Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
The Seuate's Increases.

Following its custom, the senate COM
mittee has literally increased the Dis
trict appropriation bill along the lines of
most urgent need. Yet these increases
do not fully meet the requirements of the
capital. which chiefly demand a more
equitable definition Of the relation be-
tween the current maintenance items Of
the budget and tine permanent improve
ments. Until Congress adopts the policy
of providing adequately for the upkeep
Of the municipal administration mere in
creases In the allotments of money will
only go part way toward solving the prob
lem. That policy will involve the abandon
ment Of the effort to achieve the impossi-
BILE result of paying for the large perma-
nent improvements on cash basis. 1t
will mean the establishment Of the Dis
trict finances on the business-like basis
which obtains in other cities and in all
large private establishments. 1t will give
the residents of the city of this genera
ton the benefit Of sufficient protection
from fire and crime, an ample school
system. a thorough health inspection
service and all the necessities of a well
organized, well managed city.
While waiting for the justice Of their
demand for this method of appropria-
ton to gain recognition in Congress.
the people of Washington are grateful
for the token of consideration afforded
by the Senate committee in the form
of liberal increases in the bill They
are all in the direction Of adequate
current maintenance which In the full
measure can only be assured when he
two classes Of items are separated and
the Districts debt to the United States
on the permanent-works account has
been placed on a properly long-term
basis OF repayment. The committee
writes a net advance Of $2O1397264
into the bill. bringing it UP to a total
of $11.969. 022.16, fairly approximate to
the real needs, trimmed to the limit Of
practical administration. II the Sem
ate's figures stand the District will
have a larger police force, a better
fire department, more schools and
teachers, more effective health inspec-
ton service, a more complete system
of street cleaning. an effective provision
for public playground supervision, and,
in the line Of permanent works, a fund
for completing the improvement of the
Union station plaza. 1t will have a
more adequately financed charity or
ganization, better equipped hospitals, a
more liberal scale Of compensations
and therefore better result in work
from the public officials.
One of the most important items in the
Senate committees draft of the bill is
the provision which renders available for
carrying out the recommendations of the
prison commission the fund remaining
unexpended in the Commissioners hands,
together with sufficient to bring the total
up to 100000. With this sum 1t will be
possible to make a practical start toward
providing the District with a reformatory
and a workhouse established and con-
Quoted along the humane. wise lines laid
down by the prison commission. This
item should be held in the bill throughout
it's course to the point of presidential sig
nature. 1t stands for one of the most
and should be regarded as an expenditure
in behalf of the solution of the crime
problem. If at the same time Congress
passes the probation and parole bills the
District will speedily emerge from its
present benighted state with regard to
the treatment of lawbreakers into a con-
dition of modern efficiency. Il. By meeting
these requirements now without further
postponement Congress will be working
toward shortening of the long list OF
local necessities awaiting provision, the
result of years of inadequate appropria-
tons.