Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-13
No Emergency Funds.

Complications have developed in the
matter of Chain Bridge which illus
trate the difficulty under which the
District government is operated. with
| dependence upon congressional appro
priations for not only the detailed mu'
nicipal operations, but for unusual and
| unexpected works. 1t has become nec-
ecsary to repair the bridge to make it
safe for use for a period. The south
abutment, which is most seriously de-
| Perforated. and upon which the whole
structure depends, rests on Virginia
soil. The District government is in a
| quandary as to it's authority to do
anything regarding 1t without special
act of Congress. Virginia makes the
point that the bridge is not its prop
erty, and it cannot make any con-
tribution toward the repair or replace
ment of the structure. Furthermore.
repairs, If they are feasible, will cost
between $25, 900 and $4,000. and there
is no fund available for such an ex-
penditure. The District has no emer.
gency fund and the bridge must be
closed for an indefinite period because
there is no money to patch it.
This is not the first time that the
District has been caught in an emer-
gency for lack of extraordinary means
of meeting unusual conditions. Again
and again it has been faced with
dilemma. For year after year it had,
for example, inadequate snow removal
funds, and if the Winter were un-
usually severe. with much precipita-
ton, its small allotment Of money for
this purpose was exhausted before the
end of the season and the streets went
uncleaned. Epidemic diseases have
developed, requiring extensive and
costly quarantine and sanitary opera
tions, for which no fiscal provision
was available. On numerous occa-
sions funds have been raised by pub
lie subscription.
Quite recently an illustration was
afforded of this method of providing
for the public necessities. When Col.
Charles Lindbergh returned from
France, coming direct to Washington
at the invitation of the President of
the United States. his homecoming
being made an occasion of celebration,
there was no fund, either Federal or
District, for meeting the cost OF the
reception. All of the expense was
borne by a comparatively few public
spirited citizens, who went into their
own pockets for the money necessary
for building a reception stand and
furnishing features of public jubila.
ton in honor of the aerial conqueror
of the Atlantic.
In the Lindbergh case the expenses
should have been borne by the Fed
eral Government. There should have
been a fund at the disposal Of the
President, or perhaps the War Depart
ment, for such a use arising unexpect'
eddy during recess of Congress. 1t is
preposterous that Government as
rich as this should have no hospitality
fund, no emergency provision, and 1t
is even more preposterous that the
citizens of Washington who are con-
stantly going into their pockets for
public service expenses should have
had to bear without aid this expense.
Surely the District Commissioners
are to be trusted to administer emer-
gency appropriations wisely and hon.
estly and to put them only to ex-
traordinary uses developing when Con-
gress is not in session for the public
welfare. If they had fund of. for
example, 100000 to be applied to any
imperative purpose arising out of SEES
sion, they could meet this critical
case of Chain Bridge and perhaps pre-
vent an indefinite closing of that
structure, with it's incalculable conse'
ouences, injurious to the local commu-
nifty and to Virginia.