Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-16
The District Bill.

The District appropriation bin reaches the
House from committee with the usual heavy
cut from the estimates, this year amount
ing to s.. $50 - against a cut, at this
stage. OF S3U235ls last year The bill as
reported carries, exclusive of the water de-
partment. 50, l31 ,ZSI, or $263.651 less than
the amount carried b! the bill as reported
10 the House a year ago. Thus, as COM
pared with the budget in a corresponding
state in 1900, this bill Is less liberal to the
District, even though the Commissioners
estimates have not suffered as heavily as
they did last year. This is because the estt-
mates were considerably lower this year
than last.
In one respect the bill is satisfactory. 1t
includes an appropriation of 100000 for
the municipal tuberculosis hospital That
fact is a guarantee that the much-needed
institution will finally be established, be-
ginning in this District work which should
make materially for the betterment of the
communty's health.
At the same time, it is unfortunate that
the House committee saw fit to cut out
once more the estimate of $3.50, 200 for the
installation of the hgh-pressure water serv-
ice for fire fighting. That equipment is
urgently needed by the District and prob
ably will eventually be installed. at a great
er cost than though the work were author
ized at once. 1t will effect an immediate
saving In the cost of fire engine companies
and will In the course of very few years
more than pay for it's installation in the
saving of property in the business district.
1t is to be hoped that the Senate will add
the item and fight for 1t in conference. The
budget is none too high as 1t stands, and
this addition could easily be borne.
The cuts in the estimates run all down
the line, with a little trimming here and
big gouging there. The Commissioners es-
timated. as was proper. on the basis of pro-
vi1ing the District with its actual needs to
date. regardless of the fact that Congress
las run the municipality heavily into debt
and mOrtgaged it's tax revenues by listing
the large permanent works as current
charge against the income instead of financ-
ing them on a long-term basis. According
to the figures submitted by the committee
the general revenues of the District for the
next fiscal year will probably be 1000, 900
in excess of the amount chargeable against
them on the account of the pending bill.
appropriations already made or yet to be
made in other bills will bring the surplus
OF local tax revenues down to $500. 900. From
this must come the interest charge for the
federal advances estimated at S54.3lT for
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1901, leaving
an apparent surplus of approximately $685.
GO to be applied to the Districts debt to
the federal treasury. That debt will, at the
close Of the present fiscal year. amount TO
S2,715Ss3. according to estimates Thus IL
the whole of the surplus revenue of the
District is turned over TO the treasury,
making payment Of 81 per cent, there will
SIN be a deficit or debt of 81 392, 443
II the House does not itself turn about
on the right tack in the matter and proceed
TO appropriate up to the needs and the reve-
rues after financing the cost of the large
permanent works on a long-term basis. the
Senate should 50 amend the bill as finally
10 place the District on the business foun-
dalton for which its citizens and Commits
soners have been asking for several years.