Evening star., 1915-03-29

highly economical in the long
run, were provided through wise
and progressive legislation for
the development of the nations
city.
Among the Extraordinary i'm
provements" which these tempo
rary cash advances by the United
States, supplementing the current
revenues of the District, enabled
the capital to push to completion
were the sewage disposal sys-
tenn, the filtration plant, the elimi-
nation of grade crossings and
Improvement of railway termi-
nails, municipal building, tubercu-
losis hospital, highway bridge
across the Potomac, Anacostia
bridge and Connecticut Avenue,
Massachusetts, Avenue and Piney
Branch bridges.
Today no provision is proposed
by the House for any new perma-
nent improvements at the capital,
though several important to the
capitals welfare are pressing for
attention. No adequate provision
is made for such projects already
begun. Current maintenance is
not allowed to increase with the
normal healthy growth of the
city, but is scrimped and squeezed
and cut to the bone. And the
meager, miserly, "penny-wise,
pound-foolish" figures which re-
suit are treated as representing
fully the municipal needs of the
expanding capital.
No Excessive Revenue at Present.
for capital maintenance and develop
ment has been and Is honestly. eco
nomically and with wonderfully ef-
fective results spent by the govern
ment Washington shows forth in its
present condition an inspiring response
to this expenditure in increased at
tractiveness and healthfulness as the
National Capital and in the marked i'm
provement Of the physical. mental and
moral well-being OF the people of the
capital community. But much remains
to be done in this development.
Every cent that can properly be
raised under existing law is needed to-
day for wise and economical main,e-
nance and upbuilding of the capital.
The District Commissioners, in their
estimates Of last year. proposed TOR
1S14-15 an expenditure Of the Dis
trict revenues under the act Of 1878
which provided a maximum of mainte-
nance and minimum Of permanent
development. Great plans of public
improvement, like the Great Falls
water power project. were postponed
because the revenue was not imme-
feature of the Commissioners pro-
posals was the fostering of projects
for the betterment of conditions af-
fecting the people of the community
along the lines of health, education,
mental and moral uplift.
The House cut down the Commission
ers' estimates by 100000, omittine or
reducing such items as the following.
Physical valuation of public utilities
(Which was carried elsewhere), $1IO,-
900: municipal hospital. 100000; ine-
briate hospital. $4,000: central store
bonca S1S6 l01. mnnicinaI
(plans). $4,000; new bathing beaches,
ss7,396: Patterson tract park, S375.-
900; reconstruction OF wharves, S50,-
900; fish wharf and market, $l25.8O0:
Benning road viaduct, $4,000: repav-
ing part of 7th street. $4,000; resurIac-
ing approaches to Highway bridge.
$4,000: alteration of Pennsylvania
Avenue bridge. 100000: Fairgrounds
treduction of. eS5,55o: public con-
venience stations, $4,000: teachers
altering and remodeling public school
buildings and grounds. $4,000: new
school buildings (reduction), 100000;
police increase. s2S.595; permanent i'm
proyements fire department, $4,000;
Improvement of Eastern Branch fats,
100000.
Proposed Improvements Necessary.
Are not these items all wise and eco
nomical expenditures for the capital?
If any Of them are not approved by
Congress is there not a long list OF
crying needs of the District along
other lines which Congress may in
part substitute for the Commissioners
proposals II its best judgment dictates
this course?
Every dollar OF available District
revenue under the act Of 1873 is abso-
iutely needed and should be now ap-
piled by Congress G) to adequate cur
rent maintenance. bringing neglected
branches up to the mark; (2) to per-
manent public improvements and prof.
ects OF development. adding to the
municipal plant for the benefit of pos
terity as well as the present genera
tion; and go to payment of legitimate
District Indebtedness.
Under the previous local admfntstra-
tion the amount of District revenue not
absolutely needed for current munic-
ipal maintenance was used largely In
great national projects at the capital.
increasing the attractiveness and Incl
dentally improving the health OF the
city. Under the present local admin
istration the plan is to utilize the
funds left after current maintenance
needs are met In the physical. menta!
the community as distinguished from
the material city. Every dollar raised
by doubling of the city's taxes which
Is not expended in meeting current
needs Is needed and should be spent IN
capital development along one or the
other OF the two lines above indicated.
or 1t should be apportioned between
them, SO that both the city as capltal
and the people of the capital commu-
ntfy NAV he benefited.