Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-16
RIGID ECONOMY OBSERVED
Hoped That Congress Will Find No
Cause for Reductions.
RESTRICTION ON PUBLICATION
Figures Not to Be Made Known
Until Submitted to Congress.
Some Recommendations Urged.

with the ODJeCC or preparing q DCOSet
! OF the Districts financial needs for the
next fiscal year that will so appeal to
Congress that the Capital legislators will
find no good reasons for changes or re-
| ductions, the Commissioners have begun
the preparation Of their next annual es-
Inmates.
At the first meeting for that purpose.
held in the board room of the District
building yesterday, this general policy
| was outlined, and all the Commissioners
were in entire accord with 1t. Because
OF this aim and of the provision of law
that the estimates shall not exceed the
revenues the Commissioners are exerting
extraordinary care this year in the in
sertion Of items in the list of estimates
As the estimates cannot exceed the avail
able funds for the same fiscal year. it is
believed that the District appropriation
act as it passes Congress will more near
ly follow in full the total estimates OF
the Commissioners than ever before.
The days Of newspaper headlines about
| big Cut In District Estimates over
the report of the District appropriation bill
from the committee to the House, it is
believed, are numbered. 1t not ended,as a
result Of this new policy.
Another innovation this year will be
| that the estimates OF the Commissioners
will not be published in advance Of their
submission to Congress. In former years
the Commissioners gave to the newspapers
the outlines of their estimates as soon as
they were completed: but a clause In the
last District appropriation act prohibits
that procedure this year.
Purchase Of Motor Cars Urged.
Automobiles for the two assistants to
the Engineer Commissioner are desired by
tha ~,
| missioners have been urged to include an
item Of 5000 for the purchase Of two
machines. Both of the assistants have
charge Of large amount of outside work.
Capt. e NJ Markham Is In charge Of the
highway improvements and he must keep
In general touch with the different prof.
scts. both in the way Of looking over
sections with a view to future improve
ments and in the way of supervising work
actually progressing. Capt William Kelly,
the other assistant, is in charge Of the
water. sewer. building and other depart
ments. and OF course must supervise much
outside work done in connection with ex-
tensions Of the water and sewer mains.
Although the two assistants now have
horses and a carriage for their use. it is
believed that better results will be ac-
complished by the use of the rapid motor
vehicles: and 1t Is contemplated that
money will be saved by the adoption of
Iuo uOQ0Iu Type Oh conveyance.
The success of the use of two automo-
biles provided. by. Congress In the last
District appropr iation act-one for the
superintendent. of county roads and one
| for q surveying field party-has con-
vinced many engineer department Off
cials that automobiles are more economi
cal and more efficient. It Is pointed out
that when horse-drawn vehicle was
used by the field party. the surveying
squad found itself unable to keep up with
INT of HxyoC coll 1aA
upon to do. Since the introduction of the
automobile, however, the squad has found
1t easy to keep its work cleaned up. L.
r. Grabill. superintendent Of county
roads. has also found that, with the use
OF an automobile. he has been able to
visit the several projects under his direc-
tiOn more frequently and therefore Keep
in touch with the work better. and yet
has had more time to give to his Office
| work.
After watching the use Of the two auto
mobiles in the past few months Assistant
Engineer Commissioner Markham de-
clared that he was in favor of the substi-
tuition of motor-prOpelled vehicles for
horse-drawn vehicles in all departments
Of the local government in connection
with which outside work is necessary. on
| the ground Of economy and increased ef-
ficiency.
Motor Fire Engines Favored.
The purchase Of some motor freight
ing apparatus, with view to increasing
the efficiency Of the fire department. has
also been urged upon the Commissioners
by Fire Chief Wagner. He became en-
| thusiastic in advocacy of the motor fire
engines after witnessing several tests OF
! that type at a recent meeting of the In
ternational Association Of Fire Chiefs, and
| further impetus was given to the scheme
| by the recent visit of a motor fire engine
to Washington.
| The Commissioners have announced
themselves in favor of this new type Of
| e-6ghting vehicle, and 1t is believed
| that the estimates will contain an item
! for the purchase Of one or more Of such
| engines.
/ The engineer department also desires
that the Commissioners shall include in
| their estimates an item of about $500
| for the completion and maintenance for
a year of the public golf course In Rock
| Creek Park, near the Brightwood reser-
voir The course has been laid out and
the greens prepared. but q small sum Is
required to provide cups and markers
| for the several holes. sand boxes and
other equipment 1t Is also believed that
an overseer should be provided. and some
money made available for maintenance.
| AS considerable disappointment has
| been been expressed at the failure of the
golf course to be opened during the past
| summer, and as the amount of money
needed Is small. it Is believed that the
| Commissioners will put an item covering
this expenditure In their estimates.
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