Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-06
ALL ARE GRATIFIED
OF COMMISSIONERS
OVER APPROPRIATIONS.
Senate subcommittee Action Regard
ed as Liberal-Municipal Building
Item-Pay of Teachers.

The Senate subcommittee on District ap-
propriations has been good to the District,
said the District Commissioners today In
discussingSfhe' meas ure reported to the Sem
ate Saturday afternoon. me net increase
in the bill granted by the subcommittee was
S4S2 9S1. 60, while an additional 100000 in
the total cost of the new municipal build
ing was authorized as amendment to the
bill Other items considered as important
were increases in the salaries of some of
the lower grade school teachers increases
in pay of policemen.
Commissioner Macfarland expressed great
qualification at the increases given by the
Senate. The advance in the limit OF cost of
the new municipal building, for which the
Commissioners have labored SO ardently,
he considers the most important item. 1t
was thought best by the Commissioners to
have the item carried in the District ap-
preparation bill, owing to the uncertainty
that attaches to the presentation of pub
lie building bill. If public building bill
were framed, the Commissioners feel salts
fed the increase in cost of the new District
building would have been included. 1t was
deemed advisable to have the item go in
the District bill for reasons given.
There seems to be a general agreement
among members of Congress that the cost
of the new municipal building ought to be
increased as recommended and the Com
mssioners fully believe that the item will
remain in the bill when it is acted upon
by the conferees.
Salaries of Teachers.
Mr. mcfarland is pleased with the in
creases given in the salaries of public
school teachers. He considers the increases
authorized by the Senate committee as
only a beginning. but he is gratiied that
start has been made. 1t is also a source
the other Commissioners. as well, that the
Senate committee included in the bill ap-
preparations for two new school buildings,
one in Georgetown and one in South
Washington. and also that the committee
has made a beginning toward the extern
sion of the Mckinley and Armstrong Manual
Training Schools, by authorizing the pur-
chase of land for the purpose adjacent to
the schools. The increase in the cost of
new company at Benning also pleased Com
missioner Mcfarland
Mr.. Vests Conclusions.
ION the whole" said Commissioner West,
"the bill reported by the Senate subcom-
mittee is very satisfactory. The Senate has
treated the District with consideration, and
I sincerely hope the amendments proposed
to the House bill will appeal to the con-
ferees as essential to the good administra-
ton of the District of Columbia
Mr. West was pleased over the amend
ment proyiding for the increased cost of
the municipal building and the raise in pay
of school teachers. AS the Commissioner
in charge of the police department, he also
was gratified over the provisions giving
twenty priyates of class la, promotions to
class from $500 to 81 $50 a year. Mr.. West
stated that he wealdrh have been glad had
the Senate agreed to the proposition that
after a private has served five years he be
nromoted TO classs1 byereason of such SER
vice Next year. it Is stated, an effort will
ha made to secure. the enactment of a law
nroyiding for this manner of promotion.
Another item ins theis Senate bill which
nIeased Mr. West was that authorizing the
installation of new telephone exchange for
the police department.
Col. Biddles Pleased
o,olonel Biddle. Engineer Commissioner, is
particularly gratfied over the action
of the Senate committee in including the
item for $500o0O increase in the cost of the
new District building in the District BILL
Colonel Biddle regards this as essential to.
the erection of a substantial and appropri-
ate structure for the permanent home of
the District government He also expressed
his qualification over the appropriations for
renairs OF county streets and roads.
The item of ZOO for the establishment
and maintenance of public Fairgrounds, in
Guided In the bill, Is one which will be
noted with satisfaction by the District of
iicials, and citizens as well.
+