Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03


der act Of Feb
Stat. 779,..... 81. SOC. 10000
Condemnation Of
land paving,
around Union
station l,OIo,0Oo.oV
Damages. changes
Of grade. Union
station. in con
nectIon with
changes of grade
OF streets 2o9.OOo.Oo .oo .o
Conn, cticut Avenue bridge acroes
Rock creek. d. C................ S3i.OVo.Oo
river and approaches. :......... 1,ioS.ooe.oo
Massachusetts Avenue bridge. across ~.
Rock creek. ......... S.'o 10y 80
Pinsy Rr.nch bridge . 10000 90
D,.trIct HOSPITAL .....,,.,,... EOS. 900. 90
Total .................... $1o' 'es's@"'o"
The District could not pay currently Its
q share OF the cost OF such Improvements
any more than any other municipality
could pay for such inprovem ants out OF
current revenues without cutting down
the appropriations for regular munlclpai
services. In view of that fact the Com
missiopers have recommended from year
to year since these improvements began
that Congress finance the Districts share
of their cost by providing for advances
account. to be repaid gradually with In
terest in reasonable annual payments as
loan from the national government to Its
partner, the District government to be
carried separately en- the books OF the
United States Treasury like the capital
account in any other municipality. Con-
gress having exclusive authorization OF
extraordinary improvements. the appro-
priation Of every dollar necessary Tor
them and the custody and control OF the
. District revenues, there would be ne risk
to the national government In the adop-
ton of this plan. which would provide
permanent business-like settlement OF the
matter. Congress has recognised the
the District and has made such ad-
vances under temporary provtston
from year to year In the appropria-
ton act. But the advances under
this temporary legislation are charged.
not to- the extraordinary expenditures
for which they are required. but to the
general account. combining both extraor-
binary and current expenditures. the lat
ter more than met by tho District reve-
.nues.
80. Because the two classes OF expenditures
Are thus confused the Commissioners. the
+. Secretary OF the Treasury, the committees
Of appropriations and the Congress are
hanpeesd and embarfeased In deenn8
with the estimates and appropriations.
and the practical result has been the re-
. duction of the estimates for current ex-
penditIres a. well a. the pOstpeaeznent Of
. needed. extraordinaU improvements.
II
on this subject expires on July next, and
since Il will be necessary to mako further
provision respecting the advances al
ready made, upon which tho balance dive
Including the $1so000 due 70 the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company as the
Districts one-half Of the payment required
by section az thA act OF Congress ap-
proved February u, 1904, from the ap-
preparation Of 81. 10000 70 b. made 10
that company In consideration OF Its COM
Mi wi n
ton to the construction Of the new ter
minAl station, ETC., VIII amount. 1t II
estimated. to A.iO7. 45S.ee. on June 10
next, IT is hoped that Congress at the
cordiaG to the Commissioners plan. All
that 10 necessary - that Congress shall
authorize advances TO be made on ac-
count OF extraordinary improvements au'
repayment at o maximum annual sum
with interest within . limited term OF
ysers. The District taxpayers. who are
paying fair taxes. are seriously affected
by the present situation. not only because
1t compels the cutting Of appropriations
for their municipal service and improve
mentS, which 10 not necessary and in
1ures their interests. but because they are
misre pres nted by bsing made to seem un-
able and unwilling to prov de their share
They support the Commissioners plan
with substantial unanimity. The net Dis
tYict revenues from all sources. exclusive
of the self-supporting water department.
maintained by the water takerS, for the
next fiscal year are estimated at 1871 .G30
The total amount Of the estimates is
$l3.667 .2GG.35- OF this 81. 29l $50 is for the
extraordinary projects of Improvement
comprising:
High-Pressure Fire Service.
High pressure IRE service. $150. 600;
suburban and trunk sewers. 1865, $50; rail-
way terminal work. $4,000; hospital
for treatment OF chronic diseases. $lOO, 600;
public school buildings, $1.938COO..
Nine hundred and seventy-five thousa nd
dollars Is the annual payment Of the in
terest and sinking fund on the bonded
debt incurred under the territorial form of
government: 50. 400. IS Is for current
expenditures.
The estimates for current expenditures
Include such items as a much-needed in
crease in the police force, with a proyi.
sion for more street repairs. and for
more street cleaning. for additional street
lighting and larger force and Increased
facilities for the health department. ad-
ditional Fairgrounds and similar improve
ments. besides the maintenance of the
regular services. Thess estimates ought
not TO be cut. as has been done in the
past. The effect of the method which
has been followed in dealing with the ap-
preparations during the past seven years
District has been charged with one half
the cost Of extraordinary projects of I'M
provement aggregating In the main $l6-
734. 425. or 1885,. 2I2. the District will owe.
on account of advances June 30 next. ae-
cording to the estimates, "a, 107. 439 %.
This indicates that the District has paid
currently more than one-half Of its share
OF the cost of extraordinary Improvements.
which. of course. must have been obtained
by cutting the appropriations for cure mt
expenditures. II the amount, more than
$A00e!00o. used for this purpose. had been
available for current expenditures with
. the proper annual payment on the extraor-
binary Improvement account, 1t would
have increased the appropriation fund
during these years by double its amount,
which would have enabled Congress to
= make appropriations that would have kept
the municipal services In the best con-
dition.
Municipal Conditions and Progress.
The Commissioners observe with gratifi-
cation the fact that there is a constantly
increasing national interest in the welfare
and progress of the Capital city This pa
triotie concern Is manifested In the nu-
merous propositions before the Congress
looking 10 the physical Identification of
WASHINGTON. and Is also evident in the
many words of commentator uttered by
visitors who find this city ideal for con-
ventions and who depart with their regard