The Washington herald., 1910-12-07

day in Washington is about 80 cents.
while the average cost II thirteen other
American cities fairly comparable with
W Washington in population and standard
Of education is about So cents. For
each dollar spent in salaries OF school
teachers and officers in the District about
III days of instruction per pupil are
given, while in the thirteen cities re
ierred 10 each dollar expended for sal
aries aii ords on the average GS days OF
instruction. For the current fiscal year
the estimates of the board of education
amounted 10 about three-quarters OF the
entire revenue locally collected for Dis
trict purposes.
If / may say so, there seems to be a
lack OF definite plan In the expansion of
the school system and the erection of
new buildings and OF proper economy in
the use OF these buildings that indicates
the necessity for the concentration of
control. All plans for Improvement and
expansion 10 the school system are with
the school board, while the limitation OF
expenses is with the District Commits
sioners. / think II would be much better
to put complete control and RESPONSE
bility in the District Commissioners, and
then provide "a board Of school visitors.
10 be appointed by the Supreme Court OF
the District or by the President, from
the different school districts of Wash
ington, who, representing local needs,
shall meet and make recommendations
10 the Commissioners and 10 the super
intendent Of education-an educator OF
ability and experience who should be an
appointee of and responsible 10 the Dis
trict Commissioners.
Permanent improvements.
Among other items fer permanent i'm
provements appearing In the District es-
Inmates for 1872 is one designed 20 sub
stitute for Willow Tree alley, notorious
in the records OF the police and health
departments, a playground with a build
ing containing baths, a gymnasium. and
other helpful features, and I hope Con-
gress viii approve this estimate. Fair as
Washington seems with her beautiful
streets and shade trees, and free, as the
eXpanse Of territory which she occupies
would seem 10 make her, from slums
and insanitary congestion of population,
there are centers in the interior OF
squares where the very poor, and the
criminal classes as we'll. huddle together
in filth and nOisome surroundings, and
it is of primary Importance that these
nuclei OF disease and suffering and vice
should be removed. and that there should
be substituted for them small parks as
breathing spaces, and model tenements
having sufficient air space and meeting
other hygienic requirements. The esti-
mate for the reform Of Willow Tree al
ley, the worst of these places in the city
is the beginning OF a movement that
ought TO attract the earnest attention and
support OF Congress. for Congress cannot
escape its responsibility for the existence
Of these human pest holes.
The estimates for the District of Co
lumbia for the fiscal year 1872 provide
for the repayment to the United States
of $3.50 one-fourth of the floating debt
that viii remain on June so. 1911. The
bonded debt will be reduced In 1872 by
about the same amount
The District Of Columbia is now in an
excellent financial condition Its own
share OF indebtedness will. it is estimat-
ed. be less than 100000 on June 30, 1872
as compared with about 100000 on June
So 1909.
THE bonded debt, owed half and half
by the United States and the District
win be extinguished by 1924. and the
floating debt of the District probably long
before that time.
1.-The revenues have doubled in the last
ten years, while the population during
the same period has increased but 1878
per cent 1t is believed that if due econ
omy be practiced the District can soon
emerge from debt, even while financing
its permanent improvements with reason
able rapidty from current revenues.
TO this end, I recommend the enact
rnent into law hill now before For
gress-and known as the Judson bill
which viii insure the gradual extinguish-
ment of the Districts debt, while at the
same time requiring that the many per-
manent Improvements needed to complete
4 fitting capital city shall be carried on
from year to year at a proper rate of
progress with funds derived from the rap
idly increasing revenues"