The Washington herald., 1914-10-16
Commissioners Modest Estimates.

Announcement is made that the estimates of the
District Commissioners Of the amounts necessary
for the Districts maintenance during the next fiscal
year, which were submitted to the Secretary of the
Treasury yesterday make total of only sIssooooo,
a sum smaller than has been asked for in three
years. There will be no criticism Of the Commits
soners for Fefraining from extravaganza and If the
amount called for is sufficient to cover necessary ex-
penditures including really urgent improvements,
everybody viii be satisfied 1t is well to bear in
mind however, that Congress, where the District is
concerned is proficient the art of pairing no matter
how generous it may be with appropriations to be
spent outside the National Capital One-half of the
SI35ooooo-if Congress sees fit to let the District
have twill be contributed by the taxpayers Of
Washington who it IS estimated will raise revenue
of 100000 for the next fiscal year The Com
therefore would be entirely justified in
asking for SI6oooooothe other half to be paid from
the Federal Treasury under the organic act of 1873
if that amount were necessary for maintenance or
improvements
1t is to be hoped that the Commissioners have not
sacrificed District interests to desire to defer
penditures until another year. or in other words, to
a temporary economy that may prove more costly in
the long run. This year Congress appropriated $2,
100000 less than the Commissioners asked for. If it
pursues similar policy next year, it would seem
that the Districts exchequer will be rather badly off,
simultaneously with the announcement of the
amount of the estimates the annual reports of the
police and FIRE departments are made public, both
calling attention to the inadequacy of pension and
funds and urging that some provision be
made for the city's defenders disabled or worn out
in the service The District is at the present time
snda h4ad rad Off fha ard
departments for pensions because the present system
of paying them out of receipts of Police Court fines
dog license taxes, and money deducted from the
wages of the men, fails to yield sufficient sum. This
has been standing reproach the District for years
As the chief of police suggests, there should be a
time for retirement for disabilities and otherwise and
ample provision it is believed could be made for the
maintenance of such fund through portion of the
surplus revenues which belong to the District being
invested in bonds"
Besides, the chief of the fire department points
out the urgent necessity of adding fifty more en to
the department. At present the hremen re-
quired to be constantly duty, with the exception
of twenty-four hours off every fifth day. This is
certainly hardship without justification from any
consideration. The addition of fifty men would af-
ford measure of relief.
The District has many other needs, but none are
urgent than those of its 6remen and policemen.
1t scarcely possible that all of them have
been provided for in the extremely modest estimates
of the Commissioners
There is no need for parsimony in District ex-
pendtures; there is no sign here of the depression
that has affected other parts of the country, and the
revenue from taxation is assured and will be ample
to pay the Districts share in maintaining the Ma
tional Capital on a scale betting its importance.
From an economic standpoint, too, this is not the
time for curtailing government expenditures for
necessary public projects. 1t is rather time to
stimulate industry and business by circulating instead
of boarding money and encouraging corporations and
individuals to do the same.
1t is we'll also to take note of the signs which
point to the approaching dawn of an era of prosperity
and new progress The Districts SIS5ooooo, or
whatever part of it Congress sees fit to grant, may
look like small change when it becomes available
next July.