Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-15
Trend Toward Changed System.

S~~~A - -
The appropriations committee is of the
opinion that the trend Of the House is
toward change in the financial reia-
tions between the National Capital and
the federal government This new and
startling provision was written into the
bill In conformity with this alleged ad-
verse sentiment against the half-and half
plan.
The Districts share of the appropria-
tions as planned for in the bill is $3.50, :
S4924 The revenues of the District are
estimated at $7.6S7.lI4 To this add
sums to be spent for the District gov
ernment in other appropriating acts. and
the difference between the money which
the taxpayers of this city raised for i'm
proving and maintaining their share in
the National Capital. and the amount
provided in the bill submitted today is
estimated at 81, 1877 .O97.I0; and ii is this
money belonging to the District of CO.
lumbia which the appropriations COM
mittee proposes to place in the vaults Of
the Treasury and not to the credit of
the District. However. against this sum
would be charged the 81 .On3. 600 which
Representative Prouty's resolution says
the District owes, from its own taxes. to
repay the interest on the old $3.50 bonds.
The exact wording of the provision is
as follows:
That to the extent the revenues of the
District of Columbia for the fiscal year
1918 shall exceed the proportionate part
of the appropriations made in this or
any other &C. and charseable against
said revenues, the same shall be covered
into the Treasury of the United States to
the credit of miscellaneous receipts
Total District Appropriation.
The bill approprfates s11.3JO 1913. 40.
which includes the amounts for play
grounds and a site for the pound, both
of which are exempted from the half
and-half plan which is required by the
covenant between the United States and
the District of Columbia. Including the
water department expedtures, which are
reimbursable from the water department
receipts, the bill carries s11,416.53 40
which is 4.293 10 greater than was pro-
yided in the last act. and $3O15.O16 less
than the estimates.
Appropriations are made for everything
now in existence. and there are increases
in nearly every department. However.
not one new big project asked for by tn
Commissioners is included in the bill.
The generosity of the committee is con-
fined exclusively to existing municipal
functions. The schools were as well
treated as any department, as the sum OF
81. .aOI 40 is recommended to the House.
The present act carries s23T9,o4O The
board of education asked for $3.IS1 245.
The Free Public Library received an in
crease of five employees ana an increase
of salary for the librarian, but failed to
get SD, 40 for salaries which were con-
sidered necessary. The sum allotted for
the purpose is s4664S. as against Sia, $50
for the present fiscal year. The extra
thousand dollars asked for the employ
nent of substitutes was not granted Mis-
cellaneous library expenses were appro-
pria ted for to the extent of S2l,OoO. which
is 81 900 more than at present, but s., 500
short Of the needs as estimated.
One Notable Omission.
One of the surprises in the bill is the |
failure to appropriate for a physical val |
uation Of the public service corporations |
I'm the District of Columbia, after the law |
creating the public service commission |
makes this imperative.
The Commissioners asked for $4,000
for the purpose, stipulating that $50 0oG |
should be available Immediately. The !
hearings on the subject showed that the !
are extremely anxious to
employ expert accountants to make the !
but the committee believes that |
the price is too high.
The committee made no appropriation |
for the proposed new municipal hospital, |,
the proposed inebriate hospital. central !
storehouse and purchasing system. nor
for municipal market or new bathing