Evening star., 1916-01-05
Hearings Are Begun on the
$15,0OO,0 900 Appropriation
Estimate.
DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
ARE THE FIRST TO APPEAR
Thirty-Five Measures introduced at
Beginning of Session to Be
Considered.

District legislation and appropria :
tions held the center of the stage at
the Capitol on the House side today.
s15.000,O00 estimates and the introduc-
ton by Chairman Ben johnson of the
House District of Columbia committee
of thirty-five bills. The latter meas
sures were all placed in "the hopper
by Representative Johnson. at the re-
quest of the Commissioners of the Dis
trict, and included all of the legsla :
tive recommendations incorporated in
the estimates sent to Congress by the
Commissioners. The bills were sent
to the District committee. so as to give
the House a chance to pass them
separately. without regard to the ap-
propriation acts. if the House so
desires.
The new subcommittee of the ap-
preparations committee in charge of the
District appropriation bill went to work
hammer and tongs today, and, under
the leadership of Chairman Page, dug
through several pages of the estimates.
The Commissioners, Corporation Coun-
sci Syme, Daniel Garges, chief clerk of
the engineer department, and Assessor
Richards were present. The hearing
was executive, as usual.
Proposed School Board Change.
The measures introduced by Repre-
sentative Johnson cover the Commits
sioners proposed change in the ap-
pointment of the board of education
and the general superintendent Of the
schools, providing for board of five
members, to be appointed by the Com
missioners. and director of education
in place of a superintendent The bill
gives the Commi sioners a throttle grip
on teachers appointments and promo
tions.
The annual assessment of real property
within the District. as advocated and agi-
tated within the last two or three years
is again covered in bill: also another
bill for the true consideration of property
to be set forth in deeds. The annual
assessment bill recommends change in
the law so that the bookkeeping neces-
sary for the tax rolls shall be kept in
the office of the collector of taxes
The bill provides for extra employees
in the assessors Office as follows: One
record clerk at s1,s0O, one at $500, a
craftsman at $1,000, two stenographers
at $1,000 and Ave new field men at
$4,000
A bill to correct practical faults in
the administration of the Borland act
is included in the batch introduced to-
day 1t covers a provision to assess
the cost of permanent pavements as per
the Borland act, when the street is but
half paved. For instance, Pennsylvania
avenue southeast is a very wide thor
oughfare. and recently it was repaved
for section along only one-half its
width.
Under the Borland act this cost could
not be assessed against abutting prop
erty owners. but under the bill intro
duced today the Borland act would be
al hot
the assessment shall take place in case
of any fixed paving. Because of word
ing in the Borland act certain kinds of
pavement work was not included.
Appointing and Removal Power.
Separate bills to give the appointing
and removal power to the Commission IN
ers were introduced. These would al
low the Commissioners to appoint and
remove employees of the Public Library.
the Temporary Home for Ex-Union
Soldiers and Sailors, appoint members
of the board of children's guardians
and members of the board of trustees
of the National Training School for
Girls.
The appointment of the recorder of
deeds and register of wills is provided
for in the bills. Leave of absence with
pay for per diem employees on legal
notQayS IS also CONcIeu
The transfer to the Commissioners
from the War Department of the Wash
ington acqueduct, with all its appur-
tenances, as recommended IN the esti-
mates, is outlined on one bill. Control
and Jurisdiction over the Aqueduct
bridge and the Highway bridge, now
under the War Department. is provided
for.
Other subjects covered are:
The authorization of the Commission
ierl,x
through any property under their juris-
diction.
The authorization of the Commission
ers to collect refuse in case the con-
tractors fall DOWN on their job and
default.
Pollution of Rock Creek.
A proposed agreement with the
Maryland authorities whereby Rock
Creek will escape pollution by allow
ing Maryland sewer systems to con-
meet with the District system at or
near the District line. and thus pre-
vent the use of Rock Creek and tribu-
taries for sewage disposal in Maryland.
Authorization for the Commissioners
to close abandoned highways.
The abolition of the board of chari-
ties and the appointment of a director
of charities. as untlned in the esti-
mates.
The proposed sale of the site and
plant of the Industrial Home School,
part to go to the Naval Observatory and
the balance to be sold at the best pos
sible price. The Commissioners are au-
thorized to buy new site and erect
new buildings.
The authorization for the Incarceration
of convicts in Occoquan. where the sem
tence is more than one year, at the dis
cretion of the courts.
overhead "a
avenue.
Opening of roadways on the Barry farm
tract the extension of 18th street north
west Opening of Nichols avenue and the
proposal to enlarge the area of assess
ments in the case of opening of alleys, so
that juries will be allowed to place as
sessments for benefits anywhere on any
property that seems to be benefited