The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-06
HIGHER SALARIES.
FOR DISTRICT STAFF.
URGED BY BOARD.
Congress Is Again Asked
To Remove Limit on
Estimates.

ployes. including the Commission
ers: modification of the Borland
law. requiring abutting property
owners to pay half the cost Of
street improvements: and the re-
peal of the law which restricts the
annual estimates of the Commits
sioners to twice the revenue the
city expects to collect during the
nscal year were among the impor-
tant recommendations in the annual
report of the District Commission
ers. transmitted to Congress yes
terday.
In recommending an increase of
salaries of District employees. the
Commissioners stated that 1t was
to enable the municipal government
to retain and obtain Client serv-
Ice and to provide adequate COM
pensation for the services rem
dered.
want EMcient Head.
The Commissioners held that an
increased salary for the Commits
sioners Is necessary in order that
the city may secure the services of
persons capable OF fulfilling the du-
ties of Commissioner efficiently
and without personal financial sac
rifce. 1t was stated in the report
that the board is not urging that
the increase apply TO the present
members OF the board.
In asking for sSe removal Of the
limit on the estimates. the Com
missioners reported as follows:
The Commissioners renew their
recommendations heretofore made
to Congress that the law which
now prevents them from submitting
estimates more than double the es-
timated revenues of the District be
repealed and that they be permit
ted to submit estimates covering
all the needs for the fiscal year for
which such estimates are submit
ted"
Has Worked Injustice.
In regard to the Rorland law. the
Commissioners explained that IT
has worked injustice to some
property owners and was adopted
by Congress without any hearing
on its merits.
with the advent Of the automo-
bile" the report reads. the streets,
avenues and highways of the Dis
trict of Columbia are much more
used by the travelling public thar
formerly. While the paving of a
roadway In front OF private prop
erty undoubtedly tends to enhance
the value of that property. 1t is
questionable whether It does en-
nance 1t to the amount of SO per
cent OF the cost of the street i'm
provement."
1t was further stated in connec-
ton with the Borland law that in
the adjoining counties of Maryland
where highways arc improved. the
cost Is not assessed as special ben
ent.. but the improvements are
covered by roadway taxes which
apply generally over a large terri
tory. The Commissioners argued
that the law places a burdensome
cost on the development of the
newer sections OF the city which
WAS not borne in previous years by
older sections OF the city which did
not bear any assessment for paw
ing roadways.
Asks More Libraries.
More branch libraries were urged
for thickly settled residential sec
lions. "O general
tions were made for the Public Lii
brary: First, that the central IL
brary be strengthened by raising
salaries and increasing the force of
employees and by making new book
accessions: second. that the scope
OF the library usefulness he ex-
tended by the erection of neighbor-
hood branches and ehe setting up
of branches in public schools.
The Commissioners claim tina,
the necessity for library branch
development in Washington is obvi-
Gus. One central building and one
suburban branch are entirely IN
adequate to serve a population OF
$4,000 persons to whom the Library
Of Congress cannot extend borrow
ing privileges. 1t is important that
every year should see the erection
of an additional branch library
building until the fetal of seven. as
set forth in the librarians report
Of 1917. are established at convent
ent points IN the more thickly poru-
lated parts Of the District"
In connection with the libraries
II was reported that the use of Car
negie money for libraries could
only be obtained by the immediate
building of libraries. The Colum-
bia Heights branch library should
be the next to be built, it was
pointed out. in the vicinity of Four
teenth street and Columbia road.
New sections of Washington are
being developed. according to the
Commissioners report, without the
many and attractive parks tina,
beautify the old city. 1t Is ex-