Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-15

The mechanical details of trimming
the estimates are best left to the ex-
perts and the responsible officials, but
the Commissioners have done the wise
thing in securing the advice Of repre-
sentatives of the leading citizens or
CARNATIONS concerning the general
principles 10 be followed in making the
reductions. At the same time, with
the help Of Auditor Donovans intelli-
gent analysis of the Districts financial
condition, the citizens representatives
have obtained q good understanding Of
the municipalities problems.
There may be disagreement and de-
bate over the size and the necessity of
the Districts working cash fund, or
surplus, and the fairness and equity 10
the taxpayers involved In maintaining
it. But there Is complete unanimity
OF opinion among the citizens that the
forthcoming reductions In the estimates
should least affect those fundamental
functions of the community govern
ment that take form in generous ex-
penditures for public health, public
safety and public education. As far
as possible, the appropriations under
these headings should not be lowered.
The standards 30 far attained should
not be reduced.
Most Of the citizens have pointed 70
the Municipal Center as one Of the
city's outstanding projects that can
stand o cut, and there Is obvious merit
in the suggestion. Thus far a total
Of 1866 900 has been appropriated for
the Municipal Center. and practically
all Of 1t has come out Of the Districts
surplus revenues. The land has been
bought or IL being condemned. and
there is money available to meet the
remaining awards when made. The
appropriation for the fiscal year that
begins in July is 81 SOC, 900, designed
for the flrst years work on. the new
courts building. The estimates now
before the Commissioners contain o
request for $1,000, 900 for the fiscal
year 1888. The completed estimates
Will doubtless show q great reduction in
this sum.
There l. already an understanding
that when the Federal Government 10
chooses It will compensate the District
for its present municipal building max
Ing the purchase money, estimated In
the neighborhood Of fve and o half
million dollars. available for expendi-
ture on the new Municipal Center.
Representative Simmons introduced
legislation to that effect, but 1t was de-
cided that the matter would be threshed
out in conference between the District
Commissioners and the Treasury De.
partment. There IL no good reason
why the nscal year 1888 should not see
the FIRST installment paid TO the District.
and there IL no apparent reason why
the Commissioners could not make the
appropriation for the Municipal Center
dependent upon the wishes Of Con-
sress, eliminating the item from the
local budget and leaving it for q sup
Elemental appropriation. 1t is certainly
high time that something definite be
put in writing concerning the financing
Of q semi-national undertaking that n
ultimately to cost over $40, 900 900.
In 1929 Auditor Donovan prepared q
hve-year financial program for the Dis
trict' with the idea Of revising It each
year. The revisions have not been
undertaken, as far as the public knows,
and there have been q number of
changes brought about by the vicissi-
tudes OF legislation. 1t Is interesting 10
note, however, that Mr.. Donovan's pro-
posed budget for 1888, as prepared in
1923, called for . total Of 94S, $50, 900.
The present figure set by the conpu-
tations Of available revenue Is 445,6ls-
40. Despite the additional financial
burdens accumulated by the District
since the program was prepared, the
estimate Of 1929 for 1888 was not far
wrong. The District 10 not threatened
with bankruptcy or with any alarming
retrenchment. It does suffer the uncer-
tainty and the inability to carry out a
systematic program OF DEVELOPMENT
which results from an unsatisfactory
and unavoidable policy Of dividing
expenses for the Federal City between
the politically impotent taxpayers and
the controlling and all-powerful Federal
Government