Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-25

penditures. as well as the s975.OOO which
the United States and the District pay
jointly each year for sinking fund and in
terest on the bonded debt of the territorial
government.
The next session will be the first
of Congress the Sixtieth, but
Speaker Cannon will, of course, be re-
elected, the personnel of the District of Co
lumbia subcommittee Of the House commit
tee on appropriations, before which we first
advocate our estimates. all of whose men,
bers have been reelected, will probably be
unchanged. that they will be thoroughly
familiar with our affairs and able to appre-
ciatc our arguments fully.
Much Is Wanted.
Wet got so much of what we recommend
ed in the last Congress that some people
thought we would have comparatively little
TO ask from the Sixtieth Congress. But of
course there is much to ask. The great
railway terminal project abolishing grade
crossings. removing the Pennsylvania tracks
and station from the Mall and the old Bal
timOre and Ohio station from near the Capt.
toll and giving a noble gateway in the
union station, whose completion ought
to be celebrated by our civic organizations:
the filtration plant, the e-disposal
system, the District government building,
Connecticut avenue bridge, will call for no
more appropriations. These things, for
which We worked so hard for seven years,
are practically completed. But we may now
hope that other projects that We have been
pressing will be favorably acted upon.
Il should place first, because Of its uni
verSal Importance to the health and beauty
of the national capital, the Improvement
of the AnacOstia basin, which has also an
important relation to the commerce of the
city since we so much need additional
wharfage. Congress will make no appro-
priation for this improvement until the
question of land titles is settled. So that
we must all work together for the Commits
siOners' estimate of $1,000 for a thorough
examination of all claims of private title
by expert since the Department of JUS
tlce was not able to settle the question I'M
der the legislation which the Commission
ers secured in the Congress before the last
Conduit for Water Supply.
Besides this great Improvement we
should press the proposed survey for an ad-
ditional conduit from Great Falls to double
the water supply and prevent a water
famine, if the present conduit should
break.
The growth of the District, the spread of
our building operations over the territory
outside of the city of Washington. call for
Increased appropriations for the munlc-
| Dal services. This is notably true in the
| health department., where we need an IN
crease of force well as an increase OF
! facilities shown by the development OF
! the past year. and in accordance with the
| former recommendations of the ConmlS-
! sioners 1t is TO be hoped also that Con
, gress will provide an armory for our Ma
| tional Guard, and that il will buy as mucL
! as possible of the land on the south side OF
| PENNSYLVANIA avenue and begin the cree
| ton OF buildings for the departments OF
State Commerce and Labor. Justice ana
| other departments and bureaus needing
| new or additional accommodations. An en-
| largement OF the United States Jail is also
| needed
Need for Mere Policemen.
| In the departments under my immediate
! iuris diction," Commissioner West said
| ''one of the most important estimates Will
| be for an increase of from fifty TO seventy
five men in the police department 1t viii
| be remembered that Mr.. Reynolds, in his
| report to the President the conditions
! in the District of Columbia. suggested that
! at least one hundred additional men were
| needed in view of the large amount of ter
! ritory which has 10 be protected. We hops
| Congress will grant an increase of at least
/ fifty men and if this is done the suburban
| districts will be much more thoroughly
patrolIed ard protected than at present.
| 1t is also essential that the old cells in
| the station houses should be replaced by
modern steel cages; while the erection OF q
new station house in the Anacostia district
is also much needed.
For Cleaning Alleys.
THE estimates for cleaning alleys will
also be increased. Within the past year
have instituted the work of cleaning alley.