The Washington herald., 1911-09-22
WAVE OF ECONOMY
HITS CITY FATHERS
District Estimates Pruned
in All Branches.
LESS MONEY TO BE USED
Plan of Municipal Ownership Is
Slowly Entering Each Depart
ment-LightinE, Water, Street
Cleaning, and Other Expenses to
he Materially Reduced.

With the time for the transmittal Of
estimates for the next fiscal year to the
President at hand, a sweeping wave of
economy has STRUCK District officials.
Estimates are being pruned. expenses are
being reduced, economic methods are be-
ing introduced into all of the depart
ments.
Several days ago 1t was announced
that the highway department would be
| conducted on a much smaller approprla-
ton during the next year. In order to
bring this about recommendation has
been made to the Commissioners for the
| establishment of a municipal asphalt
| plant This is more than a mere sugges-
| ton. for Commissioner Judson has al
ready gone to Cleveland and Columbus
to inspect the plants in operation there.
Plan Works Admirably.
The plan OF municipal ownership 10
slowly entering all the branches OF the
! government. Several months ago the
District street-cleaninG department was
placed under government supervision for
the specific purpose OF reducing expenses,
The plan has worked admirably Money
has been saved, and the work has been
more efficiently conducted.
!
! the reduction of the annual running ex-
penses q the street-lighting department.
Reduction in the price OF contractors for
supplying the light has already been Oh
! tanned. Thousands of dollars will be
saved through the economy principle ap-
piled TO this branch OF the government
alone.
Them the water department is to he
swept by the economy wave. The Com
/ lV10iG FIlI hot ,vr
must he used. and that the present high
| efficiency must be maintained The plan
for metering the water service of the
city has been offered as the solution of
| this problem. So much water is now
wasted that II something is not done TO
| alter conditions another conduit will
| have TO he constructed to supply the
| city. II the system IS metered and con-
| sumers are required to pay for the
amount OF water they use officials think
that the people Of the city will become
more economical. and that the matter OF
| constructing a new conduit will be de-
! layed for many years.
Yesterday the District purchasing Of
lfiCer recommended TO the Commissioners
the erection of a District supply house,
with the sole idea OF economy in mind
Mr Hargrove. the purchasing officer,
says that the erection OF such a house
| would greatly decrease the amount Of
money now expended for the delivery OF
goods. He says that bidders would lower
the price on goods II there were one
point OF delivery. from which the District
could distribute the goods as occasion
should arise
Economy in Towels.
But the economy wave has rolled fur
ther than this. 1t is a mighty wave. II
has washed upon the very shores OF the
District building Economy is being ap-
piled TO the management OF the District
building itself. 1t was found that the
employees of the District were hard-wOrk-
ing persons, and that they required a
large number OF towels to keep them
prim Now the laundry OF towels for
such a large building Is a considerable
> item.
The officials recognized this sad fact
and Immediately cOnCoCted a plan fol
more economic administration. What
they wanted was something cheap &c
answer the purpose Of towels which
would not need laundering. The problem
was soon solved, and now the District
employees are wiping their hands and
faces on tissue paper.
But a new and more serious question
has risen. 1t seems that the employees
have no scruples about the amount Ot
paper they use. They argue that tissue
paper is cheap and easily obtained. and
accordingly use enormous amounts. Yard
after yard the employees roll off. Officials
look sorrOwfully on and occasionally Of
fer a word of admonitiOn, but the EN-
ployes explain that tissue paper is thir
and easily becomes wet, and, moreover
the hands and face frequently sliT
through 1t is a serious problem.
The officials are determined to put ar
end to the extravaganza, however. fol
the economy principle must be applied
; to every branch OF the government. They
have announced that reprimands will fol
low If employees are lavish in the use Of
the paper. The officials have decided
that this is the only means of enforcing
the economy principle. Employees of the
District Building, beware!