Evening star., 1922-05-09
POINT TO BENEFITS
UNDER D. c. BILL
Commissioners Note Increas.
ed Water Supply as "0ut-
standing Concession"

Although Washington, as WHOLE
expressed disappointment over tho
taxation features of the new District
bill as it. came out OF conference
city officials today called attention
to number of items agreed to in
conference which should be a source
of qualification to the people OF the
District
The Outstanding concession made by
the conferees was their decision to
recommend an appropriation OF ST.
100000 for construction of the new
water supply, with authority for the
Secretary of War to make contracts
for an additional S1.450,000.
When 1t Is remembered that Tor
many summers past the city has been
drawing dangerously close to the
maximum capacity of the existing
water conduit. the Importance of this
appropriation becomes apparent.
Even with this appropriation 1t
will be several years before the new
conduit can be completed. but water
department officials point out fall
ure to make an appropriation FOR the
next fiscal year would have delayed
final completion just twelve months
longer.
Improved Police Protection.
Police protection also will be i'm
proved to some extent If the bill be-
comes a law as agreed to in confer
ence While. the conferees did not
allow all that the Commissioners
wanted for policing the city. they did
allow the following items: An appro-
priation for twenty-five additional
men, $4,000 for the erection of new
police station and $4,000 for the pur-
chase of more motor equipment to be
used in running down criminals.
The Senate had voted for seventy
five additional policemen. but the con-
ferees compromised with the House
on twenty-five. The department al
ready has $4,000 toward new sta
tion house at 18th street and Rhode
Island avenue northeast. and the ad-
ditional $4,000 will permit the con-
struction of the building. This sta
tion when completed will reduce the
area now covered by the ninth and
tenth precincts, which is admittedly
too large for two precincts to police
properly
Allowance for Street Lighting.
Another gratifying phase of the
conferees report is the allowance of a
special appropriation of 100000 for
street lighting. which. next to paving.
is one of the outstanding needs OF
the National Capital. The regular
lump sum for maintenance Of exist
ing street lights is S430,O00, the same
as the current appropriation. OF this
appropriation S414,OO0 will have to be
used for gas, electricity and general
upkeep. leaving about $4,000 for the
erection of new lamps where urgent
ly needed.
Residents of the outlying sections
of the city regret the action of the
conferees in reducing from S25O,000 to
$225,000 the lump sum for repairs to
suburban roads. Washington has a
large area of macadam roads. and a
considerable sum is needed each
these highways by trucks during the
winter months.
Total for Improving Streets.
Under the head Of street improve
ments the Senate receded from its
amendment for paving the west side
of Connecticut avenue from Ingomar
street to Chevy Chase Circle. The
House conferees, however, agreed to
the paving of the following streets:
East Capitol street. 18th to 18th
Eastern High School; Rhode Island
avenue, 18th TO 10th streets. north
east; 18th street, Michigan avenue to
Upshur street northeast; Randolph
street, 18th to 14th, and 2Sth street,
Woodley road to Cathedral avenue.
These items make the total appro-
priat;on for street improvements
$233,500, which is a substantial in
crease over the $144.S40 allowed last
year.
In view Of the demand for economy
by the legislators this year District
ferees made these increases in the
bill