Evening star., 1923-01-04

$1,000 Given for Arms.
Provision for fully equipping the
police force with modern fire arms is
made by adding $4,000 to the appro-
priation for miscellaneous and con-
tingentS expenses. There has been
an endeavor to do this gradually
without special provision. but the
committee felt that a need exists
which should be met promptly.
While the bill reported to the House
today proposes $9S,076.56 more for the
fire department than appropriated for
partment total Is still $14.500 less
than the budget recommendations.
New Motorized Apparatus.
About half of the increase is for
new motor driven, firefighting appa-
ratus. The equipment proposed to be
acquired, to cost $S3.150. will effect
the complete motorization of the fire
department, and, in addition, will
permit of the replacement of two
peen in service since 1908, and pro-
woe one reserve fire engine.
The remainder of the increase is on
account OF personnel, a larger main
tenance and repair appropriation,
$4,000 additional for hose: and spe-
pletely equipping the force with gas
masks and oxygen helmets. The fire
department has been striving to pro-
VIDE these devices out of its regular
appropriations with little success.
They constitute most essential part
or modern fire-fighting equipment
and that there should be no further
delay in acquiring them the commit
tee is proposing to go beyond the
DAuget TO the extent of $4,000.
Provision is made for twenty-six
additional firemen, needed to supply
shortages in the compliments of eX-
listing companies and for assignment
TO nre-prevention work.
Provides Water supply.
For increasing the water supply the
Dill proposes further appropriation
OF $l,500.000 and authorization to OBJ
ligate like sum in excess of this ap-
preparation.
For the current fiscal year an addi-
tional appropriation OF $1.500.o00 was
made toward increasing the water sup
ply, and authority given to create obli
cations to the extent of S1,450,000 in
excess of the appropriation. The es-
timated cost Of the entire project is
SS.73S.000, of which $1,700,o00 actually
has been appropriated to date.
On November 80, 1922, there had
been obligated $2,306.1o0. The new
conduit Is under contract with the ex-
ceptton of the intake gate chamber at
Great Falls, the tunnel at Great Falls
and a short section of conduit near the
nections and the superstructures thereof.
Chairman Cramton points out that
the proposal made in this bill will re-
suit in there being made available suf-
hcient cash to satisfy contracts, which
have already been made or are to be
made for the completion of the conduit,
including certain overhead expenses. es-
tinated to amount in ALI to $2,S6S,100,
and allow a cash margin OF $33l,9 800 to
meet obligations on account of other
p HhA rYr
another third of the work, remaining to
be undertaken, being placed under con-
tract such as the new filtration plant
pumping plant, filtered-water storage
reservoirs, etc
The proposed appropriation carries
with 1t an authorization to take i'm
mediate possession of lands needed
for the work upon the institution of
condemnation proceedings and upon
certain prescribed steps having been
taken looking to the compensation of
the parties entitled thereto. without
such an authorization IL is quite OBJ
Vious that the completion of the prof.
ect might be indefinitely delayed.
Provides Branch Library.
Provision is made in the bill for
purchase of a site for a branch of
the free public library in the Mount
Pleasant-Columbia Heights section of
the city at cost not to exceed $4,000.
10 the District Commissioners to ac-
cept from the Carnegie Corporation
of New York not less than 100000
for the purpose of erecting a suitable
branch library building on this site.
The location tentatively selected was
on Lamont street, just west of 10th
street. Chairman Cramton in his re-
port emphasizes that this section of
the city is entirely without library
facilities and is far removed from
the main library and it's branches in
Takoma Park and Southeast Wash
ington."
Charities and Corrections.
Appropriations which are $1ss,s5O
less than the budget recommends
tfons, are proposed under the heading
charities and corrections" Chair
man Cramton, in his report, stresses
that one-third of this reduction is
attributable to failure to provide an
additional home for delinquent girls
He says:
The committee is impressed with
the need for improving conditions at
the National Training School for
provide tor extending the institution
beyond its present confines"
Another reduction grows out of
the provision for q nurses home at
the tuberculosis Hospital. The budget
recomme ended $4,000 for this purpose,
while the committee is proposing just
half that sum. The committee also
is proposing $4,000 less for Gallinger
Municipal Hospital than recommend
ed in the budget, chiefly because the
institution is just becoming available
and some doubt is entertained as to
whether or not the full sum request
ed would be required.
Under the board of children's
guardians another reduction will be
found practically, all of which is due
to the reduction proposed in the
appropriation for the board and, care
Of children in boarding homes The
District at present owns an excellent
institution" Representative cramton
says, known as the Industrial Home
School, situated on Wisconsin avenue,
near Massachusetts avenue, COM
pletely equipped and in readiness to
take care of from 100 to 125 children.
Thus far during the present fiscal
year this institution has not been
ayailed Of the practice having been
to place all children in boarding
homes.
THE committee is proposing that
the board of children's guardians
the board and care of children, unless
this Industrial Home School Is avsiled
of to it's full capacity, and for that
reason ts proposing to reduce the ap-
preparation referred to bv $4,000,
and to provide appropriations, cores
ponding with those made for the
current fiscal year, for the Industrial
Home School, which can care for
children more cheaply, considering
the expense of maintenance and up
keep when not used for the purpose
for which intended. than they can be
cared for in boarding homes"
Reclaim Anacostia Flats
An initial appropriation of $4,000 for
the development as q recreation park
of that portion of the reclaimed fats
on the south shore of the Anacostia
river lying between the Anacostia and
Pennsylvania avenue bridges, is pro-
posed under the heading public build
ings and grounds"
Under a separate head in the bill Fro
,ricict, is made for ntinlIiner tho