The Washington herald., 1908-04-02
pIstrict APPROPRIATIONS.


Washington is the capital of an opulent
nation 1t is a growing community
community rapidly expanding in popula-
ton. in wealth. in municipal revenue. and
in sssesssble property values. in the vol
ume or business transacted. and in the
worth OF it's manufactured output As the
governments activities extend in various
directions large additions are annually
made 10 the clerical and mechanical and
scientific forces employed in the Federal
service. The population is spreading out
from the business centers TO all points OF
the compass. requiring a continuous en-
largement of expenditure for those public
conveniences, such as police. schools. sew
ers, streets. and lighting that taxpayers
have a right to demand and expect from
a modern municipality
Yet a stranger examining for the first
time the budget OF expenditures presented
by the House Committee. on Appropria-
tons, and comparing it with the actual
cost Of operating the municipality for the
year just passing, would be justified II
his initial impressions led him to the con-
clusion that Washington is declining
community instead OF an advancing one.
that our local revenues were falling off,
that the need for municipal improvements
was growing less. and that as conse-
Quence, the able and discriminating mem
bers Of the appropriations committee had
determined 10 cut expenses accordingly.
IT, on further inquiry. he found that he
was mistaken in this inference from the
hn 4
that the city Of Washington is not pow
erty-stricken, but that the United States
Treasury is at the present moment feeling
the pinch of want 10 such an extent that
Congress cannot afford TO provide for the
necessities of growing capital. Had he
deived further into this interesting sub
ject our stranger might have been sur
prlsed 70 find that what could be saved
By pairing down the estimates for the gov
ernment Of the National Capital Congress
wa5 proposing 10 experd for the purchase
OF submarine torpedo boats.
Now, it is not necessary to assume that
everything the District Commissioners
asked for was desirable or essential in
order 10 see that there is something
wrong with a municipal budget that fails
10 keep pace with municipal progress
Local expenditures must naturally in
crease with the growth OF the govern
mental area, the enlargement Of the pop
ulatlon, and the development of NUM-
eipal conveniences. The District appro-
prlation bin appears to ignore this OBJ
vious principle. It's compilers appear to
assume that growing city needs no
more police, that II can worry along with
out all the streets and sewers il should
have that its children can be housed in
crowded schoolhouses or kept on half
time. that in short. the normal develop
ment OF the municipality should be held
in. check in order TO keep down the total
Of the appropriations.
We submit IIat this is an unfair and
ungenerous way OF dealing with the Dis
trict expenditures. Congress wastes every
year more money than is required TO meet
the steadily increasing needs of the Ma
tional Capital. The money expended here
is well invested. 1t contributes not only
10 the welfare of the inhabitants. but also
TO the beauty and dignity and good order
Of the city, matters which are the con-
cern Of the whole American people. The
District government is not extravagant.
and it ought TO be well provided with
funds for local Improvement and for
the maintenance Of those increasing mu-
nicipal activities demanded for the COM
fort and convenience. for the health and
morals, OF modern community. II is
false economy to cut off these funds or
TO reduce them below the limit Of actual
necessity.