Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03
FACILITATES THEIR LABoRS
ACTION OF SECRETARY .CoRTEL-
YOU PLEAsEs BOARD.
Complies With Commissioner Re.
quest and Does Not Cut the
District Estimates.

/ That the estimates of the District Com.
missioners for the next fiscal year were
submitted to Congress through the Sec
rotary of the Treasury without any de-
duction was particularly gratifying to the
Commissioners. When they forwarded
their estimates to Mr.. Cortelyou they
suggested that no deduction be made, and
his compliance, the Commissioners say.
will greatly facilitate their labors at the
Capitol in behalf of the estimates for ap-
preparations.
In letter to Secretary Cortelyou the
Commissioners explained that their esti-
mates were based upon the distinction
made between items Of extraordinary i'm
provement and items of current expend-
lures. They presented facts showing
that the revenues of the District are
of expenditures, If the two classes are
treated separately. according to the
recommendation of the Commissioners.
Letter to Secretary Cortelyou.
NO law requires the Commissioners or
the Secretary of the Treasury to keep the
estimates within the estimated amount of
the appropriation fund.-" the letter from
the Commissioners stated. which is. as
you are aware, made up of the. District
revenues and the contribution of a like
amount by the United States government;
but 1t has been customary for both the
Commissioners and the Secretary of the
Treasury to consider the estimates in con-
nection with the probable amount of the
appropriation. This fund for the next
fiscal year will amount to approximately
$11,e22,O6O. estimating the District reve-
nues, as the Commissioners do, upon the
statements of the District officers charged
with the preparation of the estimates of
the revenues, at $5,911 .O3O: whereas the
total amount of the estimates as prepared
by the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia is $13, o67 1855. But while on
the face of these figures it would appear
that the total amount of the estimates Is
larger than the probable appropriation.
the fact is that the Commissioners have
recommended for the current expenditures
of the different municipal services and the
payment to the sinking fund and interest
on the bonded debt. SIC. 375, 91635. while
the remainder Of the estimates falls un-
der the head of extraordinary expendi-
lures. which the Commissioners believe
should be treated here as in other mu-
inequalities, separately from the current
expenditures. The items Of extraordinary
expenditure contained in the estimates
comprise the following:
High pressure fire service system, $780,
600; suburban and trunk sewers $355,35O:
for treatment of chronic diseases. ETC.,
100000; pubic school buildings, 1885,
600; total. 1921, $50.
Possible Chances.
In speaking OF the estimates Commits
sioner Mcfarland expressed much appre-
ciatioin at the action of the Secretary Of
the Treasury in transmitting them with
out deduction. Referring to the possible
chances of the estimates in the hands Of
Congress. he said:
1--WE strongly hope that Congress will
respond favorably to our request to make
a permanent settlement of this matter. in
stead of the temporary and provisional
from year to year, which
has been made annually since the great
works of municipal improvement here
began in 1901. Advances from the Treas
ury should be made solely on the extraor-
binary account, and can be repaid gradu-
ally with interest without interfering with
the appropriations for current expendi-
lures. ! trust every citizen will read
that portion of the Commissioners annual
report to Congress which deals with this
matter at length. and then do his utmost
to see that it is carried out. so that our
appropriations may not be oNt to the
detrime mt of both extraordinary and cur
rent estimates"