Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15
BY COL. CHARLES KELLER,
Former Engineer Com missioner of the
District.

BY COL. CHARLES KELLER,
Former Engineer Com missioner of the
District.
T Is common knowledge that the
cost of everything that enters
into our daily life is today far
greater than 1t was before the
| war. AS familiar examples. we know
| that a loaf Of bread costs 10 cents
while a few years ago two loaves
could be had for the same money; all
of US men pay cents for laundering
collar while the cost was formerly
half that or less: our shoes, our
clothes and our fuel are all corre-
spondingly higher, and some say
poorer. And SO the tale might be
prolonged at wearisome length.
1t Is then reasonable to expect that
the cost of governing the District of
Columbia that Is. the amount neces-
sary to operate the complicated ma
chinery upon which the well-being of
every resident so greatly depends,
will, for this reason alone, be found
considerably higher than in the happy
days before the great war was let
loose upon humanity by the mad am
billions or the crazy brains of the
kaiser and his lesser war lords.
Spreading Increases Cost.
Over and beyond this cause for the
growth Of our annual budget, we
must take into account the increase
Of our population. its spread into out
lying areas at comparatively great
distances from the former center of
population, and the corresponding
need OF providing and extending the
usual municipal services, such as
schools. water, sewers, sidewalks,
streets and the collection of waste
matter of various kinds. While the
cost OF operating the District may not
increase in precisely the same degree
as the population served, it may easily
happen that growth extending to
needlessly great distances from the
hitherto improved limits may cause
dsproportionately great charges to
fall upon the District treasury. For
example, 1t may readily cost $4,000
or $2.500 to extend sewer or water
service to single dwelling built
possibly 700 or 500 feet away from
the nearest group Of houses already
| so supplied, whereas the cost would
be $500 or less for a house adjoining
one already connected.
| Another cause for rising budgets
and in my opinion a legitimate one
| for which we should be proud and no,
| apologize, Is the high standard set
| by the people as to the various public
| services. The people demand more
and better service. more police and fire
protection. better school buildings
| brighter street lights, modern pave
ments, faultless and continuous side
walks. hospitals and other public in
stitutions in keeping with the best
humanitarian standards. All these
things ought to be of the very best,
but the very best is proverbially
costly.
Ideal OF Government.
In short, what the people want and
| should have is good government
| What is really good government de-
| ponds on the point Of view and the
I
Judgment Possibly all may well be
| satisfied with the definition of a
/ well trained expert. one who has
made city government his business,
his lifetime occupation. Such a man,
| the manager of a nearby city, gives
| these as his views:
TAX rates and per capita taxes
are no test OF the quality of city
government. A high tax may mean
waste or more improvements and
better service, a low one economy
or arrested progress and poor serv-
ice. The ideal is good service at the
lowest possible cost. Good city gov
eminent should include (a) impartial,
| strict, humane enforcement of law,
| (b) courteous and efficient treatment
Of all, (c) business methods in public
finance, Cd minimum fire losses, (e)
rigid supervision of food supply, (f)
protection from contagion and from
| other causes affecting public health,
| (g) well organized and adequate pub
| lie welfare services commonly known
as charities. CHI efficient sewer and
water services, thorough municipal
I housekeeping and cleanliness, includ-
ing the collection and disposal of all
wastes and tho cleaning of all streets
and roadways, ~ we'll paved streets
and sidewalks and ample facilities
for street traffic. Cd we'll planned and
built schools and public buildings.
ample parks and Fairgrounds. pleas
| ing and ample public lighting, (k)
| recreational facilities for all ages, in
GLIDING Libraries and art galleries
public concert halls, and the like"
II all these are to be supplied, and
| this appears to be the common ex-
pectation. then the bill to be paid
by the public will be corresponding
ly large.
Standards Here Exactinx.
The District Of Columbia has a
population whose standards are high
and exacting. and the District Com
nissioners have constantly to face
the difficult problem of meeting de-
mands for more and better public
service of all kinds. The Commits
stoners have not a free hand. The
amount Of money available for run
ming the complicated machine for
which they are responsible is fixed / y
Congress; and the annual tax rate