Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-18

SYSTEM RETAINED
IN DISTRICT BILL
Supply Measure Reported to
the House Recognizes ObH-
cations of United States.
TOTAL OF S13,455,829.66
PROVIDED FOR EXPENSES
Proposes Change in Law Relating to
Assessors 0fice-New License
Bureau Created.

Assessors Ofice-New License
Bureau Created.
The retention of the half-and- half
system of appropriation is the most
important feature of the District ap-
preparation bill presented to the House
today by Representative Page in
charge of the measure as chairman of
the subcommittee of the House appro-
priations committee. The big supply
bill. carrying provisions for the mainte-
nance of the city of Washington for
the fiscal year 1918 in the sum OF
s1S.455,s29. is written exactly as
Congress intended 1t should be written
when the present form of District of
Columbia government was created un-
der the organic act of 1878. The first
paragraph of the bill provides that the
sums named in the bill shall be paid
one-half from the District revenues
and one-half from the Treasury of the
United States.
Strategic Point Gained.
After several years of close battling
on the subject of the half-and-half
that vital principle of the National
Capitals birthright has gained an i'm
portant strategic victory through not
being ousted from the appropriation
bill at the start. Attempts to abolish
the half and half. made in previous
years in the appropriations committee
from the floor. have always been
successfully met by members of Con-
yxh m
After the long and strenuous debates
on THE subject congressional leaders
have now concluded it is extremely un-
fair to rob the Capital city of its prom
ised support from the federal govern
ment.
The position of leaders of the House
VINO have an interest in seeing TINS btii
go to the Senate unaltered will be the
obvious one that in years past no ade-
quate nor equitable substitute for the
half and half has been presented; and
/ that unless some adequate and equita-
| BILE substitute can be supplied there is
no Justice in destroying the long es-
! tablished and successful principle. This
| is stated upon high authority; and any
| motion to knock out the half and halt
| in the debate on this section WIFI De
met with the answer that before the
principle is cast aside q Well dlgested
| and proper substitute must be pre-
sented.
The bill ignores the Commissioners
| recommendation to apply the surplus
| District revenues to the District debt.
! There will be $7,000.000, in round num-
| bers. of District surplus moneys in the
| Treasury when the surplus under the
present bill is actually in existence.
Horizontal Raise Omitted.
The question of a horizontal raise for
all District government employees has
been left out of the bill entirely. Ow
cent raise section of the Legislative
. bill. the appropriations committee has
not reported a similar Salary-raiSinE
section for District employees. But
there is every indication that the Dis
trict bill will be so amended OH the
floor OF the House as to provide for a
series of horizontal raiseS for all em-
ployes not specifically raised by the
measure. There are many specific sal
airy increases provided already.
Amount Less Than Estimated.
The sum of s1s,455.s29.66 includes the
water department. The current act
| carries s13.336.6s110. The Commission
ers' estimates. however. asked for s16,-
9e1 .O92 Sc.
A complete analysis of the figures-is
shown in the report on the bill. ap-
pended further on.
the most interesting measures of local
character ever seen in Congress. 1t is
interesting in the new things il recon-
mendS to Congress. and interesting an
the projects it fails to carry. The
Commissioners asked for several
changes of great Importance. and in
general they received all they asked
in the way of new legislation, but did
not get all they asked for in the way
of appropriations.
New Items in the Bill. -
A brief resume of the new matter in
the bill includes:
A proposed change i'll the law re-
gardng the assessor and assistant as
SCISSORS; a repeal is asked for the INV
providing that the assessor and as
sistant assessors shall not be removed
except for inefiiciency. neglect of duty
or malfeasance in office. Also, the bill
provides a transfer to the tax col
lector's Office of all records and ac-
counts in any way relating or per-
tanning to the bookkeeping, accounting
and collection of taxes. 1t provides
that the tax collector shall send out
the tax bills.
A new license bureau is created In
the bill and all municipal licenses
shall be issued therefrom.
1t provides that all deeds registered
shall state the true consideration be-
tween buyer and seller.
Annual licenses for motor vehicles.
at prices ranging from 81 to SIS.
LEGISLATION allowing condemnati n
iuries an unlimited area in which to
assess benefits.
Limits compensation under the public
utilities commission to $4,000. No per-
son shall be employed by the commis-
sion at any higher rate, according to
the bill
A new highway plan for the section
known as '.the Barry farm"
Grants leave of absence and pay on
holidays to per diem employees of tho
District. -
Intangible Property Law.
Makes office and administrative ar
raneements to carry out the Intangible
personal property law.
Requires street car companies ~
take down poles on Georgia avenue
and Water street.
Creates a new traffic bureau in the
police department; provides a new cap
tain. a new lieutenant. three sergeants,
a nd adds ten privates to the force.
Pay OF members OF the fire department
is reclassified, with generous increase
all through the department, with the
creation of the grade of sergeant.
Provides a public comfort station on