Evening star., 1922-07-25
D. c. HEADS WANT
BOOST IN BUDGET
Commissioners Claim Con-
gress Has Cut Too Much
From Supply Bills.

When the annual estimates of the
Commissioners go to the budget
bureau it is expected they will con-
tain requests for larger appropra-
tions for certain activities of the
health department.
In carrying out it's policy of re-
trenchment this year Congress re
duced number of items under the
heading Of health. which, though
small in comparison to the total
amount of the bill, are of vital i'm
portance. according to the Commits
sioners.
It is believed the Commissioners
Will endeavor to convince the appro-
priations committee that economy
should not be practiced too severely
in providing for the protection of
the health of the city.
Inspection Fund Smaller.
For the current fiscal year Health
officer Fowler has $1,000 less than
promises in which contagious disea Sc
has occurred. The item for this work
is now $4,000 instead of $1,000.
FOR the inspection of dairy farms,
which means safeguarding the city's
milk supply. the department now has
$4,000. compared with $500 former
ly allowed. If the proposed milk bill
should become a law its enforcement
would be rendered difficult by reason
of the reduced appropriation for farm
inspection.
An item of $4,000 formerly allowed
W. health Office to aid persons of
nFcierate means in obtaining treat
ment for tuberculosis was omitted in
this years appropriation act.
The allotment of s12.500 for opera
disease clinics, while no less than last
years amount. has been found to be
insufficient for bare needs of the
clinics.
The division of trees and parkings
is another office for which the Com
tenance fund. The $4,000 allowed
Supt. Lanham this year for planting
new trees and waging war on the in
sects and blights that are constantly
attacking existing ones is far from
enough to permit the superintendent
to make successful fight against
these destructive forces.
The shade trees are one of the out
standing attractions of the nation S
capital, but 1t is doubtful If they
will continue to be if the appropri-
ations for this work goes down as
the city grows and the number OF
! trees increases.
Prepare New Estimates.
Heads of departments have their
| sleeves rolled up this week figuring
! up the total of their respective es-
Inmates for the next year. These to-
| tails will be submitted to Daniel E.
Garges. secretary to the Commission
ers. within the next few days.
Garges and Auditor Daniel J. Dom
ovan will add up the expense ac-
counts of all branches of the city
government for perusal of the Com
missioners. This Is being done In
compliance with request of the
budget bureau to know by August l
approximately how much District es-
Inmates for next year will amount to-
The book of city estimates in de-
tail will not be prepared until later
| in August.
Police Budget Settled.
The annual budget of the police de-
partment will reach a total close to
| 1000. 900 it was indicated at the Dis
trict building today. This is substan-
TALLY what the department asked for
last year.
The police estimates, 1t is under
stood, will include a request for an
| increase in the number of privates
In the current appropriation act. Con-
gresN allowed the department twenty
! five additional men. but with the city
growing constantly, and more terri
tory to be patroled, it is felt that
more men should be allowed. It is
possible that the budget may call for
an increase of fifty in the number OF
| police, although this question will
not be settled until the city heads
have an opportunity to go over the
Items submitted by the department.