Evening star., 1920-12-10
WOULD HAVE u. S.
Join D. c. $3.50
IN WATER FUND
Representative ZihIman Asks
Congress to Match Surplus
Fund of $4,648, ,666.
EXPERT ENGINEERS FAVOR
PLAN FOR development
Resolution Brands Outlay of Funds
at Hand as Unfair Unless Equal
Amount Is Added"


Amount Is Added"
Proposal to take from. the federal
Treasury the 81, ,64s. .66669 which is
an unexpended surplus from District
taxes. match it dollar for dollar with
federal funds. as provided for by the
law under which the surplus accumu-
lated. and spend the total on perma-
nent improvements for the National
Capital. was made today by Repre-
sentative Frederick N. Zihlman of
Maryland, a member of the House
District committee.
In joint resolution introduced by
Representative Zihlman he specifically
proposes establishment of a water
Improvement fund" in this manner to
carry out the recommendations of a
committee of Army engineers now
making survey under the federal
power commission regarding an en-
larged water supply Tor the District
and to enable it to carry out it's
agreement to furnish water to the en-
virons of the capital
Representative Zinlman insists that
expenditure of this surplus would be
unfair to the District under any
other terms than that the federal
government should match the amount,
In. accordance with the agreement
under which these surplus taxes
were collected.
Prelude to His Resolution.
In a prelude to his resolution. Rep
resentative Zihiman points out that:
The water supply of the District
OF Columbia has at present safe
maximum capacity of 75.000,00o gal
M anf fn hi
capacity of 65,00o.000 gallons per day.
and the consumption of water shows
daily average in certain months of
the year of approximately $4,000, 900
gallons.
THE act Of June 10. 1920. known as
the federal water power act,' author
ICES and directs the federal power
commission to investigate, and on or
before the 1st day of January, 1921,
report to Congress and submit plans
and estimates of costs necessary to
secure an increased and adequate
water supply for the District of CO.
iumbia, and appropriates $25,00O, or
80 much thereon as may be necessary,
fo- he cost thereof
There was large cash balance to
the credit of the general fund of the
District of Columbia in the Treasury
of the United States on June 80, 1920,
as an unexpended balance sWhich f1zdt
not been appropriatedsfor any specf.-
hC PURPOSE, WHICH SnOuiQ De OSeQ Tor
permanent improvements of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Ternhs of Desired Appropriation.
The terms of his resolution are as
follows
That so much of the general fund
Of the District of Columbia- now in
the federal Treasury as shall ba
necessary to carry out the findings of
the federal power commission. to-
gether with like sum from the fed
eral Treasury in accordance with the
provisions of the act of 1873 provid-
ing for appropriations for the ex-
penses of the District of Columbia
(Which sum is hereby authorized out
of any moneys in the Treasury of the
United States not otherwise appro-
pkiafed). shall be set aside in
special fund to be known as the
water improvement fund of the Dis
trict of Columbia; and all appFopria-
tions which shall be made to augment
the present water supply of the Dis
trict of Columbia shall be made from
this fund and expended by the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia
in the manner now or hereafter pro-
vided by law"
In discussing his resolution Repre-
sentative Zihlman says:
"I realize the necessity for increased
water supply. as the present consump-
ton is very near the maximum safe.
capacity Of the conduit through which
the filtration beds are supplied.
Before his retirement as District
Commissioner, Gen. John q. ID. knight,
in a letter to the District committee of
the House of Representatives, urged
immediate action looking to an aug
mented supply. and Gen. kutz, the pres
ent Engineer Commissioner. has repeat
edly called attention to the need Of
additional facilities.
Special Report In Finished.
-Recognizing this need, Congress
incorporated an amendment in the
water power bill authorizing and di-
recting the water power commission
TO make an investigation and submit
plans and estimates necessary to Sc
cure an increased and adequate water
supply for the District of Columbia,
and appropriated the sum of $4,000
for this purpose; and directed that the
commission report to Congress on or
before the 1st day of January. 1921.
my information Is that this report
will soon be ready and will be sub
mitted to Congress.
~In addition to the District~needs,
Congress has agreed by statute, to
furnish water to the environs OF the
capital up to three million gallons
per day.
This. of course, they are unable to
do because of the limited supply.
Under the provisions of the joint
resolution introduced by me the gen
er1l funds in the District of Colum-
bia- which have accumulated for a
period Of years, and which now
amount to $4,64S. .66s. So, will be made
available for carrying out the plan
Submitted. or any plan which is final
ly adopted by Congress.
Asks Congress for More Funds.
ITO the funds. 50 appropriated
have provided that Congress shall
bear with half of the cost of the pro-
posed plan
.-This is in line with the law OF
1873. which provided that the nation
who Inhabited the National Capitol in
its maintenance and development
The funds which have accumuIat.
ed have been raised under this plan
and il is certainly fair to assume tina,
Congress, in expending the funds, viii
raised, and provide that the govern.
ment shall meet any moneys taker
from this fund for general and perma
nent improvements.
The capital has a splendid wate,
system, and an increase in the suppl,
is an urgent and vital need. and il
win require millions to meet it, anc
no Improvement undertaken will dt
more to provide for the city's growth
and improvement than in the aug
meuting Of the existing supply t.
meSt such emergencies as may arts.
and supply the suburbs of the city
and assist in their extension and de
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