The Washington times., 1922-07-02
TAXPAYERS PUT
Up IS MILLIONS
To FOOT BILLS
Cost in Cash to Citizens Of
Nation Less Than Penny
a Head.
SCHOOLS LARGE EXPENSE
Police Department Comes Next
in Outlay Required for
Upkeep.

another fiscal year and some $23,-
100000 has been spent in run
ming the local government by fur
nishing police. fire and health
protection and educating the vast
army of children.
Figures in the office of Major
Daniel Donovan, District Auditor,
show that only $1,275 was spent
last year for the care of aban-
doned wives. The money spent
was earned by the husbands COM
mitted to the various institutions
whose salary of SO cents a day
went to the support of their fami-
lies.
Insanity Cost High.
On the other hand, insanity seems
to be on the increase. 1t will sur
prise many Washingtonians, but 1t
is costing District taxpayers nearly
a million dollars a year to board the
insane at the Government asylum
In Congress Heights. Figures show
that Congress- $S05, 900 approDria-
tion was insufficient and that a de-
ficiency Of $149.0O0 was necessary.
In ALL the District spent about $685.
900 on this class of people.
However, there's always a bright
side of life. A glance at the expe1-
ditures for the public schools shows
that the younger generation of to.
day Is getting the benefits of many
millions of dollars contributed by
taxpayers.
Congress appropriated last year
s4,7S3,430 for the support of schools.
SO far the District has expended
$462 ,6S5.22 on schools, Of this amount
s3,994,967.S1 being for salaries This
is the largest item Of expenditure
for the city.
Next in line comes the Police De
partment. 1t cost the city nearly
S2.O00,O00 for protecting life and
property. The department secured
an appropriation of $1,794, ,511.39 and
mp until Juno had spent $1G96.-
4O7.77, OF this amount $1,609.5 .57?.50
being for salaries.
1t cost considerable to keep this
old town from burning down. Con-
gress thought that S1,S33,760 was
sufficient appropriation for the fire
spent $1,307, 1880 OF this amount,
s1,0S4,990 being for salaries.
$160,000 for Health.
While the Health Department ia
one of the most important depart
ments in the local government, it
is a rather cheap department to
run. The health officer was given
$1,000 and spent $160,93O.95.
improvements and repairs of
street is another important item
in which motorists are vitality in
terested. The city received $1.233.-
600 to keep the streets in order.
The expenditure totaled S1.144.-
O14.39.
Care of orphaned children is an
expense WHICH the District bears
each year. The Board of Children's
Guardians spent $191 ,425.19 out Of
its appropriation of $220,80O. OF
this amount $21,472.5S went for
salaries.
Suburban residents will be inter-
ested to learn that the District
spent $130.077.35 in laying new
streets in the outlying sections
The appropriation for this work
was $144.S4O.
Erection of new school houses and
other buildings is an item which
helps to boost the cost of running
the District. Last year the city spent
$1,777,757.64 in this work.
Sewers must be kept clean. new
sewers put in and the sewerage
system extended each year. This
work cost 1851, 1884. The appro.
priation was $637,000.
Every time a new house is built
and electricity installed that house
must be inspected. Also, when the
city grows the lighting system must
extend The electrical department
of the District spent $47S,576.99 last
year out Of an appropriation Of
f526,655.
The poor Of the city apparently
didn't fare go we'll last year. Figures
show that 81. 1913 was spent on the
poor out OF an appropriation OF fl8,.
040. OF this amount 5000 being for
salaries.
The workhouse cost the District
t156.054.09 to run: the reformatory
t72,729.5S and the Washington Asy.
lum and jail soc, ,0a5.70.
The total appropriation, fnci.iding
the regulation appropriation, stindry
civil bill and deficiency bills, amount.
ed to about $4,000. 900. OF this
nmount the District paii about siS,.
900 900. the Federal Government foot,
ing the rest Of tho bill.
The fact that tho city government
spends sone seven or eight millions
on it's capital shouldn't alarm the
other people of the country. When
II is figured out II can he shown
that tho per capita contribution of
every citizen in tho land Is less tina n
one penny.
The figures showing the expendi,
lures in the various branches of the
local government do not represent TO
the penny the amount actually spent,
There are many obligations which
various departments must meet and
when the final figures are given out
II viii be shown that the District
used UP practically every dollar ap.
proppfated.
IL might also he interesting 20
know that taxpayers of the CITY, UP
10 noon Friday, contributed S1S,686..
6f0 toward the upkeep Of the
DlstF1ct Government. The per capita
tax was SSS. This years tax collec.
ton shows an increase Of more than
~.