Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-10
The District Budget.

A District budget of $50, 636,5I9 goes
to Congress with the approval OF the
Bureau of the Budget, a decrease OF
nearly $4,000, 900 from the estimates
of the Commissioners and of nearly
s4OO, 900 from the current appropria-
lions. Supplemental estimates, how
ever, will bring the budget TO above
= the current figures, although not to
the point of the first computation of
District needs.
This sum is sought for District
maintenance on the basis of a con-
tinuation of the appropriation of a
lump sum of 100000 as the Fed
eral Governments contribution, de-
spite the fact that the substantive
law provides for a fixed ratio of
forty-sixty per cent. In thus sub
hitting the estimates the Commits
sioners and the Budget Bureau pro-
coed on the assumption that the
lump-sum practice will be continued
and that the figure which has been
named as that sum for two years
past will be maintained.
A heavy reduction is made in the
estimates for new school buildings
and grounds, from S4176,5 500 to
S2,672,500. This cutting of a million
and half will check the work of
school construction planned to catch
up with the arrears from which the
Districts public school system has
been suffering. 1t is hardly con-
cefvable that this reduction will be
countenanced by Congress. which has
pledged itself Ii . progressive pro-
gram of school provision. Inasmuch
as the present budget is based upon
the lump-sum principle, there is no
justification for the cutting of this
or any other feature of the Districts
fiscal program. The money thus
taken off the total would, if ex-
pended, come solely from District rev.
enues
Cutting off 100000 from the fund
Tor the increase of the water supply
does not menace the progress of that
work SO vital to the public health and
safety, inasmuch as it is due to the
prospect that the project will be COM
pleted during the coming fiscal wear
There should, however, be no lack
or funds to make certain of this ac-
compIishment. If there is any uues-
ton on this score, it would be better
10 overappropriate with provision
hn y
should be turned back into the
Treasury. OF all the public works
now in progress or contemplated, this
one of water supply increase is the
most urgent and should be carried to
the earliest possible conclusion.
A decrease of nearly half a million
dollars is proposed in the fund for
street and road improvements and
repairs. In view of the present con-
dition of the streets of Washington
this is not an agreeable prospect I'M
less larger expenditure for repairs
and construction from the gas tax
fund should be made.
The District budget has now
reached proportions that reveal the
size of this community, which has
reached the half million point in
population. Yet larger sum can be
economically expended here in per
manent improvements and in the
: establishment of municipal branches,
II is a commonplace that the Ameri-
VI can people take pride in the appear
lance of the National Capital and the
efficiency of Government here. Wash.
1ngton is yet to become the model
municipal organization, but it is rap
lldiy advancing to that point, and in
Idoing so it must have a lihera, s,,n
port and aid, for its own resources
VIII not justify the maintenance of
budgets of the size of that lust sub
mitted to Congress.