The Washington times., 1921-10-01
The District in the First
Budget
By BILL PRICE.

u, by BILL PRlCE. ss
The splendid common sense of GEN CHARLES
DAWES director Of the budget is the best insurance
the people Of Washington have that District estimates
in the first national budget not to be rthessy cut
in the carrying ont Of the announced program of
economies
General Dawes, however, not in the District
during the war. He was serving his country true
man should, and that service exceptionally bril-
liant. Because he was not. in Washington he may not
be cognzant of some undeniable facts
Congress appropriated lavishly unstintedy at every
call Of departments and bureaus of the Federal Govern
ment but it rigidy applied the economy yard stick to
every dollar of expenditure for the District The Dis
rct the only institution to experience
harmful curtailment of expenditures. To some ex
tent this economy justified. Labor and materials
at top figures and improvements throughout the
District would have been at huge cost Even the re-
tricted sums of money that were authorized by Con
sress brought only half the results accomplished when
the dollar bought dollars worth of material labor
The effect is that the District is today from three to
four years behind in public improvements. This is
noticeaby true to Streets roads, bridges parks etc.
Notwithstanding an exceptionally large appropriation
for the public schools for this year. those institutions
will continue to demand the most liberal treatment
from Congress in the next three or four years.
The list Of deferred needs is numerous in fact
to be well understood in Congress and everywhere
else.
Unless there is the broadest and fairest sort Of treat
ment in the national budget and by Congress in future
fiscal years. the Federal Capital will suffer seriously
the nations own city The recommendations Of the
director of the budget will carry powerful influence
with Congress- and for that trust that General
Dawes thoroughly understands local conditions. He
has brought to his aid the services of former Senator
Sherman, of Illinois, who comprehends the true needs
of Washington.
The District Commissioners have put In estimates
aggregating approximately $28O00000 for the fiscal
year beginning July 1922 They earnestly desired to
make the total larger, but the law limits the estimates
to double the amount Of District The total IL
less than double the revenues.
The present Board Of Commissioners long ago reach.
ed decision that they would play fair in the matter
of estimates, and under no circumstances would ask
for appropriations not actually necessary In other
words, they would refrain from the old game Of est
mating about twice much necessary in order to
get from Congress what is actually wanted.
The estimates for the next fiscal year, therefore,
based policy Of strict honesty with Congress 1t
would be hurtfu the District if the squaredeal est
mates were materially shaved
General Dawes has no doubt already found that no
such policy surrounds the estimates submitted by most
Of the Federal institutions Knowing the routine of
Congress, most Of the departments submit estimates
far in of requirements that they may get
thing like requirements N