The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-02-05
The District Bill.


trict of Columbia has increased the
House budget for the fiscal year 1906
by about half a million dollars The
measure as it left the House carried
allowances of S9,456, 544. AS it has
reached the Senate from it's commit
tee 1t carries So, 939 .525.
This is still much less than the
sum named when the bill first went to
the House-s11, 062, $40. But it is not SO
very much less. The estimates, pre-
pared with much care and held down
to the lowest practical figures, yet
provided $3.50, 900 for a high pressure
fire protection service. If this be de-
Quoted from the estimates it leaves
the cut approved by the Senate Dis
trict Committee as S372, 245.
The provisions restored to the bill
allow for these important public in
terests:
For the public schools. s14s.1sS ad-
ditional.
For the Police Department, $500 ad-
ditlonal.
For the Fire Department, $40. $50 ad-
difional
For public Fairgrounds. 81, 600.
For the AnacoStia bridge. $315, 900.
For improving county roads. SS4, $50.
For surveying the river front. 5000.
There is also provision by law to
raise the limit Of cost for the new
Municipal building from s2,000.000,
where the House left it, to $4,000, 900,
the amount required to construct the
building Of stone.
The Times does not think District
citizens will incline to dwell upon the
reduction of the Commissioners esti-
mates. The fear and dismay aroused
by the ruthless action Of the House
which sacrificed school buildings to
jealousies between committees and
teachers salaries to cheap points Of
order-were so intense that the action
Of the Senate committee seems posi-
lively generous.
All the reservations are important,
which are not enumerated. But the
public will find particular pleasure in
two-the increase in the pay of the
school teachers, even If that increase
covers only the two lowest grades,
and the allowance, of 1900 for play
grounds
The great need OF the teachers is
still to be met. The principals of the
high schools, the heads Of the de-
partments, the chief teachers of every
branch, and the great body of sub
ordinates are left just as poorly paid
as ever they We're But something
has been gained. IF the Senate COM
mittee has its way there are no longer
to be any teachers at work for $500
or S525 a year The ice is broken by
this recommendation. It is not rain
bow chasing to hope that next year
the surface may be cleared for COM
prehensiye action.
As TO the Fairgrounds, the whole
city will be glad that some of its
children may be kept of the streets.
What the Senate committee has rec
commended is not enough to reach
many sections. But the citizens
committee which has done SO much
for the cause in the past may be re-
lied upon TO continue its labors and
so make the aggregate Of good more
than noteworthy.
OF course, these recommendations
may be pared by the Senate. Even il
approved by the Senate, they must
still undergo the ordeal Of conferences
with the House. But the Senate is
accustomed TO view the reports OF it's
committees literally and bend the
will OF the House to suit the Senator
iaI recommendations, and whether
this prove to be the case with this
bill or not, the District can well feel
grateful to the committee which has
protected its interests so watchfuIly.