Evening star., 1922-10-05
DISTRICT ASSURED
FINANCIAL NEEDS
BY BUDGET BUREAU
Gen. Lord Promises Aid In
So Far as Funds Are
Available.
LIKELY TO CONFER WITH
COMMISSIONERS AGAIN
Further Meeting Promised on D. C.
Heads Request for Supple
mentary Allowance.

All needs OF the District of Colum-
bia will be provided for in so far as
funds are available during the next
fiscal year. Gen. H. NJ. Lord. director
of the budget, told members of the
Twentieth Century Club. this after
noon at meeting in the Cosmos Club
annex.
THE District is going to be provided
for in everything it needs as far as
funds are available" Gen. Lord said.
Il don't know how much the esti-
mates will total. But the general
policy will be to withhold appropria-
tions only where there is the least
damage done by such action"
Details Budget Bureau Work.
This substantially was the only ref
erence to the District OF Columbia
finances made by Gen. Lord, in a half
an-hour talk to members of the club.
He reviewed the national situation
in detail. however, defining the sys-
TEN used by the budget bureau in as
signing appropriations. He reviewed
also the steps taken by the budget
bureau from the time the estimates
arrived to the final hearings upon
them in his Office. His talk covered
action of the forty-two Independent
offices of the government and the
action of the bureau of the budget
upon their requests for appropria-
tions.
Three main points he emphasized
regarding the system employed in
cutting down superficial expenditures
n a rynN ay-YDYy my an Sai Il hot h.A
budget bureau was proceeding to in
stitute system whereby eXpendi-
lures would be cut down, first, by
actual saving from current appropri
alton: secondly, by postponement of
expenditures until absolutely neces-
sary, and. finally. by increasing reve-
nue. from established sources.
Favors Tax Reduction.
He declared emphatically position
against increasing taxation, but
maintained. on the contrary, that
taxes. il anything, should be reduced.
THE country is now fretting under
the burden of taxation" he said.
I'VE should strive now not for more
additional taxes. but for a reduction
in taxation"
The meeting was presided over by
Mrs. William H. Heron. The morn
ing was taken up with submission of
reports by officers and committee
chairmen. Miss Greedy, expert in
domestic architecture, delivered
short address upon Identification of
the home, advocating the improve
ment of grounds surrounding it as
one of the fine necessities for improv-
ing domestic architecture.
The following new members were
u inlo ..y-jSa
Mrs. Russell r. Taylor. Mrs. Rosalee
Mccormick Smithv. Mrs. Morris b.
Sable, and Mrs. Elwood G. Way.
Likely to Call Commisxioners.
officials of the bureau of the budget
probably will call upon the Com
missioners of the District or their
representatives to appear before the
whole board of estimates again, in
consideration of the Districts appeal
for a supplementary allowance to the
s24, 100000 budget restriction tenta-
lively placed by the budget bureau.
When the Commissioners will be
called has not as yet been deter
mined, it was said today at the Treas
ury, but in all Likelihood il probably
will not be before the last of next
week or the week following.
Preparing for 1924.
The general plan of the board of es-
Inmates. which goes over the budgetary
requests of all the government depart
ments. is now to complete the initial
hearings, SO as to get a complete
bird's-eye picture of the whole federal
financial problem for the year 1924.
Various departments are being heard
by the board of estimates. while bud
get officials are holding conferences
on the side with representatives of the
department with which they are espe-
cially charged.
Capt Redmond d. Stephens. who has
the District and other estimates in his
care, may see the Commissioners be-
fore they are asked to appear before
the whole board of estimates. but it is
the general plan. according to informa-
tion Cleaned today at the Treasury, for
the Commissioners or their represent
atives to be called in after the whole
governmental picture has been
sketched. and comparisons made, to
put forth their claims to the additional
appropriation which the District needs
Hearings Soon to Close.
The last of the initial hearings from
departments will probably take place
IL
learned, after which officials will then
&o more into detail, and be able from
their new perspective c.get more ac-
curate knowledge of the comparative
value of the various needs brought
to their attention.
officials OF the budget have declined
to commit themselves at this early
date to any course of action in the
consideration Of the District budget,
except to give full and sympathetic
hearing.
When the board of estimates comes
to consider the District needs. follow
ing the presentation of the entire fis-
cal picture for the year 1924, it is
the hope of the Commissioners, that
the urgent needs of the District. es-
pecially with regard to streets,
schools and certain other matters,