Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05

ly on its books. The authorization of ex-
traordlnary improvements, the approprfa-
ton of every dollar required for them, and
the custody and control of the District rev.
enues would continue under this plan ex-
clusively in the United States, which would
only be accommodating its partner, the Dis
trfct of Columbia, by giving it time within
which to meet its share of Che eXtraor-
d,nary appropriations, instead of providing
an issue of bends for the purpose, as is
done in every other municipality, in order
not to compel the present to bear what the
future should share or to cripple its mu-
nicipal services.
Congress having provided no permanent
ana complete arrangement of this sort, but
Only temporary advances on d general ac-
count, combining extraordinary and current
expenditures by annual legislat Oh. which
expires on July ] next, without provision
for the Districts share of extraordinary eX-
perdtures in following fiscal years, the
Con miss:oners had to proceed on the theory
that such permanent and comprehensive
legislation. which they again earnestly rec
commended would be enacted by the new
Cor greSS Although this, in their judgment,
justified them in submitting estimates ex
ceeding the probable appropriat ton fund,
they felt so hampered by the unsettled con-
dition of the Districts finances, and the
fact that a distinction had not been estab-
lished on the United States Treasury books
between the two classes of expenditures
that they reduced the estimates for current
expenditures more than they would other
wise have done
Buildings for the public schools. addi-
tional fire department stations. and other
things needed by the District for the inn
provement of its municipal services and
their extension with the growth of popu-
lation and its spread over the territory out
side of the city of Washington, which could
easily be provided if the Commissioners
plan of settling the Districts finances was
adopted. had to be deferred because the
foil
aggresating 81, 59I 600 as estimates for ex-
traordinary municipal improvements. The
Commissioners reduced the estimates SUBJ
mitted to them through official channels by
81, Goo,o0e of which amount S91S,962 was in
the estimates for current expenditures of
which they recommend SIS, SCI. go 10, exclu-
sive of the self-supporting water depart
menr.
Il cannot be too emphatically stated that
the Districts revenues are not deficient,
but, on the contrary, are entirely sufficient
for all its needs, if the cost of extra
ordinary improvements is treated as it is
treated by all other municipalities. The
District taxpayers are now contributing a
fair measure of taxation, and are misrep-
resented by a situation for which they are
not responsible and which makes them
seem unable to provide their share of nee
essaly current expenditures. so that the es-
Inmates for the latter have to be reduced
by the Commissioners and are afterward
duced by Congress, under the attempt to
ments currently out of the revenues.
Bills Relating to the District.
The Commissioners during the last SEES
sion of the Fifty-eighth Congress reported
upon bills and resolutions relating to the
District Of Columbia referred to them fer
report, according to custom, by the com
mittees of the Senate and the House. From
the Senate ninety-eight bills were referred
o,t fro, &, h. n l..
to the Commissioners. There We're also SUBJ
mitted to the Senate and the House Com
mittee on the District of Columbia Il Com
mlssoners' bills and resolutions. The
President of the United States before act
ing upon bills relating to the District of
Columbia which had passed both houses of
Congress referred them to the Commission
ers, according to custom, for their remarks
and they reported favorably upon all bills
so referred.
Committee on Business Methods
The Commissioners have given careful
attention TO the report of the committee
appointed by them on August u, 1903. to
examine all the departments of the govern
ment of the District of Columbia with
view of suggesting improvements in their
method of doing business. This report gave
a comprehensive and detailed account, the
first of its kind of the actual business meth
DDS Of the departments. together with de-
tailed recomme dations for changes. some
requiring legislation and others subject TO
the orders of the Commissioners.
Those recommendations to which no OBJ
jectiops were raised We're adopted by the
Commissioners. and a number of changes
have already been made by legislation or
the order of the Commissioners. The obiec-
tons raised by different departments TO
other recommendations were referred to the
committee which has submitted a supple
mental report. now under consideration by
the commissioners who will decide what
other changes should be made The mem
bers of the committee deserve praise for
their diligent labors, carried on frenuentlv
at night and on holidays, so as not to
cause neglect of their regular duties.
Civil Service.
The Commissioners will resubmit to Con-
gress bill to provide civil service law
for the District of Columbia, which under
the uniform decisions of the Supreme
Court of the United State is municipal
corporation not a part of the National Gov
eminent, and therefore not entitled to the
Dement'S or United States civil service law
merit system of appointments and pro-
motions with removals only for cause and
never Tor political reasons, has been main
tanned by the Commissioners and throIeq,
the courtesy of the United States Civil
Service Commission applicants for appoint-
ment TO the police and fire departments
tt'tN haan
examined by that commission; hut a ner
manent civil service system should be es-
tablished by law, in order that the District
OF Columbia may be placed on an eouaIitv
In this respect with the Departments of the
National Government and the larger mn
inequalities of the country
Change of Inauguration Day.
The national committee on the proposed
change of inauguration day. appointed by
the Commissioners and composed of ff
teen residents of the District and fortv-
four governors of States and Territories
met at the District building on November
2s, 1865, and upon consideration of tbe
views of those present and absent-the lat
ter communicating in writing-determine
to continue TO advocate the change of IN
auguration day from the 4th of March to
the last Thurday in April. the day named
in the resolution prepared by the late Sena-
tor Hoar. of Massachusetts, and twice
passed by the Senate. In order that ~
ceremony of inauguration of President and
Vice President. which draws larger NM
bers of people to the national canital to-
any other event, may occur at a time wban
the weather, and especially the temneral
ture, may be more favorable to health tba,
that of the 4th of March, as shown hv .' tn
records of the Weather Bureau for n,a .nu
years past. the proposed change shonId by
made. iiou1o pe