Evening star., 1922-09-26
CITY HEADS PRESS.
$6,oDQ,0[0 APPEAL
Furnish Gen. Lord Detailed
Reasons for Asking Over
$24,500, 900.
HEARING OPENED TODAY
Commissioners Have Great Hopes
of Obtaining Increase in Bud
get Estimates.

The Commissioners went before the
reau today confident of obtaining an
increase in the limit of $24,500,0 900
placed on District estimates for the
next fiscal year.
CIoseted with Gen. Lord and his staff
of assistants, the city heads are striv-
ing to show those officials that all Of
the six million dollars asked for over
and above the .$24, 100000 budget is
for urgent, important municipal work,
and that every cent OF that amount
could be appropriated without con-
!! f1icting with the administrators plea
for economy.
When allowance is made in the s24,-
500. 900 budget for maintenance of
public buildings and grounds, upkeep
of the Geological Park, operation of
the courts and similar federal activi-
ties, it Is reported that the District
government would be left with about
$21, 200. 900 to make the wheels of the
municipal government go round next
year.
Hold Funds Greatly Needed.
Such an amount, it is reliably stated.
paving of streets and continuing the
school building program, which are
by far the most crying needs of the
National Capital today.
The best information obtainable is
to the effect that unless the sup
Elemental estimates Of $6,361,520 are
allowed by the budget bureau and
Congress the next appropriation bill
will carry only $50 900 for new streets
and about 100000 for the school
| building program
! OF course. the usual lump sum
appropriations for repairs to streets
and upkeep of suburban roads are
| in the estimates in addition to the
| $4,000 for new streets. but the main
highways of the city have worn to
the point where money spent Tor
patching is practically wasted.
ResurfacinE Ii Favored.
| District officials feel that there
would be more real economy in re-
| surfacins such arteries as Connecti-
cut avenue, Georgia avenue and Rhode
Island avenue than in making fire.
!. uuent minor repairs. In addition to
the principal highways, there are
many side streets built up on both
sides that are without any form OF
permanent paving.
| In view Of the fact that, under the
Borland law. abutting property own
y ers pay half the cost of street i'm
provaments, the Commissioners feel
that Congress and the budget bureau
| should not make residents OF such
streets wait indefinitely for paving.
The street paving needs of the city
will be presented to the budget bu-
reau by Engineer Commissioner kel-
Ter, assisted by Maj. F.. S. Besson, In
direct charge Of the highway division
/ Auditor Backs Claims. =
Auditor Daniel J. Donovan, budget
officer for the District, also entered the
hearing room this morning, his arms
filled to overnowing with papers and re-
ports to support the items the Commits.
I.sioners have asked for.
Commissioner Oyster was accompa-
MED by Fire Chief Watson, Maj. Suli-
van and Health Officer Fowler, who
will be prepared to answer questions re.
Rarding the estimates for their depart
II was expected that the Commits
siners would ask Gen. Lord to considel
first, 80 that Chief Watson could leave
the city on q trip he had planned.
FIFTY New Policemen Wanted.
4 It is understood the estimates includ,
a. request for fifty additional policemen
a smaller number of hremen and NOR
lmotor apparatus for the latter depart
ment.
i commissioner :Rudolph, who ha
charge of the financial Offices of tn
, city government and all charitable an
! penal institutions, will explain the es
. Inmates Of those branches of the servics
If the budget bureau allows all tn
Commissioners are asking for, the tots
District budget will be $50, 1876. 900. Tn
, | city heads will lay emphasis upon. tn
) fact, however, that 80 per cent OF ths
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