The Washington times., 1920-11-23
CONGRESS OK.
WILL Be ASKED
Board May Take Up Matter in
Report to Be Submitted
Next Month.
FUNDS URGENTLY NEEDED
Money, If Obtained, Will Be
o Used to Carry Out Vast
Improvement Plan.

Floating Of a bond issue to obtain
funds to meet the immediate needs
of the District of Columbia is being
considered by the District Commits
sioners, and Congress during its
coming session may be asked for
permission to carry out such a
project.
81 believe a bond issue is q sane
proposition and would be most bene-
fetal to the District" Commissioner
Mabel T. Boardman said today.
LAST ISSUE IN 1873.
The Districts last bond issue was
in 1873 for 500, SOC, 900. Interest of
cent a day on each 500 was prom
ised and is being paid by the Dis
trict government. This bonded in
debtedness. which has been reduced
to s2.152. .626.64, will be cleared off
within three years.
No estimate could be obtained to-
day of the amount that might be
asked in a bond issue. but 1t was
definitely learned that the Commits
sioners propose to use such moneys
for these purposes:
Erection of new school buildings
In every part OF Washington.
Purchasing of sites upon which
District Fairgrounds are located
and the purchasing of additional
sites. This would mean enlarge
ment Of the playground system.
Erection of a home for feeble
minded persons.
PARK SYSTEM EXTENSION.
Extension of the park system,
probably taking in the Mcmillan
plan, which provides for a circuit
of parks about Washington, each
park connected by a driveway.
Possibly the carrying out of
S25,O0O,000 plan to increase the ca
pacity of water the present District
water system can supply in a day.
Erection OF a new building for
the District Supreme Courts offices.
Erection Of other buildings that
are needed by the Municipal gov
ernment.
There are several objections to the
floating of a bond issue in Washing
ton,' said Miss Boardman, "and the
Commissioners are giving very serious
consideration to them.
1T may be found difficult to float
a bond issue at less than or per
cent. II we promise to pay 6 or per
cent today We must continue to. pay
this interest regardless of change in
market conditions. which might mean
'saddling' the District.
MANY IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
ION the other hand, a bond issue
wouId provido for p,a,,, ;r,,ortant
and immediate needs of the District.
among these the schools, especially"
The District Commissioners will
make their annual report to Congress
next month. 1t may include recon-
mendations for bond issue
1t is believed the District Commits
sioner will inform Congress at this
session that they are considering a
bond issue, hoping that such suEges-
tions may result in congressman and
senator's voicing their opinions, thus
giving the Commissioners an oppor
| tunity to size up the possibilities Of
bond legislation passing Congress.
Commissioner Boardman also be-
lieves that the bond issue might in
clude some of the appropriations
which are provided for in the present
budget. which goes to Congress next
week.
Miss Boardman believes that con-
gress, in carrying out an economical
program, may turn down many of tho
requests of the District. In this event
the bond issue would provide the
needed money to carry out rejected
projects.
TO FIGHT FOR SCHOOLS.
There is no doubt that the present
board OF District Commissioners viii
campaign during the coming year for
sufficient FUNDS to provide more
schools, Fairgrounds, and parks for
the District.
Ernest l.. Thurston. former super
intendent OF schools, in his annual
report for the fiscal year ending Juno
80 last recommended bond issue
to meet the present school needs. Mr..