Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-06

Cut to the bone and trimmed to a fin
ish, the District of Columbia appropria-
ton bill was reported to the House of
Representatives today from the appropri-
alton committee by Representative Gard
ner of Michigan. chairman of the SUBJ
committee, of which Messrs Madden of
Illinois, Vreeland Of New York, Burleson
of Texas and Bowers of Mississippi are
the other members.
The measure, as reported, carries a
total. exclusive Of the water department,
of So. s37. 1852, which is S6.169,237 less
than the sum asked for by the Commis-
soners, and $3S. 47O.33 less than the total
of the District appropriation for the cur
rent fiscal year.
The amount recommended for the water
department. all of which is payable from
the water revenues. is Sl23, 100, a reduc-
tion of $1,000 under the appropriations
for the water department for the current
fiscal year.
Estimated Water Revenues.
In this connection the committee says:
1T is estimated that the water revenues
available for the fiscal year 1910 will
amount to $5J5.OOO. but it is provided in
the accompanying bill. as it was in the
acts for the current and seventeen pre-
ceding fiscal years. that any surplus of
these revenues over the appropriation
shall be applied to the work Of extending
the high-service system of water distri-
button. Under these indefinite appropria-
tions there has been expended to July /,
i:NS. about So, 1DW0. The estimated
ultimate cost is about S560O.OOO. which
sum includes S1.2D3.0OU estimated to be
required To complete installation of meters
r,,-t,-.
Fire committee estimates that. on its
basis. the total amount to become a
charge against the District revenue will
not exceed 81 To-, .64.l1. or 4s.90,,.J0 less
than the estimated revenues. which will
leave surplus available. as required by
law. To reimburse the United States Treas
ury for sums advanced.
Supervision of Buildings.
There are some interesting legislative
limitations on appropriations in the bill
One provision repeals all laws requiring
the inspector of buildings to supervise
the preparation of plans for and the
construction of ali buildings belong to
the District of Columbia. and provides
for a municipal architect, at a salary of
$500 year. to do this work.
In connection with the building in
spector's office there Is this further linn
itation:
The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia are hereby authorized and di-
rected. from time to time, to prescribe "A
schedule of fees to be paid for permits
certificates and transcripts of records is
sued by the inspector of buildings for
the District, for the erection alteration
repair or removal of buildings and their
appurtenances. and for the location of
certain establishments for which permits
are now or hereafter may be required
under the building regulations of the |
District. said fees to cover the cost and
expense ct the issuance of said permits
AMI certificates, and of the inspection of |
the work done under said permits said |
schedule shall be printed and conspicu- |
ously displayed in the Office of the in |
spector of buildings. and the fees shall |
be paid to the collector of taxes in the |
District"
Repairs of Streets.
In connection with street repairs there |
Is legislative provision authorizing the |
Commissioners, in their discretion. to ex- |
pend not TO exceed 100000 Of the sum ap- |
propriated for repairing streets, avenues |
and alleys by what is known as the |
Heater method of repairs. They are au- |
thorized to enter into supplemental con- |
tract with the present contractor IL a sat |
lsiactory price can be agreed upon, and. |
~ not, they may enter into IA new contract |
after competition.
provision in connection with street |
nenuHS reduces the price for street /
iShtng by electricity from SSS to $50 for |
each light and for electric current used |
Tor other purposes to 41a cents per kiIo- /
watt hour. Street lighting by gas is re-
duced from SIS To S1J a light for Hat
name burners and from S2o.S5 to SIS per |
light for incandescent mantle burners
and with oil from $22s5 to SO per light
Policemen are prohibited from being de-
tailed for duty watchmen at the mu-
niclpai building. according to another
provision, and the number of watchmen |
at that building is increased from five to
eight. |
justices of the Peace Decreased.
There is another provision Of consider
able interest. to the effect that the next
vacancy occurring I'm the Office of Justice
OF the peace for the District of Columbia
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