations charge
able TO the revenues of the District of CO.
lumbia will not have been expended up to
that time, but will be carried over into the
next fiscal year. In either event the
dIifOuHI JHen uue from the District revenues
to the treasury under the present arrange
ment is larger than 1t can pay without cut
ting the appropria lions for next year
Assuming that Congress will deal with the
matter In the way suggested, the Commits
sfonerS recommended additional appropria-
tons to carry on extraordinary Improve
ments for next year amounting to 81 394, 600
under the following items:
High-pressure fire protection. ......... $75oOOO
District building ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100 600
Sewers. Observation-Disclosures. 4S0. 900
ARacostia bridge and approaches. ...... 314 900
Connecticut avenue bridge -.-............ 10000
Municipal Hospital Tuberculosis ward .. $50 0G0
Elimina ton OF grade crossings. ...,..... $4,000
2,594 900