Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-02
Commissioners and Estimates.

The Commissioners could In no better
way discover the urgent needs of all parts
OF the District than by calling upon the
various citizens associations for sug-
gestions, as they have done. These bod
les. composed of actual residents of the
regions they cover. are best qualified to
report upon the requirements of their re-
spective neighboPhoods. The members
traverse the streets daily, know the ne
cessities as to pavements. sewers. trans
portation, etc. They are. in short, the
Commissioners best sources Of informa-
zion.
Naturally, however. the invitation to
make suggestions will be accepted by the
associations so enthusiastically that they
viii overwhelm the Commissioners with
acquisitions and advice. This outcome
must, Of course. have been anticipated by
the municipal officials when they issued
their invitation. They will have GER
tain limit of estimates for submission and
their task will be to include the maximum
number Of Improvements within that
limit. fixed by the estimated revenues
and the already established charges upon
the local resources.
In framing their estimates the Com
missioners are confronted with an en-
barrassing possibility this year, Will the
House appropriations committee. in draft
Ing the District bill, take cognizance of
the reported debt to the general govern
ment owing from District funds, amount
ing to somewhat over a million dollars,
on account of the old $50 bonds inter-
est? The District committee has made
report on this matter, which is before
the House, but no definitive action has
been taken on 1t, and it simply stands
as a discovery or recommendation.
with the possibility of its acceptance by
the appropriations committee or its re-
lection. The Commissioners may feel
themselves compelled to take cognizance
Of this possible drain upon the local rev.
enues in shaping their budget. Yet in
strict fairness to all the sections of the
District. which require improvements in
far greater volume than the prospective
revenues will afford within the next sea
son, they should proceed upon the theory
that until Congress has legislated in this
matter the debt is not to be acknowledged.
1t should be for the committees to in
clude the item in the appropriation reck-
onins. not the Commissioners.
AS for this old 3.65 bonds interest item,
it may be as a matter of bookkeeping
that on rigid accounting 1t is to be re-
garded as owing TO the United States.
Yet there Is a broader equity In the case,
which calls for another Judgment. The
interest was paid on old obligations of the
District, before the United States came
to Its relief and agreed to meet half OF
its expenses. In consideration of the fact
that it Is the seat of government, Pc
culiarly restricted in commercial growth,
compelled to maintain a higher degree
of municipal efficiency than ordinarily.
charged with heavy civic responsibilities
owing to the proximity of the govern
ments great agencies of administration.
The tardy assumption by the government
Of its rightful share of the cost Of Dis
trict maintenance left unassumed a
weighty burden of prior obligations,
borne by the District without aid In
absolute fairness, if it IS proposed to go
back TO those days to pick up debts
owing to the United States. Congress
should seek to reimburse the District for
its payments solely out of it's meager rev.
enues of the days of its bitter struggle
on the capital-malSing account
Perhaps the Commissioners, if they take
cognizance of the reported debt on the
$50 bonds account. will seize the occasion
to suggest to Congress, in their trans
mission Of the annual estimates, that the
equities demand thorough overhauling
of all the old accounts, to give the Dis
trict it's dues while charging it with Its
debts.