Evening star., 1923-07-24
Total Request of $33,500,-
600 includes S4,0O0,000
for U. S. Work Here.
$500, 900 TO BE ASKED
FOR NEW PARK SITES
Commissioners. Expecting Cut, Say
Their Figures Are Not
Too High.

Although the District budget viii go
to the Treasury Department totaling
approximately s33.500,o00. it was
learned today that only about s2s,-
100000 Of that sum is for the mu-
nicipal government.
The smallsf4fgure represents the
real estimates of the Commissioners
for the running of the local depart
ments during the next fiscal year.
The remainder is made up of the
estimates of federal departments over
which the Commissioners have no
control, but which are made a part
Of the District budget because they
relate TO work being done in Wash
ington.
Want New Park Sites.
1t is understood that the Commits
sioners at the last moment added
request for purchase of some of the
park sites advocated for years by the
Board Of Trade. which increased the
total to about S33,500,00O.
The largest of these outside items
is for continuing work on the new
water conduit from Great Falls, being
built by the War Department. The
current appropriation act carries ST.
500. 900 for that project, but it was re-
liably learned today that considerably
less ia being requested for next year
Another large outside item that
goes in the District budget is the sum
needed by Col. Sheriff. for mainte-
nance Of public buildings and
grounds. which for the current year
is 100000 in round numbers.
There are requests for several hun
dred thousand dollars more in the
budget for maintenance OF the " ASH
inEton aQueduct, under the W ar De
partment; for upkeep of the Zoologi-
cal Park, under the Interior Depart
ment; for continuing the project Tor
the linking together of the Cock
Creek and Potomac parks. and prob
ably several hundred thousands Tor
continuing the reclamation OF the
Anacostia flats.
ID. c. Request s;9,OOO,0o0
This all means that the Commission
ers in reality are only asking for
little more than S2s.000,o00 for actual
municipal work, such as paving
streets, running the school system.
laying new sewers and providing ade-
ouate police and fire protection.
Daniel ]. Donovan, city auditor, IS
hard at work today adding up the
figures and preparing a final draft OF
the estimates to be sent to the direc-
tor Of the budget before August l.
Even the predicted total of S33.500,-
900 is an approximation. The exact
amount viii. not be known until the
Commissioners are ready to dispatch
the documen. TO the Treasury.
Although the commissioners are
sending to Gen. Lord a budget call
ing for approximately s2,000,000 more
than last years tentative estimates,
they regard that figure as a ccnserva-
tive estimate of the city's urgent needs.
See Demand for Cut.
It is generally expected that Gen,
Lord will direct the city heads to
slash further these estimates becaus Sc
Of the administrations earnest desire
for economy.
It Is understood. however. that the
Commissioners felt 1t was their duty
to lay before the general what they
believe TO be the absolute require
ments Of a city of the size of Wash
ington.
District officials hope that in de-
termining what amount will be al
lowed the District the budget officers
will bear In mind the fact that nearly
four millions in the District estimates
is for agencies outside the munich
pal government