Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
No Extravagance.

Some critics who ought to know better
have assailed as extravagant the Com
missioners' estimates of recent years be-
cause both for current needs and perma-
nent improvements they have exceeded
the revenues.
II Washington. like other large Ameri-
can cities. chose its appropriating body
by unlimited suffrage and turned over
the contributions of the taxpayers TO
the organized non-taxpayers in pollti-
cal machine" for disbursement there,
the closest and most suspicious scrutiny
of every stage Of the appropriation proc
ess would not only be justified but he de-
manded In the public interest. II the
Commissioners even corresponded to the
mayor with veto power i'm such gov
eminent. and were thus an integral part
Of the appropriating body. then they
might in certain contingencies be COM
PEELED to bear a portion of the burden OF
responsibility for the extravaganza and
corruption which naturally result when
the city's purse is I'm the control OF those
who, broadly speaking, have not contrib
uted it's contents.
But the Commissioners are not part
OF the appropriating body at all. They
merely set forth the Districts needs and
suggest to the Districts exclusive legis-
lature the relative Importance and means
of meeting these needs. Congress gives
to these recommendations and sugges-
tions only the degree of consideration
which I'm it's wisdom and it's parsimony it
desires.
III extravaganza can be imputed to any
one in the matter. that one must be the
an imputation in respect to Congress Is
absurd.
The non-taxpayers do not in Washing
ton spend the city's money extravagantly
or corruptly The Districts appropriate
ing body (Congress) represents in itself
a half taxpayer, and gives the privilege
of suggestion to the other half taxpayer.
At every stage the taxpayers or their
representatives are dealing with the tax
payers contributions. And the DISPOSE
ton of Congress as the Districts appro-
priating body has been from the begin
ming until a comparatively recent date
to be. not extravagant. but parsimoni-
Gus to the point of gross injustice and
even breach of TRUST and of good faith.
The spectacle of Congress reproaching
itself with extravaganza in respect to the
District and attempting to tie its own
hands and those of future Congresses to
prevent congressional extravaganza and
corruption at the suggestion OF the local
taxpayers is calculated to provoke all
Washington to laughter. Congress has
absolute power in the matter in its own
hands. Does It distrust itself?
The Commissioners and other represent
stives Of the District do well when not
forbidden by law) to submit to Congress
the actual needs OF the District In their
fullness, even though it is beyond the
power of the local legislature to meet
them fully in any one year. Such action
Is merely an authorized exercise of the
privilege of petition. And every one
familiar with the financial history of the
District knows that the lesson has been
ground in upon the local taxpayers in their
relation to Congress that IL they ask
much they will get little. and If they
ask little they will get nothing.
For this year Congress in its wisdom
has required the Commissioners to limit
their estimates to the available revenues.
This limitation I'm effect restricts the
Commissioners in their estimates to fixed
charges and current needs. and compels
them to make recommendations concern
Ing permanent Improvements and the
handling of the Districts debt in some
other form than as estimates. If Con-
gress will accept substantially the Com
missioners' estimates covering the wise
apportionment of the revenues among
current needs. after deducting fixed
charges and will promptly and fully APP
propriate in accordance with these rec
concentrations, then this method of SUBJ
hitting estimates will be indicated.
Otherwise. contrariwise.