The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-15
SENATE LIKELY
|. TOBL0CKCUTS
Expected to Restore SIS, l61 ,0N
Pared From Commissioners
Original Budget.
TAX INCREASE ENDORSED
Measure Carries S19,878,012.-
SO, Largest Ever Reported
For Capital Needs.

The District of Columbia appro-
priation bill, recommending an ex-
penditure of $19,s78,012.99 for the
support of the District government
during the fiscal year ending June
80, 1922, was reported favorably to
the House today from the Appro-
priations Committee.
Representing an aggregate 81 ST.
sos ,OOS.12 more than the appropr.a-
tions for 1921, the measure is the
biggest ever reported to Congress 10
meet the needs Of the District De-
spite this fact, the bill reduces the
estimates of the District CommiG-
sioners by S5,161 ,632, the amount
originally asked being $25,O39,-
O44.99.
MAY RESTORE ITEMS
IT is expected. however. that the
Senate will restore most of the items
eliminated by the House.
The committee recommended that
the appropriations in the bill be paid
in the proportions of 60 per cent from
The ,rasepues of the District. of Co
lumbia and 10 per cent from the
Treasury OF the United States, fol-
, lowing the lead taken in last years
expenditures. This is exclusive OF
the water service, which is payable
wholly from the water revenues, and
also exclusive of the interest and
sinking fund, payable half and half;
and. furthermore. exclusive OF certain
items aggregating S1sS,220. payable
wholly from District revenues.
They also recommend the contind-
ance of the paragraph in the currer'
law authorizing the COMMISSIONS
to establish a rate OF taxation wEI'il
will provide sufficient revenue I"
meet appropriations for tuc iisco
year 1922.
FINED At LOS r. I.
This rate was fixed by the com1..~
sioners for 1921 at 1.95 per cent TAO
estimate of the Commissioners for
1921, If allowed in full, would have
required 2,2o percent to provide suf-
| ficient revenue The rate Of / 05 per-
cent fixed for the current fiscal year
would have fallen approximately
S3.000O00 short TO care for all tho
estimates, if they had been allowed
In full on the 60.iO basic.
| The committee believes tho pro.
vision providing for the increased
taxation is necessary for the ensuing
year The. authority to require in
creased taxes carries with it a limj-
| tation that the rate shall not 90
! fixed above per cent
A new paragraph is added to tie
| bill, crediting fees, fincs and mis-
! cellaneous items OF revenue to tae
! revenues of the District and Ted
/ cral treasures in the same prppur-
! tions as appropriations for the Dis
trict are paid from such rcvouues
and the Treasury of the United
/ states. Such miscellaneous revenues
are now credited on the half.and-
half basis
| In the matter OF increased salaries.
practically no provision Is made in
the bill except in few minor cases.
SALARY INCREASES.
The estimates contained recon-
mendations for increases in the SAL
aries of statutory employees, aggre-
eating S225,0OO. The COMMITTEES did
not incorporate in the bill the allow
| ance of any Of these requests, except
| in the cases Of four janitors in the
| public schools on account OF the EN-
| largement OF school buildings. The
! following new employmcnts are
recommended. One clerk, assessors
office, $1,000; one clark. collectors
| office, 81 400; one clerk auditors Of
y.
| at 5000 each.
! An allowance Of $1,000 for tcm-
| porary clerk hire in the license
! bureau is recommended.
No provision IL made for Increases
in salary to the District Commission
ers or any OF the other higher Off
cials under the District Governmert.
The appropriation for the wat,r
service is reduced from S93G350 20
sS26,350, or $4,000.
| No New Police.
No new additions are made to ne
Metropolitan police force or the fice
department. Amounts are allowed to
provide for automatic promotions au-
thorized by law. The amount for adj
ditional motor equipment for the fire
department is increased from $4,000
| 20 S103, 400.
The committee authorizes the con-
tinuancc OF tho $40 bonus for fire
men and policemen at one-half the rata
allowed other employees OF the Dis
trict 10 be applied to any increased
compensation which may be granted
for 1922 In the legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation bill.
The committee recommends tho
Improvement Of twenty-five street
Iprojects aEgrcCating S2l9,3oo. a.
compared with the Improvement Of