Evening star., 1918-11-24
NO SALARY RAISE
~ - ~ - - =
IS PROVIDED IN
D. c. ESTIMATES
Increases Expected to Be
Recommended by President
in Supplemental Order.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS
TO BE MADE IN SPRING
Additional School Space to Be Sc
cured-Little Increase in Force
of Employees Probable.

cured-Little Increase in Force
of Employees Probable.
Estimates for the expenses of the
District government for the fiscal year
beginning July next;as they are now
under consideration by the subcommit-
tee of the House appropriations COM
mittee, are forAlproximately $15.0oo,-
600. The estimates submitted last year
were something over $ls,411 900.
The estimatess however, have come to
the committee under unprecedented con-
ditions. They are for continuance OF the
District business practically as it stands
today, without any call sfor new street
| improvements, none for new buildings,
nor for increases in the force OF en-
ployes for the fire. police. school or other
| large departments. They do not con-
tain provisions for any salary increases.
nor the continuance of the $40 month
bonus allowed last year. which was car
ried in a separate resolution. but they
do provide the automatic longevity in
creases.
| Separate Salary Estimate.
| 1t is understood that the estimates for
salary increases are to come to the COM
mittee in a supplemental estimate. SUD
mitted through the Treasury Depart
ment, although Chairman Sisson said ne
has had no official notice on this point
| The legislative appropriations suDcom-
mittee is working under the same diffl-
Guilty, due, it is understood. to an ex-
ecutiye order directing all the govern
ment departments to submit estimates
for salary increases through the Treas
Ury Department
I The reason for this has not been
divulged. but some members OF the
iappropriations committee figure that
the President wishes to keep a check
so that uniformity may be maintained
for similar classes of work in the
various departments, rather than
haphazard schedule of salaries. How
the several estimates are to be made
to conform, whether in cabinet meet
ing or by sending the estimates back
to the chief clerks of the departments.
is not explained.
! General Increase Expected.
The best belief of members Of the
subcommittee on District appropria-
tions seems to be that an effort will
be made to put through a general in
employees AS far as can now be
judged regarding the attitude of the
committee, there will be stubborn op-
position to a blanket increase. but
the members say they will be glad to
consider individual cases as they may
seem worthy and as it may be shown
that the work performed merits an
increase.
One democratic leader stated that as
far as he can weigh the opinion OF
the committee members they do not
see any just reason why the government
should be the only employer to guar
antee against hardship on account OF
the war. and that being the one en-
p1oyer to set a notable example of
guaranteeing lifetime job. the spirit
Of paternalism to protect against any
contingency would be a demoralizing
influence and would not operate to the
improvement of the public service.
Decrease Is Explained.
The falling off in estimates for the
next fiscal year from those for the
present fiscal year, amounting to ap-
proximately three and half million
dollars. is accounted for part by the
and partly by the fact that there are
no new projects, whereas in the last
bill there were new projects. includ-
ing installation of the two-platoon
fire system, municipal ownership and
operation of the garbage disposal sys-
tenn, new street improvements, a new
fire engine house. big increase in the
teaching force and a large appropria-
tion for the building of portable school
houses.
While there is nothing authoritative
on the subject, 1t probably will be
shown that the P9rh3 -lignnSal o.
tenn. while in operation under the
District authorities. has shown
profit There are strong indications
that this may encourage the District
appropriations committee to recon-
mend to Cogress. as it is thought the
District Commissioners have recon-
mended to the committee, that the
collection of garbage and ashes and
; other similar public service activities
should be united into distinct de-
partment. The idea is that, properly
organized, a department of waste
could be made to yield consider able
return through c1reful reclamation
of many wasted substances, in much
the same way that the armies in
Europe fine-combed the battlefields
for any scraps of metal, leather or
other materials that could be used
over again. The military camps and
cantonments in this country have
shown that many thousands of dollars
can be saved by systematic recIama
tion work.
Street Improvements Ahead.
While the Commissioners have asked
the appropriations committee for no
new street improvements. during next
spring and summer considerable re-
tsurfacing and street improvement will
be done The reason is that the ap-
preparation bill for the present fiscal
year carried generous provision for
such work. On account OF the war.
the shortage of labor and the system
Of prforities. which turned materials
, to the points where they were most
, needed, scarcely any street improve
ment was done here. The result Is
: that there is sizable appropriation
still on hand which VIII be used
before the expiration of the present
the committee considers very desir-
, able. because many of the streets ana
highways are in bad condition, due
> to the use of SO many heavy trucks
! in the city within the last year .
In spite of the large increase In
population and the estimate OF mem-
bers Of the subcommittee on legfsia-
: five. executive and judicial approprt-
, alton bills that there will be q per-
manent increase of something like so
per cent over the prewar clerical force
of the government. there fs no provf-
!, sion for a materially increased fire-
6ehtfnR or police force. 1t is ex-
, pjained that. while the population hn1
Continued on Fifteenth pacp3
II =