Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-11

1t is dl61Cult 10 conoelVc a less Satis-
factory product from thu House ap-
preparations committee than the Dis
trict appropriation bill which was re-
ported today. It does not square with
the principles Of financial equity and 1t
Il not true to the concept Of Congress
itself in the matter Of the Commission
ers' estimates Of prospective expenses.
Reducing all estimates. refusing all salary
iucrsases-save two aggregating about
a2O Q year-cutting of all projects OF
public Improvement and working out to
the possibility Of the extinguishment Of
che neatins debt two years ahead Of the
time now required by law. this bill Is a
sud disappointment for those who hoped
10 see Congress go ahead with broad
constructive policy regarding the District
Of Columbia.
The Commissioners have complied
strictly With the recently enacted law
occurring them to estimate only to the
extent of the expected revenues. In SO
doing they have been obliged to cut on
several worthy projects of public inn
provement, and have in the main laid
before Congress a moderate. well bal
:snced series Of Recommendations. the
House committee returns Q bill carrying
water department-S2. %, 562.oO less than
the estimates submitted by the Commits
sioners and $1.642.37 less than the
current law. A year ago the estimates
were reduced by the House committee by
81, 1854. GAO. but at that the bill as first
reported carried $67S O95.51 more than
the then current law. Thus the bill OF
this year is much less satisfactory as re-
- Al
priations than the hill Of . year ago.
: II this bill should be enacted In It's
present form there would be available
during tho fiscal year 1913. for the liqui-
dalton Of the floating debt. the sum Of
s1.0AA 973.50. or only $2926.94 less than the
entire debt itself. In other words. II this
bill should be enacted As the House COM
mittee recommends the District would be
IN Q position to clean up its floating in
debtedness within the next eighteen
months. instead of by July I. 1919. as at
present required by law. standing there
fore, virtually upon q cash basis for the
financing OF large permanent works. the
cost Of which should be borne by the tax
payers OF q long period OF years. Even
counting the increases which the Senate
may - eeAflAently expected to make In
the bill. 1t Il apparent that the appropria-
ton law for the coming fiscal year will
involve . very large burden Of cash pay
uient on the permanent Improvement ac-
count.
In its details the bill has only a dis
couraginG aspect from start to finish.
Al saiary-increase recommendations are
ignored-save two laundresses at the
tuberculosis Hospital. who are nunffi-
Gently raised s. q month-and the admin
istrative force of the District govern
ment is reduced to the net extent OF
nineteen employees. There will be one
new fire truck company OF eleven men,
to man an authorized addition to the serv-
ice. but there will be twenty less policemen
There will be fourteen new school jan
i,ors to care for buildings already au-
thorized. and in various other branches
OF the local government additions to the
fierce here and reductions there, with the
result al eady noted. No new school,
buildings are provided for and no large
pubic works Of any character. Salaries
are reduced here and there In accord
ance with the spirit of supposed econ
omy The Commissioners are authorized
10 establish an asphalt plant, but the
proposed garbage-reduction plant re-
mains a subject Of investigation. as also
the recommended utilization Of the Great
Falls water power.
Tn one respect at least this new Dis
trict bill will meet with public ap-
provaI Ii provides for no further en-
croachments upon the organic act. and
10 that extent II is negatively satisfac-
tory. Otherwise it is sorry perform
ance. BY no means creditable to the
House Of Representatives as the con-
stitutionally designated common council
az the National Capital