Evening star., 1926-03-11
The District Bill.

District appropriation bill is be
fore the House of Representatives
which represents a most careful. con-
scientious and intelligent considera-
ton of the National Capital require
inents by the subcommittee OF the
appropriations committee. The sub
committee examined with painStaking
care into the requirements OF the
municipal government and into the
estimates submitted. The bill as 1t
stands carries $33 .762.9S7, which is
So,425.415 less than the current APP
preparations in the gross. but, when
the deficiency appropriations already
voted are considered. this sum is re-
duced TO S125.4 These deficiency
tens would have gone into the bill
JUS. reported but Tor the desire to
make them Immediately available for
the execution OF works during the
Spring season
AS has been the case Tor several
sessions, the bill is reported to the
House carrying the lump psum provi-
sion of 80 900 900 of Federal funds, in
stead of the tiXed-ratio allotment of
Government contribution to District
maintenance. This proposes "a strictly
District contribution of s24,762,9S7. or
approximately 1919 per cent of the
whole, instead Of 80 per cent as under
the long continued system of half
and half" and instead Of 80 per cent
under the revised definite proportion
contribution plan. which still remains
the substantive law of District Fed
eral fiscal relationship.
The suggestions of means of meet
ing the increasing cost of Capital up
building all point to the imposition of
an additional burden solely on the
local taxpayers, in the form of i'll
creased water rents. increased assess
ments against property owners for
laying water mains, and also an in
crease of the general tax after the
surplus tax fund has been exhausted,
and possibly even slight increase
this year. The equitable apportion-
ment of the increasing cost of Capital
maintenance and development will, of
course, have to be worked out be-
tween House and Senate before the
bill is enacted into law.
In the details of the bill there are,
Of course, some causes for disappoint-
ment, in the elimination of various
proposals for public Improvement. No
District bill can ever be wholly free
from such negative causes of local
regret. But on the whole the appro-
priations committee has wrought a
measure of exceptional completeness
of current provision and general de-
velopment for the municipality.
In one respect there is occasion for
especial qualification. The bill pro-
vides a small but sufficient fund to
defray the cost OF an inquiry, by
commission of three members, to be
named by the District Commissioners,
into the question CT a highpreSsure
water system for the better protec.
ton of the Capital from nre. mus
a start is finally made upon this long
delayed project, so urgently needed
for both the fuller safeguarding of
life and property and for the conser-
vation of the water supply.
Provision is also made for the ap-
pointment of a special counsel to
,enreSent the interests of the peODle
before the Public Utilities Commits.
sion, serving as an aide to the corpo-
ration counsel The need Of such a
law officer has been felt for a long
time, and this present provision Is
to be welcomed as a step in the di-
rection of a more certain administra-
ton of the utilities law for the public
benefit.