Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-20
Not Expected the Budget Of
District Will Exceed Double
Anticipated Revenues.
SCHOOLS NEED $4,000, 900;
TWO MUNICIPAL PROJECTS
Proposed Hospital and Reformatory
Will Require $1,000 Each
to Start Operations.

Commissioner Oliver P. Newman re-
turned last night from three-week
visit to his parents in Des Moines
Iowa. He expects to begin work with
his colleagues early tomorrow on
preparation of the annual estimates for
the District of Columbia.
The budget framing task will keep
the District officials busy until the mid
die of next month. They may estimate
for the needs of the District up to,
approximately. $4,000 600. 1t is i'm
probable that the total appropriations
to be recommended will reach this
mark.
is estimated, will amount to about S.
100000. Under the ''half-and-half'
plan, by which the United States con-
tributes to the support of the munich
pality, this sum may be doubled, so
that the budget, II the Commissioners
desired, could call for appropriations
totaling s16.ooo.oOo.
5000, 900 Needed for Schools.
Needs of the public schools and the
various charitable, penal and correc-
tional institutions will come in for
the biggest slice of appropriations to be
recommended. Approximately 100000
will be required for schools. it is be-
lieved The estimates of the board of
charities will call for appropriations
of probably 100000 each with which
to begin work on the proposed munich
pal hospital, at 14th and Upshur
streets northwest, and the District re-
formatory on a 1,300-acre tract adj
Joining the District workhouse at Oc-
coQuan, Va
Careful consideration will be given
by the Commissioners to street i'm
provements recommended by citizens
associations. Although property own
ers have expressed general 0iSapprova1
of the Borland amendment to the cur
rent appropriation act, taxing them
with half the cost of street improve
mentS, a majority of the citizens aSSo-
Citations of Washington have asked the
Commissioners to include in the esti-
mates items for the grading and maca-
damlzing OF numerous thoroughfares.
Public Utilities.
While the budget-framing is in prog
ress the Commissioners may not be
able to give q great deal of attention
to public utilities matters. Under their
direction, however. the work of estab-
fishing valuation upon properties of
local public service corporations will
continue undated.
Already this work is practically I'm
ished as far as the Capital Traction
Company is concerned. Holdings of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company are now being Investigated.
As soon as the commission obtains the
final results Of these inquiries it will
HgatL take up the question of univer
sal transfers and also determine what,
II any. service extensions the compa-
MES may be reasonably required to
make. There is even the possibility
G0n1mtSqinn Investigating "a
reasonableness or unreasonableness of
a three-cent car fare.
Following tho investigation of the
holdings Of the two traction concerns.
with data as to the worth of the prop
critics Of the gas light companies and
the telephone company.
The Commissioners are on record as
favoring municipal ownership of street
railways. Showing of the gas COM
pany valuations may result in their
taking a strong stand in favor of the
municipalizing of this class of corpo-
rations.
Gas Price May Be Lowered.
However, should the valuations show
that, under proper capitalization
eliminating all water from capital,
and eliminating all such items as
sound. modern financial methods have
determined SHOULD not De USED as a
basis of capitalization on which divi-
dends are paid-gas may be manufac-
tured and sold in the District at
price. say, of IS cents per thousand
cubic feet. the commission, it is sug-
seSted, may order the price of gas re-
duced to that figure
In such a case municipal ownership
might be abandoned and the utilities
permitted to remain in Their present
ownership, Benefits of reduced rates
etc. would be thus secured 1 &; .
lie, and the necessity of heavy exrendi-
lures for acquisition of the utilities
would be saved to the District