Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-05
D. c. HEADS FORCED
TOPARE ESTIMATES
FOR RUNNING CITY
Officials May Ask for ST.
600, 900 for Expenses Un-
der Existing Conditions.

Although the Commissioners may.
under the law. ask Congress for ap-
proximately 27,0O0.00O to meet the
Districts expenditures for next year.
it is understood that they re finding
it necessary to make deep cuts in the
large sums asked for by some depart
ment heads.
There is law which provides that
Commissioners must not ask for more
than twice the amount which the city
expects to collect in taxation during
the fiscal year.
If the present tax rate of S195 per
800 of assessed value is continued
during the year beginning next July
1T is estimated that the city will col
lect $13.772.00O in that year. Twice
that sum, in round numbers, is $27,-
100000
Whether the s195 tax rate is to con-
tinue for another fiscal year, however.
Congress takes at the coming session
on the financial relations between the
federal and District governments.
Existing Plan.
The existing plan under which the
District pays 90 per cent and the
United States 40 per cent of District
appropriations was agreed upon only
lOT the current IScdl year. II '" dS
adopted as a compromise to end the
deadlock which arose between the de-
tenders and opponents of the fifty
fifty law.
1t is practically certain that the
question of what share of District ex-
penses the United States should bear
Will come up again when the new es-
Inmates are under consideration.
District officials believe that the
present 6040 arrangement is more
equitable to Washington than the
suggestion of some members of Con-
gress that there be no fixed proper
ton for the United States. Under this
plan Congress would merely contrib
ute sufficient to make up the differ
ence between District revenues and
the amount of the appropriation bill.
Commissioners Make Cuts.
1t is no secret at the District build
ing that the Commissioners are find
ing it necessary to make substantial
reductions in the sums asked for by
their subordinates.
Despite the cutting, the estimates
now being prepared probably will ex-
ceed any ever submitted to Congress.
AS result of the war. Washington,
hind in it's normal street and road
work and in the extension of it's
school system. Not only has the city
fallen behind in these important
phases of municipal development, but
the enormous cost of building schools
and repairing roads means that even
large appropriations will not make 1t
possible for the Commissioners to
"catch up" within a few years.
In addition, the Board Of Trade and
other civic bodies have asked the
Commissioners to appeal to Congress
for the purchase of park and play
ground space in several congested
sections Of the city.
Example Of Costs.
A striking example of how mount
ing costs have retarded District de-
yelopment was furnished during the
past summer. Congress appropriated
$4,000 for the resurfacing of Bla-
densburg road to the District line, an
improvement urgently needed The
first time the Commissioners sought
bids for the work not one contractor
responded Later the work was re-
advertised, and although bids were re-
ceived they were far in excess OF the
amount available. AS a result, Bla-
densburg road cannot be resurfaced
this year.
II also is practically certain that the
estimates will contain recommends
tions for pay increases for statutory
employees of the District, the only
group of city workers who have not
the war The Commissioners also are
considering whether they should seek
further increases for the police and
firemen.
Commfssioners Confer.
Commissioners Kutz and Hendrick
conferred today with the superintend-
ent of schools and members OF the
hoard of education on the estimates
for the school system. Commissioner
Roa rdman is away attending the
fnneraI of her brother-in-law, former
Senator Murray Crane, but will be
back working on the estimates To-
morrow.
1t is reported that the schoo! author
tiles have asked for considerably more
than s4.000.000, the amount which 1t
was first thought they were recon-
- tho school estimates are said to be
an extensive building program and
nav increases for all school employees.