Evening star., 1925-05-31
CITY HEADS SEEK
|. TO KEEP BUDGET
WITHIN $35,O1O,0OO
Hope to Cut S5,0O0,000
From Estimates Submitted
by Departments.
s25, 900, 900 REQUIRED
FOR RUNNING EXPENSES
Commissioners Would Limit New
Work to $4,000, ,o0o-s2.-
100000 for Schools.

The District budget for the fiscal
year 1861 probably will be re-
duced TO approximately 335,00o,00H
when the Commissioners have com
pleted the task of studying the recon-
mendations for municipal development
which have been made TO them BY
department heads.
While definite figures are not avail
able, it has been reported that the
original recommendations of division
chiefs throughout the District sery-
ice aggregated more than $4,000 600.
If present indications are sborne out,
the city heads will have about five mil
lions to pare from the figures as pre-
sented by their subordinates.
The Commissioners have not yet
begun to analyZe the estimates III mi
mute detail and 1t probably will be near
the end of June before the local bud
get begins to take on definite shape.
The present tendency, however, seems
to be to make $35. 100000 the limit
that should be sought.
S10,O00,O0O for Improvements.
The current running expenses of the
city for salaries and ordinary main
tenance of all the agencies that go to
makes up the municipal government
are said to require about $25 ,000,0 900.
A budget recommendation of $35 ,000,-
! 900, therefore, would include 10000
! 900 for progress and development in
the form OF new school buildings, ad-
ditions to the park system. construc-
! ton of intercepror sewers, water
| Nd civ haff
The carrying out of the five-year
school building program means that
close TO s4,oG0,000 will be considered
| by the city heads for school con-
struction in that part of the budget
representing progress.
| Another large item under progress
will be the final allotment for con-
struction of the new water supply
works. While a substantial sum Is
! still needed for this project, about
100000 less than the current appro-
priation will be required in the next
budget
a third big item under the heading
| OF progress will be for continuing the
extension of the park and playground
/ system, begun this year by the newly
created National Capital Park Com
mission. The act creating this COM
mission indicated the annual appro-
priation could run as high as l cent
per inhabitant of the United States.
which would be about S1,U0o,o00.
Whether that much will be proposed
in the next budget, however, is not
known at this time.
New Chain Bridge Urged.
The need for replacing the eli
| Chain Bridge with a new structure
has impressed itself upon District Of
| ficials, and is one of the smaller new
projects being seriously considered.
The last Congress provided funds
for the elimination of the Lamond
railroad grade crossing. and 1t is pos
sible that the new budget may carry
an item for the abolition of another
of these danger spots. There are
only few grade crossings left in
Washington, the great majority Of
| them having been abolished when the
Union Station was built.
| The Board of Charities is anxious to
go forward with the development OF
Gallinger Municipal Hospital by be-
ginning work on a building for the
treatment of general diseases. The
buildings thus far erected at Gallinger
have been psychopathic wards. The
Health Department also is proposing
a separate building as part of the Gal
/ linger development for the treatment
| of conta gious diseases which are now
taken care of under an arrangement
| with Garfield and Providence Hos
| pitals. The two proposed additions to
the Gallinger group of buildings would
cost close to 81. 600, 900. Whether they
can be asked for in this budget has
not been decided.
| The Police Department wants new
| precinct station in Tenleytown, and an
appropriation to take on the 100 ad-
ditional policemen authorized in the
| traffic law.
More Fire Equipment Needed.
The Fire Department is anxious to
get two new engine houses to protect
rapidly growing residential areas in
/ the northwest. The department also
wants several new pieces Of apparatus.
The present movement to make the
| streets safer from a traffic standpoint
has empha sized the shortcomings OF
the street-lighting system, and there fs
likely to be an increased recommends.
tion for installation of new street
+, lamps. The Commissioners have
worked out five-year program for
bringing the street-lighting system
up TO date, but how much OF this
money will be sought in the new bud
get is not definitely decided at this
time.
| L VI Tie An3CO6tld
flats into a parkway has been going
! forward gradually on moderate an.
nual aIlotments and there has been
some suggestion this year of the ad-
| visibility of increasing this item. 1t
was stated recently that Is years
/ would be required to complete the
project at the rate. of past appropria-
| tions.
| "A building to house the recorder of
| deeds and his valuable records of land
titles is another project pending for
consideration.
Would Exceed 1925 Budget.
A $35, 900 900 budget would be sew
| eral millions in excess of the District
appropriation act for the next IL
kaonths, but it is pointed out that
there are several factors entering into
| the next budget that will not bear .0@
| the tax rate.
For example, while $4,000,000 is
| likely to be recommended for con-
| tinuing the school-building program,
! about s., 900 900 of that sum is expect
| ed to come from the balance of the
Districts surplus revenue in the
| Treasury. The District has an un-
! disputed surplus balance of approx
mately 81 500, 900. There is a further
sum of SS19,373 surplus to which the
| District claims title, but which must
| be verified by the controller of this
l