Evening star., 1916-09-01
D. c. BILL SIGNED
BY THE PRESIDENT
Last of Appropriation Legisla-
tion to Be Approved. Except
Deficiency Measure.

CONSIDERED LIBERAL
BY DISTRICT HEADS
Practically Every Department Is
Given Increase and Many New
Projects Will Be Started.
President Wilson today signed the Dis
trict of Columbia appropriation bill
and 1t is now law. The continuing ap-
propriations for the District govern
ment expired last night and there
would have been no money to run af-
fairs until the measure was signed. The
usual method of the White House. upon
receipt of appropriation or other bills
is to refer them to the appropriate de-
partments for thorough inspection. Be
cause of the emergency the District
Commissioners anticipated this couGse
and went over the bill carefully yester-
day and last night. notifying the White
House that 1t was all right.
The District appropriation bill is the
last of the appropriation measures to
receive the approval Of the President.
except the deficiency bill. now before
Congress. The latter bill will be signed
next week upon the reutrn of the Pres
ident from Hodgenville. KY. where he
will be Monday. I
Bill Considered Liberal.
over the passage by Congress and the
signing by the President of what they
consider the most liberal appropriation
bill ever enacted for the development of
the National Capital.
With practically every department
given increased appropriations, the
local government today seemed to take
on new life. Preparations went forward
provements authorized. and apparently
the impression was general that the
District is entering upon the banner
year Of its history.
Commissioner Brownlow summed up
the attitude of the Commissioners when
he said: The act provides for progress
along material and moral lines to
greater extent than any appropriation
legislation of any other year"
The total amount appropriated is ap
proximately s1.000.0O0 greater than the
largest allowance of any previous year
Streets. schools and correctional insti-
tutfons fare particularly well, while
the police and fire departments also are
provided for.
Retirement and Pensions.
Not only are these departments given
an adequate retirement and pension
system. but the fire department is to
be permitted to buy nine pieces of mo-
tor apparatus, costing $5s.00O. which is
the greatest advance made in any one
partment. Salaries of police officers are
raised to the standard maintained by
other cities: new stationhouse in the
Brookland section Is provided for, and
amalgamation of the crossing police
with the metropolitan force also au-
thorized.
Streets received the largest increases
Compared with maximum appropria-
tion heretofore of about 5000, 900 for
suburban roads. the act this year fur
nishes $440,160 for improvements of
this character.
Among the principal suburban
thoroughfares to be developed are four
arterial travelwayB including Rhode
Island avenue from South Dakota ave-
nue. to the District line, New. Hamp-
shire avenue from Grant Circle to Con-
cord avenue, 18th street from Monte
yuma street to Alaska avenue, includ-
ing construction Of a viaduct across
Military road at a cost of $4,000, and
Massachusetts avenue from Nebraska
avenue to the District line.
Within the fire limits the principal
street improvements will comprise wild
ening of 14th street between Pennsyl-
vania avenue and F street from forty
six to seventy feet. paving of 7th street
from r street to Florida avenue and of
= street from 7th to 9Th streets
Money for Schools.
With respect to schools, the act pro-
vides the necessary teachers and staff
for opening the new Central High and
Dunbar High schools this fall. It
places funds at the disposal of the
Commissioners for beginning work on
the new Eastern High School, author
ICES the building of a aninety-thousand-
dollar school between 18th, goth, New
ton and Monroe streets northeast and
eight-room additions to the Elizabeth
the Petworth School. 1t also appropri-
ates for an addition to the Burrville
Scirooi and for the purchase of ground
for playground purposes for twelve
schools.
Liberal appropriations for Washing
toms charitable, penal and correctional
institutions carried in the bill will
make for extensive development in this
direction during the year. The out
standing item is for the building of
the reformatory for long-term prison.
ers at Lorton. Va. near the workhouse.
Preliminary work on this improvement
already has been commenced.
The act also provides for the building
of an up date municipal lodging house
at a cost of $4,000. an improvement the
Commissioners have been asking for an
nually for several years. and the con-
struction of an additional building at
the National Training School for Girls,
to be occupied by white girls.
Reclamation Of Flats.
The act makes available 100000 for
Anacostia flats reclamation work instead
Of the 100000 generally appropriated
for this purpose: changes the name of
the Government Hospital for the Insane
to ct. Elibameth Hospital: authorizes the
building of a central garage for the care
of District government passenger cars;
increases the salaries Of the five judges
Of the Municipal Court from $4,000 to
$4,000 per year; provides for assess
ments every two years instead of trien-
DAY IN CONGRESS.