Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07

l
public school questions and otherwise.
! The total population of the District of Co
| lumba so enumerated was 800 403, includ-
| ing 07,4S3 colored.
| Congress. it is hoped. will adopt the
recommendations of the Commissioners.
now earnestly renewed. that distinction
be made in the appropriation acts be-
| tween extraordinary and current expendi-
lures. with special provision for the Dis
F.. trict's one-half of extraordinary appro-
priations. The principle Of such a dis
| tinction has been observed in estimates
| oy the Commissioners for the next fiscal
year, which were prepared as heretofore
with due regard for economy. but also
que consideration Of all the needs of the
present and the future. so as to provide
Tor extraordinary projects Of improve
ment calling for large amounts Of money
and benehting posterity, and for items of
current expenditure necessary to main
tain and improve the municipal services
Advances Should Be Made.
The Commissioners recommend that
Congress finance the Districts share of
the cost Of extraordinary improvements
by providing for advances from the
United States Treasury to the District
government account to be repaid grad
uahy with interest in reasonable, annual
payments. They do not recommend the
issue of bonds for this purpose, the
method which is followed elsewhere. he
cause the national government is able
10 loan the District government what
IL needs ana has done SO during the
progress or the extraordinary improve
ments of the last seven years. But
Wh1ie recognizing that advances should be
made to the District Congress has only
MADE provision for them from year to
year. and they have been charged not to
the extraordinary expenditures account
Tor which they were required, but to the
seherai account. combining both ex-
traordinary and current expenditures al
though the latter can be more than met
result has been the reduction of the
estimates for current expenditures as
well as the postponement of needed ex-
traordinary improvements. If the two
classes OF expenditures had been kept
separate In all respects and advances
made from the United States Treasury
only for the extraordinary expenditures.
no cutting of the estimates for the cur
rent expenditures would have been nee
essary and the municipal services would
have been much better equipped in every
way For example. there is a large
arrears on account Of public school
buildings. because the estimates were
cut Gu 49, from ron year to year. in all about
now 1t can no longer be treated as com
ing under the head Of current expendi-
lures. because the amount estimated by
the board Of education as necessary is
|s'sio,OOV WHICH amount the Commits
sioners have recommended knowing that
the Districts half cannot be paid cur
rently out OF the revenues. The District
taxpayers. who support the Commits
sioners plan with substantial unanimity,
feel not only the reduction of the esti-
mates to the injury Of all their interests,
but also they feel the Misrepresentation
of their situation. Paying fair and ade-
auate taxes. the revenues of the District
for the next fiscal year exceeding
hn to
seem unable or unwilling to provide their
share Of the necessary current expenses
and proper payment on the extraordi-
nary Improvement account.
required by law to bring their estimates
within the estimated amount of the ap-
preparation fund formed by the District
revenues and the addition of a like fund
from the United States Treasury. they
have this year. as formerly. endeavored
to keep the estimates within a reasonable
relation to the probable appropriation
fund. BY providing for the payment
of 100000 on the extraordinary
able to bring the total estimates
within the probable amount Of the ap-
preparation fund. Leaving out Of ac-
count the self-supporting water depart
ment maintained by the water takers
expenditures, the net District revenues
from all sources for the next fiscal year
are estimated at 5000, 40 from which
the 100000 required for repayment on
treasury should be deducted. leaving the
net available amount $5.596,47O.
Amount Of Appropriation Fund.
The total amount of the appropriation
fund obtained by doubling this amount
would be $11,192 $40. The estimates for
extraordinary projects Of Improvement
comprise:
Public school buildings and grounds e. q 500 90
improvement Of Rock Creek valley. 10000 90
Suburban and trunk sewers. ........ 348, $50 90
Railway terminal work at Union
Municipal Hospital ............... 1866 900 90
Anaeo:tia river and Washington bar
Pney Branch bridge. ............. IS, 400. 90
1otel -, ooo, SOO.Oes
This extraordinary improvement ac-
count is covered by the proposed annual
payment of $4,000 a minimum. The
sinking fund requirement for the bonded
debt incurred under the territorial and
prior forms of government Is 1915. 406.
Deducting this amount from the appro-
priation fund leaves $1O.217.5S2. The es-
Inmates for current expendit ures amount
to So 1888 1882. The water department
account will call for $4,000 advances
| in general appropriations. but this will
be paid from the revenues Of the water
department, and SO need not be consid
cred in this relation.
/ Benehting the Future.
Since 1900 Congress has authorized nee
essary extraordinary improvements cali
| ing for large amounts Of money and bene-
| fitting the future as follows:
Sewage disposal system. ......... IS. 12A $40. 90
EuIauon pant. =, 46S, 100. 90
District building. INSTRUMENTATION. =, 500, 900. 90
Railway terminals. elimination Of
grade crossings and damages
changes Of grade. etc:
Bonus TO Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad
Company under act
Of February u, 1901
81 stat, 77s) :. ~. 500. 10000
Condemnation Of land
paving. grading, ETC..
around Union sta
tion ............... 1875, 10000
Damages changes Of
grade, Union station.
IN connection with
changes Of grade Of
! streets ........ 21cO37s2
3,147,os7. So
Connecticue Avenue bridge across
Rock Greek. District Of Columbia S34, 000. 90
! Highway bridge across Potomac
river and sppros ehes. :. .......... 1,ls6, 600 90
Massachusetts Avenue bridge across
/ Rock Greek Observation-Disclosures. 237 600 90
Anacostia bridge. Observation-Disclosures. $4,000. %
| Ptney Branch bridge .............. $4,000. 90
District Hospital. .................. 205. 10000
I iotht. $lt, loo, 6oS8
! The Dsstr;cf ~ c0urse uo,tst pav mo.