Evening star., 1917-12-03
SAY WAR CREATES
UNEXPECTED NEEDS
Commissioners Ask for an In
crease of District Emer-
gency Fund.
REVIEW WORK OF THE YEAR

Expressing the CONVICTION that the
municipal government will be unable to
meet the various demands growing out of
the war unless provided with a much
larger emergency fund than is now
available, the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia, in their annual re-
port to Congress, made public today,
present this as the only recommends
ton in the preface to their review of
the years work.
The report is for the fiscal year that
ended June 80 last. Aside from the
Commissioners brief preliminary state
ment, which is devoted almost exclu-
sively to a discussion of conditions
created by the war, it embraces the es-
sential features Of reports made to the
Commissioners by the heads Of the sew
eral departments of the municipal gov
erment. with recommendations for i'm
proTement and progress In the adminis-
tration Of the municipal affairs
Fund Limited to 5000 a Year.
The Districts emergency fund Is
limited to $4,000 year. 1t is impossible
under war conditions to anticipate de-
mands in advance, the Commissioners
declare. and they urge that this fund
be greatly increased SO that they will
be able to meet any emergency that
NAV arise.
They call attention to the fact that
the war has greatly increased the busi-
ness of the municipal government, and
refer particularly to services rendered
by District officials and employees in
connection with the military registra-
ton and draft, which resulted in re-
turns from the District being the first
to be presented to the provost marshal
general.
Mention is made of the fact that up
to November Is 146 employees of the
municipal establishment had entered
the military service.
Review of the Year.
In its review of the years transac-
tions the report sets forth the financial
situation of the District July l last,
when there was surplus of District
revenues. over all charges and appro-
priations. Of $2.053,952.67. Cash re-
ceipts for the year amounted to S16,-
25s,959.6s. while expenditures were
s14.915,244.46.
The report further shows that the
purchasing office during the year spent
$1.875,914-11 for supplies and materials.
while the disbursing office expended
S11. .626 430.4S.
Attention is directed to the heavy
duties placed on the police department
as a result of the war. while the RI
port for the fire department. Shows that
there was decrease in the amount OF
fire losses Notwithstanding the in
creased number of buildings to be pro-
tected
The Commissioners express the hone
that the fire department will be COM
pletely motorized within the next two
two-platoon system for flremen.
Public Library Plans Approved.
Plans of the Free Public 1ihr,rv
trustees to extend library facilities to
the entire population of the District
by a system Of separate branch libraries
supplemented by small branches in
PUBLIC school buildings. receive un-
qualified Endorsement in the report
That an increase in the manufactur;n,
and Industrial activities of the District
workhouse and reformatory for short
and long term prisoners is contaminated
is indicated by a recommendation fhat
Of s25.000 to be used for the purpose of
manufacturing, and to be reimbursed
from the sales of products turned ont
by the institutions.
Trees and Parkings Considered.
Recommendations are made for perma.
nent nursery grounds in connection with
the departments of trees and parkinrs.
for the acquisition of the Klingle yajley
tract for park purposes: the constructjon
and operation of municipal wholesaIe Ie
market and the placing of all rec.ra :
tional activities of the District under :.
single administrative head.
Summaries of street and suburban road
, improvements. of the work of the var;-
GUS engineer branches of the govern
ment and of the health. insurance and
other departments, as well as of ths
operation during the year Of the ar;o,,s
charitable. penal and correctional instie
tutions. are contained in the Commits
sioners' review, which is printed in fuII
| in another part of The Star.