The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06

an appointee Of and responsible TO the
District Commissioners
Interest In Alley Slums.
4 recommendation that viii strike a
responsive chord among Washington
ians Is that concerning the alley sIums.
a subject in which President Taft
shows sincere interest His discussion
Of this question and his recommenda-
tons concerning elimination OF the
slums follow;
Among other items for permanent
improvements appearing in the District
estimates for 1872 is one designed 10
substitute for Willow Tree Alley. no.
tOriOus IN the records OF the Police and
Health Departments, a playground with
a building containing baths. a gym
nasium, and o-rer helpful features. and
I hope Congress viii approve this esti-
mate.
Fair as washington Gems with her
beautiful streets and shade trees, and
free. as the expanse Of territory which
she occupies would seem 20 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 well. hud-
die together in filth and noiSCme sur
roundingS, and II IS Of primary import
ance 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
hyEienfc requirements
The estimate for the reform OF VII
low Tree Alley, the worst Of these places
in the city, IS the beginning OF move
nent that ought TO attract the earnSet
attention and support OF Congress. for
Congress can not escape its responsible
ity' for the existence Of these human
pest holes
The District Finances.
In concIudiil. his observations con-
corning the District, Mr.. Taft dis
cusses District finances This portion
OF his message is q follows
The estimatus for the District Of
Columbia for the fiscal year 1912 pro-
vide for the repayment to the United
States OF ss1s.oo0. one-fourth Of the
floating debt that viii remain on June
80. 1911. The bonded debt viii be re-
duced in 1912 by about the same
amount
The District Of Columbia IS now
in an excellent financial condition.
Its own share Of indebtedness viii, it
is estimated, be less than 100000 on
June 50, 1912, as compared with about
1000. 900 on June 80. 1909
The bonded debt, owed half and
half by the United States and the Dis
IrlCL- viii uASUE0 DE 1871 ana
the floating debt Of the District prob
ably long before that time
The revenues have doubled IN the
last ten years, while the population
during the same period has increased
but 1873 per cent 1t is believed that
il due economy be practiced. the Dis
trict can soon emerge from debt. even
while financing its permanent i'm
provements with reasonable rapidity
from current revenues
To this end, I recommend the en-
actrnent into law Of a bill now be-
fore Congress-and known as the Jud-
son blll-whieh viii insure. the grad
ual extinguishment Of the Districts
debt while at the same time requiring
that the n1tls0y permanent Improve
ments needed 10 complete fitting
capital city shall be carried on from
wear to year aid at a proper rate Of
progress wi-h funds derived from the
rapidly increasing revenues