Evening star., 1922-09-17

1 e Z .ta
vited to the fact that, in spite Of
the record breaking activity IN build
ing construction recently experienced
In Washington and promising to con-
tinue for some time to come. the es-
Inmates include not a single dollar
for the extension OF principal lines Of
water mnins or for additions to our
$4,000 for the paving of streets and
but slight provision for public school
betterments. Nothing IL provided
for the relief of residents and tax
payers from damage caused by storm
water. though recent experience has
shown that in many localities hitherto
regarded as moderately well served
by storm sewers conditions are such
as to demand construction upon
generous scale IL the residents are to
be relieved from further serious dam
age to their property and possibly to
their persons. -
ID. c. Not Spending Agency.
"It is, perhaps needless to say that
q great city like Washington is a
living and growing thing and that its
activities cannot be conducted upon
the basis of a constant or diminish
ing scale Of expenditure. AS streets
are opened, as houses are built, as
the population increases and expands:
expenditures In the past the residents
Of the District have willingly sub
mitted to restrictions upon appro-
priations caused by the war status.
They feel now that restrictions ar
bitrarily placed four years after the
conclusion of the war. in spite Of the
fact that more than so per cenf OF
all expenditures are financed by the
taxpayers themselves. are a hardship.
This is the sentiment Of the various
commercial bodies of Washington
and of the numerous citizens asso-
Citations. all of whom are familiar
with the physical needs of the city
and join in protesting against the
limitations now proposed to be placed
upon the expenditures and against
the discomfort, inconvenience and
dangers to which. in consequence,
they and their families are likely to
be subjected.
THE Commissioners wish to en-
phasize the statement already made
orally that the District Of Columbia
is unlike the federal departments and
bureaus which. with scarcely an ex-
ception, are money-spending aRencie
supported exclusively by the federal
Treasury, whereas the District OF Co
lumbia produces through local taxa
ton and from other sources OF reve-
nue. more than 60 per cent Of its annual
expenditures. Furthermore. many Of
these expenditures are, at least in
Part. reimbursed and to that extent
should in strict fairness not be
charged as part of the total. Thus,
under the law, abutting owners are
required to pay practically half the
cost of permanent street pavements
as well as Of the cost of laying side
walks and paving alleys. Property
owners also pay at q rate specified
by law for service water mains and
service sewers, the result being that
about 81 percent of all expenditures
for these two purposes are repair.
All expenditures for the operation OF
the water supply system are paid out
Of the revenues Of the water depart
ment, and. obviously, sums needed
for improving this service involve no
increase in demand upon the federal
Treasury, while, on the other hand.
curtailment of necessary expenditures
produces no gain in federal resources
since all receipts of the water de-
partment are carried in separate
fund and credited to that department,
nor are the moneys received from
trust and special funds. which for
the first time the Commissioners have
been compelled to include within the
total of the estimates they might
submit. in any way a charge upon the
revenues Of the United States.
Building Activity Unusual.
1T has already been remarked that
Washington is living. growing
entity. From purely selfish motives
it's growth should be encouraged be-
cause increased land and property
values will result. representing COR
respordingly increased earnings in
the form of greater taxable values.
Regarded. therefore. merely in this
material light, fairly liberal policy
In the making of improvements is
sound -byainesS
"But The question is not exclusive
ly a business one. though 1t is true
that the continual denial of the
ordinary conveniences Of modern life
will tend to discourage prospective
residents and home builders from
adopting Washington as their home.
The very essentials OF what we re.
gard as purely American progress and
civilization are at stake in that the
cify Of Washington, which should of
all cities in the United States be a
shining example in sanitation and In
conditions generally, is not only not
achieving this high standard, is not
constantly becoming a better place
to live in. but is actually going back
ward. As evidence of this, we cite
the fact that during the past year so
great has been the increase in the
! number of dwellings unprovided with
sewer and water service that the
number Of privies. the cost of which
is borne by the District treasury, has
increased nearly Is per cent. This
is retrogression, not progress re-
proa CHI to the city and to the nation.
During the past fiscal year build
ing activity in the District has been
! extraordinary. Construction Is going
on in all sections, but it is most
active in the northwest section,
where solid blocks of new houses are
the frequent rule. An hours ride in
! an automobile through the area lying
=: west of the Soldiers Home and north
, Of Columbia road will show street
after street. solidly built with at
, tractive and substantial homes
Practically all of these streets are
unpaved, and many of them are inn
passable in winter. In no other city
would they be permitted to remain
| long in their present condition. and
! the property owners and residents