Evening star., 1913-11-23
TO EXPLAIN ITEMS
IN DISTRICT BUDGET
Commissioners to Appear Be-
fore House Subcommittee
Tomorrow.
BILL FOR NEW MEASURES
WILL GO TO JOHNSON
Total of Sl4.0oo,000 Asked for
Comprehensive Social Develop
ment of Capital.

Prepared to urge upon Congress the
need of liberal appropriations for the
civic uplift OF Washington. Commission
ers Newman. Siddons and Harding will
appear before the District subcommittee
OF the House appropriations committee
tomorrow morning to explain the various
items contained in their estimates for the
requirements of the District during the
next fiscal year
Two Innovations are about to be re-
corded with respect to the framing of
the District budget. One is that hear
ings on the estimates are to be COM
menced in advance of the beginning OF
the session of Congress in which the
appropriation will be made
The other departure from established
custom Is the Commissioners decision
to combine in a separate bill all items
OF new legislation. This bill will be
sent TO Representative Johnson. chair
man of the House District committee.
who succeeded in having several items
struck out of the appropriation bill
last year on points Of order that new
legislation Was involved.
May Report to johnson
1t is possible that the Commissioners.
after finishing with their testimony be-
fore the appropriations subcommittee.
will be summoned before Mr.. Johnson $
committee. The District heads have re-
ceived no notification to this effect, it
is understood, but 1t is considered likely
that Mr. Johnson and his associates may
desire first-hand information as to some
of the improvements proposed.
Optimism generally is felt for the
success of the budget as framed by
the Commissioners, in view of the cor
dial relations existing between these Of
ficials. Representative Johnson and
Chairman Page of the appropriations
subcommittee. The estimates We're
| framed in accordance with a general
agreement reached between the Com
| missioners and the house members in
charge Of the committees mentioned.
and 1T is believed that the amicable
relations thus far maintained will con-
tinue in evidence while the bill is in
the House
Calling for total appropriation of
approximately $14.OOO,0O0 the estimates
provide for a comprehensive social de-
velopement in the National Capital
Containing practically no items for
salary increases, enlargement of the
personnel of the local government or
extensive improvements OF a physical
character, the budget contemplates a
development along social educational
and moral lines designed to make
Washington the model municipality Of
| the world.
To begin with. larger appropriations for
| the board of education. health depart
ment and Public Library are asked for.
More schools more books for circulation
| and a more adequate sanitary inspection
| service are some of the more important
reforms proposed to be accomplished
Ask $3,5OO,OO for Schools.
| With respect to schools the appropria-
| ton requested is approximately So, 100000.
| it is understood. This provides for the
second installment the appropriation
of 81 100 600 authorized for the Central
| High School building and an initial ap-
| preparation for the proposed Eastern
| High and Manual Training schools Also
provision is said to have been made Tor
the construction of a sixteen-room school
| building in the Park View section.
Concerning the appropriation requested
| to meet the needs Of the health depart
ment the increase in this fund iS desired,
| the department to enlarge its sanitary
| inspection force.
| At present the health inspection force
| barely is sufficient to look after COM
| plants. The proposed increase. 1t Is be-
| lieved, will make possible a real sanitary
inspection of the District resulting IN
| numerous health reforms being initiated.
A new institution which is provided for
| in the estimates, II was learned. is an
| inebriate hospital. Also the Commis $
| sioners are understood to have included
| request for a new municipal lodging
house.
Board of Charities.
| The total allotment for the board of
charities is believed to call for an appro-
priation of about the same amount as
that Of last year, or approximately a mil
lion and a quarter dollars. The principal
recommendations of the charities board,
which the Commissioners are said to have
included in the estimates. are for initial
appropriations with which to begin work
on the proposed municipal hospital, to be
located at 14th and Upshur streets north
west, and the District reformatory. to be
located near the municipal workhouse. at
Occoquan. Va
The estimates are said to provide for
a new survey to establish the need of
Improvements to the cp.tals water front
while provision also Is made for the con-
structon of d model municipal flsh
market to replace the present structure
at 1lth and Water streets. While the
budget contains no reference TO the need
of an institution for the feebie-minded.
this is a need to which the Commits
sioners NAV informally call the atten-