Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-03

aDuQSel or estimates LOT appropriations W
maintain the District government during
the fiscal year commencing July l next.
He urges that the estimates be transmit
ted to Congress without reduction.
: Mr.. mcfarland points out the neces-
sity of treating the extraordinary ex-
.penses for public projects and the gem
eral expenses separately, and calls atten-
lion to the fact that the amount asked
for the latter is less than twice the esti-
mated revenues of the District for the
next year.
Text of Commissioners Letter.
9 The Commissioners on motion of Mr.
,Macfarland. have sent the following COM
1munication to the Secretary of the
Treasury:
THE Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia have the honor to ask that IN
considering the estimates for appropria-
tons for the fiscal year ending June 80
1910, sent by them to you on OCTOBER
10. 1905, for transmission to Congress,
the distinction which they have MADE
in the estimates between extraordinary
expenditures and current expenditures be
observed by you in your action upon
those estimates. Although it has been
customary for both the Commissioners
and the Secretary of the Treasury to
consider the estimates in connection with
the probable amount of the appropr1d-
ton fund, made up of the District
revenues and the contribution OF ike
amount by the United States Government,
no law requires the Commissioners or
the Secretary of the Treasury to keep
the total of the estimates within the
estimated total amount of the appropri-
alton fund Nevertheless, this can be
done with respect to the appropriation
fund of the next fiscal year without any
reduction of the estimates, provided the
two classes, extraordinary and current
expenditures, are distinguished and
treated separately.
Fund for Next Fiscal Year.
"The appropriation fund for the next
fiscal year will amount to approximately
s11 .1O1 1852, after deducting from the
District revenues, estimated at S8,O96, 40,
100000 as a reasonable payment of the
amounts advanced to the District from
the national Treasury with interest
because of the extraordinary expenditures
for large works of improvement. This
proposed payment of S500OO0 made annu-
ally would gradually repay advances made
and which should be made from the ma
tional Treasury to enable the District to
meet it's share of the cost of extra
ordinary projects of improvement. the
only method in which the need of the
District for such improvements can be
properly met.
Elsewhere municipalities borrow by
bond issued money needed for extraordi-
nary projects of improvement, always
treating such extraordinary expenditures
separately from current expenditures.
Here bond issues are unnecessary, since
the national government can advance
whatever Is needed to the District of CO.
lumbia to be repaid gradually with inter-
est The total amount recommended by the
Commissioners this year for extraordinary
projects OF improvement is $3.50 $50, in
GLIDING S2.21S,jOO for school buildings and
grounds $7jO,O00 for high-pressure fire
protection service. 100000 for the i'm
provement of Rock Creek valley. $34S $50
for suburban and trunk sewers 1905 600 for
the Anacostia basin, the Anacostia river
and the Washington harbor front $3.50.
vicinity. 100000 for Municipal Hospital
$4,000 for completing Piney Branch
bridge.
For Current Expenditures.
'Deducting the amount of the extraor-
binary expenditures estimated from the
total amount of the Commissioners esti-
mates leaves s11,174145 for current ex-
penditures and for the sinking fund pay
ment of 1915. 4OS. 1t is obvious that this
amount will be covered by the net es-
timaIed appropriation fund of s11 1872, $40
Therefore it is unnecessary even with a
estimated appropriation fund to cut the
estimates of either The extraordinary or
the current class The District revenues
expenditure if provision is made for the
proper treatment of them, so that it is
Unnecessary 10 stop extraordinary i'm
provements or cripple the municipal serv-
ices.
1.-THE Commissioners will again ask
Congress at the coming session to make a
permanent arrangement under which ad-
vances made to the District of Columbia
from the United States Treasury shall be
charged to an extraordinary Improvement
capital account. instead of as now to
the current or general account, and so
that repayment may be made gradually
in reasonable installments, with interest
and IL is hoped that Congress will agree
to this recommendation. Congress has
annually made temporary provision begin
ming with the act of February IL. 1901
for advances from the United States
Treasury to the District of Columbia, al
per cent interest on the current general
account, and its latest provision expires
on the LIST of July next, when, Under Its
terms whatever is then due is to be re-
paid within five years.
What Plan Provides.
THE plan proposed by the Commission
ers will provide for whatever may be due
on this account on the LIST of July next
as well as what may thereafter become
due under advances already made or to
be made. The Commissioners express the
hope that in view of the foregoing state
ments you will act as you did last year In
transmitting the District of Columbia es.
Inmates to Congress without recommend
ing any reduction in their amount with
the understanding that they cover extraor-
binary as well as current expenditures
which should be separately treated ano
that the District revenues are ample tO
provide for them all if the two classes
of expenditures are so treated.
"A reduction in either class of expendi-
lures, such, for example. as the cutting
OF the estimates for current expenditures
which have been made in the past because
there was no permanent arrangement OF
the matter. tends to impair the municipal
services and retard the progress of the
National capital.
I'm this letter the self-supportins
water department, which is maintained by