Evening star., 1923-07-22
SCHOOL AND LIGHT
EST|MATESP PRUNED
Commissioners Virtually Put
D. C. Budget at $4,000, 900
for Next Year.

The District Commissioners held .
final session yesterday, at which it
is understood they virtually agreed
upon a budget of s32, 100000, which
will be transmitted to Gen. Lord with
in d week.
Reliable reports have it that the
Commissioners found it necessary to
apply the pruning knife to the elabo-
rate street lighting program as well
as to high-pressure fire mains.
The electrical department had
asked for several hundred thousand
dollars as the first installment to-
ward fixe-year plan to spend
s1,500,0o8 on better street lighting.
Although the city heads are said to
be asking for more money than last
year for this purpose. the electrical
department will not, get all it asked
for.
school Estimates Cut.
The board of education's estimates
came to the District building ten
days ago, totaling 11,500.00o. The
Commissioners, in consultation with
the school board, have cut them to
about sS,500,00e. This sum will al
low for some new buildings, but not
nearly as large a building program
as the school board had outlined.
While the city heads are reported
to have omitted high-pressure fire
mains, it is understood they are ask
ing for a liberal sum to buy new
fire engines to replace eight tractor
engines that have been in service
since the motorization of the depart
ment began.
tractor engines can hardly be driven
at more than twelve miles an hour,
with the result that the hose carts
get to the fire far in advance of the
engines.
The estimates of the sewer depart
ment were slightly In excess of
s., 900, and it is not believed the
Commissioners cut them deeply. The
department is far behind in it's work
of extending house service sewers,
and the need for more storm sewers
in several sections of the city was
demonstrated by floods during the
past season.
The water department is asking for
more than $1,000,000 for maintenance
of the distribution system and for the
laying of a dozen new trunk mains
that are urgently needed for fire.
fighting purposes in outlying sections
The total amount being asked for
the highway division is believed to
be close to 100000. This Is made
up of four distinct items-laying OF
new streets, the lump sum for re.
pairs to existing surfaces, main.
tenance of suburban roads and alley
and sidewalk paving.
More Policemen Asked.
The feature of the police estimates
Is the request for 100 additional pri.
Yates to afford the city adequate pa.
troll protection. Increases also are
being sought in some of the police
maintenance items.
It Is reported that request also has
been made for purchase of several
playground sites, as well as an in
creased allotment for maintenance OF
schoolyard Fairgrounds next summer
1t Is confidently expected that il
the budget bureau directs the Com
missioners to cut their preliminary
estimates below the $30,000,0o0 mark
the city officials will seek permission
to submit supplemental estimates, as
they did year ago.
If such a situation arises, the bud
get officers probably will allow the
Commissioners to appear at the
Treasury Department in support Of
any supplemental items submitted
Such a supplemental list would bt
made up of needed improvements thai
had to be eliminated to keep the
regular estimates from mounting toe
high.