Evening star., 1925-01-11
$4,000 PARK ITEM
IS CUT OUT OF BILL
House Subcommittee Argues
Sum Was Not Justified
at Its Hearings.

The entire item of 100000 for
parks in the National Capital recon-
mended by the Budget Bureau was
stricken from the District appropria-
tion bill just before the subcommittee
headed by Representative Charles r.
Davis Of Minnesota finished marking
up the bill late yesterday.
In spite Of the fact that in sub
stantive legislation passed in the last
session of Congress, when the Ma
tional Capital Park Commission was
created, authorization was specifically
made for appropriations of $1,100,000
year for developing the park sys-
tenn of the Capital by acquiring de-
sirable tracts that would protect the
forests and woodland springs and
scenic beauty, the subcommittee ar
gued that no justification for this cut
down amount was presented by wit
nesses at the hearings.
Members OF the subcommittee on
District appropriations said last
night that they believed they had
been generous toward the District
throughout consideration of the ap-
propriations asked for the next fiscal
year. but they believed that to in
clude the item OF 100000 for parks
would have weakened" their bill.
Had Important Backing.
In discussion at the last meeting OF
the House District 0egislative) COM
mittee emphasis was laid on the fact
that the budget estimate should be
Increased from 100000 to $1,100, ,00l
by such careful legislators as Repre-
sentative Fred N. Zihlman of Mary
land, Representative Charles l.. Un-
derhilI OF Massachusetts,, Representa-
tive Ernest w. Gibson of Vermont
and Representative Gale II. Stalker
Of New York.
A determined effort will be made
on the floor to have an amendment
carried which will insert an item of
at least 100000 for acquiring park
sites.
The District bill as drafted yester-
day carries provision for 1913 addi-
tional members OF the police force in
an effort TO relieve the serious traf
fic situation. This is in addition to
81 new policemen yet to be recruit ed
under the legislation increasing the
force SO as to allow each member
one day Off in seven in lieu of Sun
day. 1t is expected that these 81 will
be employed before May l. and most
Of the other 12s within the coming
year.
Extra school Building.
One new school building in addi-
tion to the school building program
contained in the budget recommends
tions was agreed upon in the sub
committee conferences. 1t was said
last night that this Is the school for
which Ernest w. Pullman, president
of the Manor Park Citizens Associa-
ton, made such a strong plea This
is, the only one OF the new school
buildings omitted from the school
board recommendations last year
The amount asked for this building
was $4,000. The subcommittee also
made provision for the purchase OF
several school sites. in addition to
those included by the Budget Bureau
The item for maintenance and re-
pair of school buildings was increas ed
from sS75.oo0 to s45o,o00, and made
Immediately available.
The entire budget for the fire de-
partment. including a new station and
new apparatus, was approved.
District Bill Completed.
Several important thorouKhfares
were included in the street improve
contained in the Budget Bureaus
program.
The District supply bill for the
fiscal year beginning July / next, was
completed in the conference yester-
day-except the street budget, be.
cause the recent snowstorm has left
the streets in such condition thai
they cannot be properly inspected by
the subcommittee before approving
the amounts asked for street repairs
and extensions.
The District bill was scheduled tc
be reported to the House tomorrow
or the next day SO that 1t might i'm
mediately follow the independent
Offices appropriation bill reported BY
the committee yesterday. 1t is nov
probable that the State and Justice
Commerce and Labor bill, which car.
ries the appropriations for all foul
Of these departments, will be the
next one brought out of committee
and that the District bill will ther
follow.