Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04

arately on the books OF the United states
treasury as a capital account. AS the au-
thorization of extraordinary improvements.
the appropriation of every dollar necessary
for them and the custody ano contro. y,
the District revenues would under TINS pan
continue exclusively In Congress, there
would be no risk to the natio.al govern
msnt in its adoption: 1t would provlde q
permanent business-like settlement OF what,
as 1t stands, requires annual legislation
necessarily of an unsatisfactory kind
District Needlessly Crippled.
The temporary advances made from the
United States treasury are charged now
to the general account combining extraor-
binary and current expenditures. although
the latter class Of expenditures can be am
ply met by the District revenues. ana the
result of this confusion Of accounts Is tnat
the Commissioners. the Secretary OF the
Treasury the committees on appropriations
and Congress itself are hampered and EN-,
barrassed in dealing with the estimates ana
appropriations. The practical result mas
been to reduce the amounts required lor
current expenditures 30 that the municlpai
services have suffered when 1t was not nee
essary that they should suffer. since tnefe
were and are ample revenues 10 provioe
for all current needs and also reasonable
repayment to the national treasury with
interest on the advances by n. lncioentaiy,
the District taxpayers. who are LaiIly
taxed and are paying their taxes !a.iiy ,
are misrepresented by situation 1or winch
they are not responsible so as to seem un-
able or unwilling to provide their snare oi
the cost Of necessary current expehoIture.
The Commissioners believe that Congress
will not allow this situation to continue
much longer. The necessity for the adop-
ton of the permanent plan recommended
by the Commissioners Is Indicated py the
fact that besides the amounts recommended
for extraordinary improvement In the estl-
mates for the next fiscal year 1t Is estimated
that there should be due the United states
from the District of Columbia for advances
II all known and estimated appropriations
are expended to June 30. 1907, the sum OF
81. 951, 939 81 on the LIST of July next, and
that, deducting all possible amounts the
payment of which may be deferred, there
will be due that day So 2O1 .939 81
In the preparation Of the estimates the
Commissioners were obliged to recommend
for extraordinary projects of Improvement
S1.S75 800, the items comprising: District
building, S55OOOO: high-pressure fire pro-
lection service, $75O,OOO; suburban sewers,
500 800: municipal hospital for chronic
cases, 100000; railway terminal work,
$4,000.
Bills Relating to the District.
During the first session of the present
Congress the Commissioners reported upon
bills and resolutions relating to the District
of Columbia referred to them for report,
according to custom. by the committees of
Senate bills and 1913 House bills. Through
the chairmen of the Senate and House COM
mittees of the District of Columbia the
Commissioners presented sixty-nve piiis
and resolutions for the consideration or
Congress Before acting upon bills relating
to the District which had passed botn
houses of Congress the President or the
United States. according to custom referred
ment and they favorably reported upon all
bills referred
Control Of Savings DepoStories.
The Commissioners bill. drafted in the
office of the controller of the currency. pro-
viding for supervision of the savings banks
by the controller of the currency. enacted
at the last session of Congress. has already
proved its value to the community 1t Las
been put in practical operation by the con-
troller. with the effect of strengthening me
sound banks and Of closing two which were
Iarged so as to cover all similar banks. 1t
is believed that similar legislation should be
enacted respecting the building and loan
associations Of the District The Commits
sioners recommend such legislation.
Civil Service in Local Government.
A bill providing a civil service law for
the District government should be passed.
Being a municipal corporation. 1t -. under
the uniform decisions Of the Supreme Court
Of the United States. not a part Of the ma
tional government. and therefore not en-
titled to the benefits Of its civil service law.
30 that there II no legal protection for the
merit civil service system maintained by
the Commissioners. .-' ..t
Change Of Inauguration Day.
The Commissioners earnestly invite early
and favorable action by Congress upon the
proposed change of Inauguration day from
the 4th of March to the last Thursday In
April. in order that the health of those who
participate In the ceremonies Of the inaugu-
ration of President and Vice President may
be protected from the dangers of the
weather, which have proved fatal to so
many in the past and have deprived the
country of some of Its most valuable serv-
ants.
The. Commissioners renew their recon-
mendation that the District of Columbia be
given two representatives at the Military
Academy. instead of one. Congress having
acted favorably upon their recommended
ton that the District should be given two
representatives at the Naval Academy. The
District has more population than any one
of six of the states. its population Is in
creasing, and 1t should have the additional
opportunity for its young men which this
would AFFORD.
Contracts for construction work, like all
other contracts. should be made valid when
signed by majority of the board Of Com
missioners, instead OF 1t being required. as
Commissioners. The Commissioners again
ask Congress to enact the necessary legis-
lation.
Legal Matters.
The work of the corporation counsel's Of
flee has been greatly increased by the en-
actment Of new laws. especially those re-
lating to the Juvenile court. compulsory
education. abatement of nuisances. keeping
of employment agencies. the condemnation
OF insanitary buildings. etc, while the COM
pick questions connected with municipal
administration also become numerous as
the District develops. No less than 525
written opinions were rendered by the cor
poration counsel during the year, embrace
ing great variety of topics. and many Of
them laying down principles which have
been adopted as presidents for future ac-
ton. One Of the important cases during the
year concerned the adjudication Of the claim
of the Washington. Alexandria and Mount
Vernon railroad for the expense incurred in
removing its tracks from E street and
their relocation under the direction Of the
District Commissioners Under the law the
Supreme Court of the District of Columbia
was given jurisdiction to determine this
cost. The company claimed $50. 7O4. "a. The
auditor of the court allowed $5S, AS 80 to
which award an exception was taken The
tor mi 1aI