Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-11
OVER $4,000, 900 LESS THAN
COMMISSIONERS WANTED
More Than $1,700,O00 Under the
Current Appropriations.
SALARY INCREASES DENIED
Provision for Asphalt Plant and
Preliminary Steps for Power
and Garbage Disposal
Plants Authorized.


The District of Columbia appropriation
bill was reported to the House of Rep
resentatives today from the committee
on appropriations by Representative Bur
. Lesson OF Texas.
The bill has been cut to the bone. 1t
carries for the expenses Of the District
for the fiscal year 1912 the sum of s1O.
:02. EOS. inclusive of the water revenues.
This is s2.6o2.5i2.5O less than the esti-
mates submitted to Congress by the
Commissioners and $I,759.O7S.JO 80 less than
the total of the District bill for the cur
rent year.
Only two salary increases are carried
in the bill. the compensation of two
laundresses in the tuberculosis Hospital
being advanced from $50 to $40 year
each.
great many increases of salary to
efficient and faithful employees of the
District government were recommended
by the Commissioners. but all were ig-
nored by the appropriations committee.
The metropolitan police force is reduced
by twenty men, legislative provision
being carried prohibiting the filling of va
cancies on the force until the total num-
be- OF men has been reduced to $40. This
will effect a saving of $4,000 year. Ten
cleaners are dropped from the District
building force. saving $2.240: fourteen
employees are dropped from the street
. cleaning division. saving 5000; two fire.
ipen at $500 each are dropped from the
Tuberculosis Hospital; one inspector of
property. at Saa6. is dropped from the
purchasing division, and one driver, at
$780, is dropped from the water depart
ment.
New Positions Created.
The only new positions created are the
following: In the Takoma branch of the
Public Library. one assistant at S12O one
assistant at $780, one janitor at $3.50; in
all, 81 go. I'm lieu of these specific en-
pigments there is omitted from the ap-
preparations lump sum of $500 avail
able for similar services; for care of new
!. school buildings. fourteen janitors and
laborers with annual wages amounting to
5000: for operation of the new truck
company at Tenleytown. authorized at the
last session of Congress. a crew of eleven
men. with annual salaries amounting to
1l.S5O: one mechanician at $1.2D in the
new Court of Appeals building: one ad-
ditional laundryman at $3.50 T. the Tuber-
ouiosis Hospital.
The net result Is reduction of nineteen
salaried employees of the District govern
ment.
Three Important Projects.
Three new projects of Importance are
contained in the bill. The Secretary OF
War is directed TO investigate. through
the Engineer Corps of the army, the con-
1struction of a power plant at Great
Falls. TO supply the District. and $4,000
il appropriated for the preparation of
plans and specifications. \ similar sum
is appropriated for the preparation of
plans for a garbage disposal plant to be
located at Occoquan. and the Commission.
ers are authorized to establish a munic-
ipai asphalt plant at a cost of not more
than $sI ..W. 4 legislative provision Is
included In the bill to compel the chill
dren of non-residents to pay tuition fees
in the public schools.
This, il is estimated by the committee.
will result in a saving Of between
$4,000 and $4,000 year. The mains
carrying water from the Georgetown
the Jurisdiction Of the chief of engineers
of the army to the Jurisdiction of the
Commissioners. The bill provides that
pay patients may be received at Freed
mems Hospital
Among the projects recommended by
the Commissioners which are not includ-
ed In the bill are proposed park ex-
tensions at q cost of s645.O0O. a new
building for the tuberculosis Hospital at
a cost Of $4,000. and many others.
Claimed Efficiency Unimpaired.
Chairman Burleson OF the subcommittee
which framed the bin told Star reporter
today. shortly after he had reported the
measure to the House. that the great cuts
made in the measure would not In the
slightest degree affect the efficiency of
any department Of the District govern
ment This statement was echoed by
Representative Cox OF Ohio, another demo-
cratic member of the subcommittee Both
Messrs. Burleson and Cox saiS they had
assurances from the Commissioners of
the District that the amount recommend
ed Was sufficient and that the efficiency
OF the machinery Of the District govern
ment would not be impaired In the slight
est by the reductions recommended.
~ the District building this afternoon
upon the reduction Of $l.75e.O7S5O car
rted In the District appropriation bill
for the fiscal year 1919, as compared with
the amount appropriated for the current
year. Whether the reduction. In their
opinion. will be likely to impair the ef-
ficiency Of the administration Of the local
government they would not state.
Commissioners Rudolph said that he
had no knowledge OF the amount car
ried ip the bill reported today. and that
he did not know what items the prun-
ing knife had been applied to. He de-
clared that the Commissioner, SO far
as he personally knew. had recommend
ed a revision Of but one small item
carried In their estimates.
Engineer Commissioner Judson and
Commissioner Johnston refused to dis
cuss the bill. the former stating that ne
had NOT aeen IL. and that ha did mt