Evening star., 1911-01-19
The District Bill.

Willie in one aspec, the District appro-
priat;on bill as reported to the House ap-
pears 10 be liberal TO the capital mu-
nicipslit!. carrying S1l.alS."11.:1. or si'S.-
G9J.Ji in excess of the current aprropr.a-
lion. upon analysis IL proves disap-
poinincnt TO those who hold that for
its best development tho District should
not be forced to pay too rapidly the debt
whica IL owes TO the United States for
advances from the federal Treasury to
fund permanent improvements. At the
present time the floating indebtedness Of
this nature amounts to S2.465.O1S.2:: II
the bill should become 4 law as it is
reported TO the House this debt will be
reduced in one year by sl.136S95.19, very
nearly one-half. leaving a balance Of
sla2s.1 .1S1.Oi.
ri the District were well provided with
schools, police stations. fire engine estab-
-aiishments and full organization of
health and building inspectors and other
workers essential to the upkeep OF
well managed. properly balanced munich
pal organization. and if 1t were not in
need OF extensive permanent improve
ments and additions to it's equipment, Suc.i
as the higl-preSsure fire service. it might
we'll afford To Tepa. it's floating debt thus
rapidly. even though such a process il
contrary TO correct principles of munich
pal finance. The reason Why the District
objects to the present rate of refunding
is manifested by tho fact that with the
exception OF $4,000 for beginning the
Willow Tree alley Improvement. about
$1",HW for two sewer projects, and $100.-
Gn for the work OF improving the upper
Anacostia. the present bill stands Nir-
tualiy devoid OF provisions for large
projects of municipal development.
The Commissioners, In obedience to the
mandate of Congress. cut their estimates
down 80 that the total was equal to the
prospective revenues of the District. 1t
was fair expectation. deduced from this
requirement, that Congress designed TO
appropriate to the fun amount. Never
theless. the House committee returns a
bill which is less than tie Commissioners
estimates by Si.3.4, ,6li.4O. 1t is, Of course,
. natural assumption that the House
committee expects the Senate to add TO
the total to such an extent that when
the bill comes out of conference the
difference between the amount apprO-
priated and the prospective revenues will
be materially decreased. This, how
ever, is not in accordance with the best
practice. The Senate's annual increases
in the District bill are forced by the
disposition of the House to cut the budget
to the bone. II the House were to ap-
propriate i'm a wisely liberal spirit, pro-
vidinS for a reasonable refund of tho,
floating indebtedness, there would be lit
tie occasion for the Senate to add to the
measure.
This bill is of especial interest for the
items OF general legislation which it car
ries. Provision Is made for what may be
termed a permissfve municipal street
cleaning plant, to replace the present
contract system. while the District Is
authorized to proceed to install an asphalt
plant of its own. The most important
item of this character is that which
transfers to the Commissioners the au-
thority over the District jail, now vested
in the Attorney General and the District
Supreme Court, and consolidates that in
stitution with the Washington Asylum.
Unfortunately. the House committee has
not recognized the half-and-half princ;-
pie established by the organic act OF
1878 in its provision for the maintenance
of the playground work, and SO this cam
paign must be waged anew to prevent
: the injustice of whole-cost maintenance
by the District OF this important branch
Of the hysjenic work OF the District gov
srnmcnt. The District heartily commends
the display OF nberality in the increase
Of the District Commissioners salaries
I to a figure more in keeping with the dig
nifty and responsibility OF the positions.