Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-16
BIC SUM ASKED FOR
IN DISTRICT BUDGET
Estimates of $15,658,0 ,045.52
to Be Filed With Congress.
BY MAcEARI AND
|ANALYZED BY MCFARLAND
Washington's Needs Set Aside for
Debt to Federal Treasury.
WAS PAID BACK TOO RAPIDLY
Commissioner Says That Figures
for Next Year Include Accumula.
ton From Reduced APP
propriations.

At the coming session of Con.
gress the District Commissioners
will ask for an appropriation OF
SI5.o58,o45.52, with which to
maintain the government of the
District of Columbia during the
fiscal year commencing July
next.
This is 100000 more than
they asked for the present year.
Of this estimate of the admins
tration's needs SII, ,IoI. .6o5.52 is to
be applied to current expenditures
and the sinking fund. The sum
of $4,556,35o is for what is termed
extraordinary expenses, such as
public Improvements and projects.
The Commissioners after two weeks
work. completed the preparation OF their
budget of estimates yesterday afternoon
the Treasury Department at noon today
for transmission to Congress.
Commissioners Review Estimates.
In a statement issued by him today
Commissioner Macfarland gives an ex-
planatory resume of the estimates. The
statement follows:
TN accordance with their policy for the
past seven years. the Commissioners have
asked all that they considered immediate
IL necessary. in view of the District 3
growth and needs. distinguish hing, and
asking Congress to distinguish, between
items for extraordinary projects Of i'm
provement and current expenditures. And
with this distinction made the esti-
mates come within the estimated appro-
priation fund made up OF the District
revenues and contribution Of the national
government.
THE District revenues are estimated at
$8,096.47O. From this we should deduct
100000 as a reasonable payment, with
interest. on the amount advanced to us
from the national Treasury, because OF
extraordinary expenditures for large
works Of Improvement. leaving 1886 600
as the net available amount, which. dou-
bled by adding the national governments
contribution. makes an estimated appro-
priation fund Of sl1. $4,000.
This Is needed only for the current ex-
penditures. Extraordinary expenditures
being provided for by an annual nav
ment Of $5000O0. and the sinking fund
payment. $875.0U. on the old bonded debt
preceding the present District government.
These items Of estimates for current ex-
penditures and for the sinking fund
amount to s11. 1O1. .695. ~, which is covered
by the amount of the appropriation fund.
Situation Is Confusing.
'It is unfortunate that We have to in
clude our estimates for extraordinary ex-
expenditures in the same budget IL
makes confusion in some minds when the
total Is compared with the District reve-
nues or the appropriation fund.
For example. this year we are asking
$4.5J6.35O for extraordinary projects OF
Improvement, for which We propose to pay
vances made by the United States Treas
ury, and which 1t would be impossible to
pay for in any one year without confisca-
tory taxation.
Those who advocate the application OF
traordinary as well as current expendi-
lures really advocate confiscatory taxa
tion. No municipality anywhere in the
world pays for extraordinary improve
ments out OF current revenue. because II
would be impossible without confiscatory
taxation.
I'VE want the extraordinary improve
ments. We must have them in the in
terest Of the health, safety. beauty and
commercial prosperity OF the capital. But
we must also have adequate appropria-
tions for all municipal services, including
schools. fire and police, health. street
lighting, street cleaning, street and side
walk improvement and all other branches.
Our revenues are ample without any
increase OF taxation to make an appro-
pirate annual payment on account OF ex-
traordinary projects or Improvement ana
to meet all our estimated current ex-
pendtures, beside making the sinking
fund payment on the bonded debt of the
Old regime.
During the past seven years We have
spent about $16.O00.o0O on extraordinary
Improvements. including the filtration
plant. new sewage system. abolition OF
grade crossings and railway terminal
work, District building, new bridges. tu-
berculosis hospital and suburban sewers.
was advanced by the United States Treas
ury. with interest at per cent, ana
S.. .OOO, 600 of that amount has been repaid
Repayment Too Rapid.
This was too rapid a repayment. Con-
gress. in requiring it. had to cut appro-
priations for current expenditures to meet
it. This is the explanation or why our
schools, health, police. fire, street I'M
movement and cleaning. street hghung
and other municipal services nave not
been given adequate appropriations.
MANY of our people do not seem to
understand this. and hence nave not oeen
as .,ctiye as they should have been in sup
norfing the Commissioners in their en-
dsavor to have the matter properly treat
ed by Congress
..Those who do not like statistics can
understand 1t IL they will realize that one
reason why we have to ask this year
81 2IsCOO for school buildings and
grounds is because the Commissioners