Evening star., 1926-08-15
Will Start Work on Pruning
of S3,5O0,OO0 Wednesday.
3 Days to Suffice.
ADVISORY BODY RECESS
PREVENTS COOPERATION
Col. Bell Favors Spreading Reduc-
tions Throughout All of
Departments.


the Citizens Advisory Council. the
District Commissioner. this week will
undertake to cut the preliminary
estimates for the next fiscal year tO
the tentative maximum limitation OF
$3S. .573,8z9 as allocated by President
Coolidge.
Confronted with the task OF trim
ming approximately s3,sOO.OoO from
the budget in its present form, the
Commissioners have set Wednesday
AS the date for starting and expect
to complete the work within three
days The advisory council. which
had hoped to take some part i'll shap-
ing next years budget. Is enjoying
a summer recess, With~it chairman
Jesse G. Suter vacationing at Nj
agra Falls. - There is little likeli-
hood that meeting will be held
until his return. August %.
The advisory council had little op-
poftunity to consider the tentative
estimates in detail. due to the haste
in which they were assembled for
transmission to the Budget Bureau.
Plans had been made to go more
thoroughly into the detailed items
when the budget was returned for
it's customary pruning. These ar
rangements are now destined To E"
aWry.
Lord Requires Haste.
AS Brig. Gen. Herbert NJ. LORD
director of the Budget Bureau has
notified the Commissioners that the
final estimate must be in his hands
not later than September l. 10 days
earlier than usual. ii is doubtfui
if the council will have sufficient
time to study the numerous appro-
priation needs in a comprehensive
way. even if a meeting is calieu
upon Mr.. Suffers return.
Harry y. Stull, recorder "f tho
council, said last night that, because
of the lack of time i'll which the coun-
ell will have to consider the estimates
he personally would favor having the
council ignore them. 1t seems thdt
we have been rushed for time OIL
everything we have attempted TO do.
he declared I'VE would need at least
two weeks to make a careful STUDY OF
the detailed recommendations. If !
had my way the council would not
even undertake to consider the budget
at this late date"
The commissioners have not ind
Gated yet what departments are most
likely to suffer from the necessary re-
duCtionS. Engineer commissioner j.
Franklin Bell believes that proper
tionate cuts should be made in the
items OF all the departments. and prob
ably will advocate this policy when
the revision is undertaken.
Will Seek Rcinsertion.
The most urgent of those items
stricken from the tentative estimates.
it was said. will be included i'll a sup
Elemental statement, setting forth the
necessity therefor, and transmitted 10
Gen. Lord along with the budget.
The Commissioners are expected 10
make strong effort to have these
items reinSerted in view of the fact
that the tentative budget was framed
to provide the most essential needs
for the next fiscal year. and their
might entail request Tor
deficiency appropriation winch theN
hone to avoid if possible.
The S42. 900 900 tentative budget. II
was pointed out, would be adequate
10 meet expenses without further
increase in the present rate or taxa
tion of 81 80 on 500 of assessed Vdlu-
alton. This figure was set with the
idea that, if granted. supplemental ap-
propriations would not be requested.
unless an emergency arose.
AS the public school estimates
represent approximately one-third OF
the total tentative budget of S42 900
600. the largest percentage of the re
duction probably will he made in these
items. although the Commissioners
are fully cOgniZdnt of the school needs
and are aVerse to hindering any fur
ther the five year school building pro
gram now under way. The school
boards original estimates of $4,000
1856 already have been trimmed TO
Sl3, 500 600.
Would Delay Projects.
Reductions in the estimates of other
departments of the District govern
ment are likely to eliminate some of
the new projects which the Commits
siOners had hoped to start in the next
fiscal year. such as paving and grad
ing of streets. the construction of a
new bridge TO replace the Chain
Bridge, new building TO house the
repair shop of the Police Department
new fire truck house in the vicinity
of Twelfth and l. streets. widening
of roads in East Potomac Park and
number of smaller items.
The total appropriation needs rec
commended by the various department
heads of the District and agencies of
the Federal Government expending
District appropriations amounted to
$+S. .064. .6Sl before they were trimmed
to S42, 900, 900 by the Commissioners.
Distribution of Estimates.
These were distributed as follows:
Salaries and expenses, $2,795744. as
compared with appropriations of 81
900 for the current year; contingent
and miscellaneous expenses. s255,65S.
as compared with the current ap.
preparation Of $225.806; street and
road Improvement, S5.276, $50, as com.
pared with the current appropriation
of S2,119.750: sewers. $2942 900. as
compared with the current appropria-
tion of 81 ,447 900: city refuse division,
81 .945, ,020. as compared with the cur
rent appropriation of 81 AZ, $50; play
ground department, S177,310, as com.
pared with the current appropriation
of $16S,965; electrical department, ST.
0S0 800, as compared with the current
appropriation of S95224O: public
schools, $16.005.l86 as compared with
the current appropriation of $1O.905.-
31l: Police Department. S3204.0S5 as
compared with the current appropria.
tion of S3.071, ,010: Fire Department.
s.. 452 .129. as compared with the cur.
rent appropriation of s2.233.270: Health
Department. N.02s,410. as compared
HtoptfuvaA an % ~, "a r1I..--- -