Evening star., 1914-02-22
WHY DOES SNOW LIE
ON CAPITAL STREETS?
Congress Is Declared to Have Made
Appropriation for
Removal.
Edward S. Taft insists Ample Funds
Should Have Been
~
Available.
To the Editor Of The Star:

A few days ago, commenting edito-
| rally upon the failure of the super
tntendent of. street cleaning to clear
the sidewalks. crasswalks and cutters
| Of the city of the four-inch fall OF
| snow which set in last week, you SEEM
ed inclined to place the blame upon the
| appropriations committees of the SEN
ate and House of Representatives. In
this, I think. you are wrong, or, rath-
| er. that the Information upon which
you based your article was incorrect.
1 do not believe that either Congress
can fairly be held responsible for the
deplorable condition of our public thor
oughfares at this time.
Prior to 1910 a specific sum was set
apart by Congress for keeping the
streets of the city in passable condi-
ton during the winter months; but 1t
was. am quite sure, in that year that
the superintendent of street clean
ing recommended change in the law
which would enable him to meet the
most exacting snow-and-ice emergency.
The recommendation was approved, and
since then one of the provisions of the
District appropriation act-not includ-
ing the salaries of officials, inspectors
and other persons carried on the an
nual roll, amounting to $41,1S0-hss
been as follows:
cleaning streets, avenues, alleys and
suburban streets, under the immediate
direction Of the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia, ana for clean
ing snow and ice from streets. side
walks. crosswalks and cutters in the
discretion of the Commissioners. in
GLIDING services and the purchase and
maintenance of equipment. rent Of
storage rooms: maintenance and re-
pairs of stables; hire. purchase and
maintenance Of horses; hire, purchase.
maintenance and repair Of wagons
harness and other eqipment; allowance
to inspectors for maintenance OF horses
and vehicles used in the performance of
month for each inspector; purchase,
maintenance and repair of motor-pro-
PEELED vehicles necessary in operation
and supervision, and necessary incl
missioners shall so apportion this ap-
preparation as to prevent denclency
therein.
Previously the superintendent could not,
without violating law, use penny OF any
other fund for snow-and-ice work; but
under the new ARRANGEMENT he could
keep the whitening force, augmented
by extra help in the event that II was
needed, constantly employed without rear
of a shortage on PAYDAY. II % Wou.d rn0 nOt
gress for a deficiency appropriation. Al
the close Of the fiscal year ended June
3O 1910, the superintendent had named
back to the Treasury nearly $35.O0O which
he had not had occasion to use during
the twelve months, but which could not
he applied to the removal of snow and
ice. Under the new plan, however, ne
would be at liberty to Use it in that way.
In a statement made February 3. 1911,
to the subcommittee of the committee on
appropriations OF the Senate. Col. Jud-
son. then Engineer Commissioner OF the
District, said that in order to carry out
the plan formed by the Commissioners
for taking over the work of cleaning al
Ieys and unimproved streets then done
nv contract, the board would have to ask
for S27O, 900, about $4,000 of which would
he used in the purchase OF "all kinds OF
plant" But thereafter, he added, the
All this, he said. had been worked out
with the greatest Of care by Gen. john
ston. who was sure that "a great saving
would be effected" Following this state
removal of snow and ice from the side
walks, crosswalks and cutters. asked: .
"Are you Of opinion that you can get
along with $1O.0o0?"
I'VE can get along with $4,000" was
Col Judsons prompt reply, land here
after we can get along without any if we
do our own street cleaning. because then
we will have the horses for that use
when they are not cleaning the streets"
There Is certainly nothing in this to
warrant the assumption that Congress
had adopted q close-fisted policy in the
matter Of providing money for the re-
moval Of snow and ice. The question
addressed to Col. Judson by Senator Gal
lnrer showed that he was concerned
with respect to the condition of the streets
In wintertime. and that he wished to ap-
propriate sum sufficient to forestall
the discomfort and danger incident to
snow-caked cutters. The Commissioners
we're given all they asked for in 1911, and
since that year the appropriations for
street cleaning have greatly exceeded
tha .v,oupt which Col Jndson fold the