The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-01-06
The DepIorable Condition of
WasFingtOn's Streets
BY BILL PRICE.

In all probability another winter wiz see repetition Of
the deporabe conditions now prevailing in the
Of the Distric-pes Of and Ice with vehicles humping
up down. halted frequent intervals by traffic ups
pedestrians getting to work best they CAM men and women
spping and Siding unable to make schedules
because the tracks used by motorists who will not
bulge until they find safe place to turn OUT automobiles
stalled In ice and glaciers of small proportlon Govern
ment and private business mpeded by bated employees and
dirty banks Of frozen moisture everywhere. SIS.
congressman and Senator's win berate the District govern
ment for failure and the District government Will
taae by claiming that Congress refuses to make
poor old public may kick swear but Congress doesn't
care and the District government little more Senator's
and congressman become eaged only when THEIR auto
chunks.
engaged in framing the District Of Columbia Appropriation
bill for the fiscal year beginning July next Every mem
aware Of the deporabe conditions but win the committee
look to the future and authorize the purchase Of suitable
equipment for and Zoe removal and viii i appropriate
money to meet future emergencies?
As to the street cleaning department win make
s1Ga eng prompt 70. qse e what little money a aas ana W
and which, despite authority go ahead and spend money
freely win not improve materially until there warmth Of
The main criticism against the cleaning department
Of the District government and Of the street railway conn
panes is that they did not begin the Of plows
swepe tractors and shoves manipulated by human workers
until the and slee had piled high and settled into solid
broken here and there by nevy auto drivers who
took chances in blowing through
The time to start removal Of is when It begins 70
fall and Is soft and easily handled Waiting for and
to cease falling before beginning operations leads to
Just what happened in this city Suburban lines
became covered with icy masses sweepers plows were
put into too late to be Of to the public which
entitled 20 service and didn't get it.
Whatever equipment the street cleaning department. has
should have been put TO last Thursday night and early
Friday morning
true that the law prohibits any branch Of the Federal
District Government from mourning deficits and that the
street cleaning department has inadequate funds It's dis
posa but whatever money has spent had been used
promptly there would have been larger area Of snow
removed.
T ought be necessary for the District Commissioners
have to beg the Director Of the Budget and the chairman
Of the House Committee Appropriations for permission
to street funds for cleaning Congress could easily
put in the District Appropriation Bill each year certain
amount for emergency only The Commissioners ought
TO insist upon contingent appropriation Of this kind
The Commissioners In view Of the unusual conditions,
should have had courage enough 60 ahead and the
funds at their disposal to clean the streets letting Congress
howl afterward
Members Of Congress attack private citizens for
moving from in front Of their premises but Congress
does not appropriate penny for in and around
public buildings, parks, etc. s#t<s t%> +<s..#s
The sidewalks around every public square and park in
an inch Of snow removed up to this morning.
What Congress requires Of private citizens it should also
require Of public officials.