The Washington times., 1919-09-27
NO PAY RAISE
to- BE ASKED
N9G.BJDGET
Commissioners to Defer TO Con-
gFess Redistribution Com
mittee on Salaries.
D Bill PRICE.


~ BILL PRICE.
The District Commissioners viii be-
gin work Monday upon the annual
estimates OF appropriations for the
District gorernment during the fiscal
year begiuuiug July 4, 1920 They
win have 70 put IA overtime on this
Important Job, too, iuagmuch Is the
estimates are required BY law 70 be
% the hands Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury BY Octbber 16.
CitizeuE associations and other
civic bodies and IhdivIduaIs having
recommeudationE for estimates viii
have % confer with the Commission
erE. or write them, within the next
week if they desire consideration for
their proposltlons.
Commissioner Gardiner probably
wil not take Pn active official part
lnoGuuel as he earnestly hopes soon
% Be relieved Of his position BY the
President He has adopted various
methods Of urging the President 70
name q new Commissioner that be
may return 20 his law practice, which
he has been anxious for months TO
resume. IL ME Gardiner'g wishes are
considered the President viii make
aiI early appointment Of q new Com
missioner.
Ne Increase On SALARIES.
The Commissioners viii follow the
lead of the executive heads OF the
Federal government in making no
estimates foE increase in salaries Tor
employees, despite the Widely-lluoWn n'
fact that District employees are not
paid as wen as Federal employees do
ing the same class Of work.
The position taken as 70 no esti-
mates for increased salaries, Is due 70
the quest OF Congress, which expects
to take ~ readiuEtmeuts OF salaries
throUEhout the Federal and District
service on the basis 81 reports soon
70 he made Go & by the Congressional
reclassification commission, which is
working hard 20 complete its labors.
Congress having crested this commits
sion for the purpose OF squaliEing ana
resdjusting salaries prefers to con-
slider salary matters from the recon-
mendations Of that commission rather
than upon separate salary estimates
from departments and bureaus.
Mere RoadwayH and Parizn.
Commissioner Gardiner, 81 ne does
take part in the framing Of District
estimates, IS inclined 20 urge that
Congress make large appropriations
for the next fiscal year for acquiring
and developing new parking sreas
and construction OF roads. He has not
matured definite plans on the sub
ject but is at present favorable 70
recommendation for utilization Of
the surplus OF $1,000 600 Of District
money lying in the Treasury and un-
used for years owing 20 the attitude
Of Congress as TO its disposition.
Congress has practically done moth
ing for q number Of years toward eE-
tending and developing park and
roadway plans OF the Fine Arts Com
mission, or OF the original Park Com
mission, with the too wel-knOwu re-
salt that the District Is badly be-
hind in park extensions.
Llnk % Civil Var FOrtB.
The Park Commission plans called
for the acquisition by the District
and Federal Eovernmeuts OF the many
historic civil war forts within the
District. linking them together by
roadway or drive practically eV-
tending from Sixteenth street north
est an the way around the easterly
de Of the District line TO the crest
u the hl1I at Congress Heights over
looking Alexandria aud the POtOmac
river. BEGINNING with Fort Stephens,
out Georgia avenue. there are sixteen
Of these historic civil war forts on
the eastern ald southeastern side o.
the District, with others on the west
IL was az Fort Stephens that PFegi-
dent Lincoln was under IRE for the
first tine. and Go was there thai
union soldiers had a brisk slZirmish
with the Confederatss under General
Early, who lad sought 10 enter and
capture WaEhi1Eton.
Former Judge Charles s. Bundy,
chairman OF the Board Of Trade
committee on parks, and Fred @.
Coldren. a member Of the same
committee, may take this matter
up formally with the District
Commissioners. They have had In
informal talks with Commissioner
Gardiner and subordinate District
3ffcIais They would like 70 see
civic organizations OF the District
Tau fnto line for a policy by Con-
aress which would mean the ulti-
nate Carrying ont Of original park
and roadway plans This could not
se done All at once, but 81 Congress
we're 20 make the start something
.giH have been accomplished.
Authorization for the purchase /
0f some Of the areas and appro- !
uriatious for road construction /
would constitute the beginning Of e 1
B0LlGg WHICH llAE NJ " AAE A--- 4
identification Of the District and 4
greater recreatiouaI features for
The public
Extension Of Piney Branch road /
IN an eagteriy direction also Is under
confederation by the Board OF Trade
COMMITTEES, as well as the purchase OF
the Patterson tract On the northeast
for q new park. Part Of this Patter-
con tract rs now included in Camp
Meigs, which the war Department eE-
pects 20 continue as a military camp
for some time.
CndeF EXISTING laws the purchase OF
lands FER park purposes in the Dis
trict must Be made partly cut OF Die
tEict funds, although the property
then passes into the hands Of the
war Department
The people Of the District viii pay
into the District treasury taxes next
year over SO, o,0o0.o0o Of the appFo-
priationg that win be made for the
upkeep of the District