Evening star., 1926-03-10

be- acquired to complete all land pur-
chases incident to the Rock Creek and
Potomac Parkway. With this FUND
exhausted, therefore, it would be
necessary to make quite a substantial
draft on current revenues II an ap'
preparation apprOximating one-f1fth OF
the cost of the five-year program were
to be made. 1t is the thought OF the
committee. however, that the prime
need is the early acquisition of the
projected sites while available and be-
fore prices become prOhibitive, and
that there Is no vital or pressing need
for the completion of the entire build
ing program within a five-year period.
$I,90O,00O for Buildings.
'The sum proposed in the bill on
account of new school buildings, con-
tinuing construction Of buildings, and
for preliminary studies on plans
and specifications for buildings is
81 100000. The amount proposed for
sites is $703,500. plus the unexpended
balance of the appropriation of
$154 900 contained in the second de-
f1ciency act, fiscal year 1925. on ac-
count Of the Park View School. The
In the budget estimates for buildings
Of 100000, reducing the appropria-
tions on account of the Francis and
Langley Junior High Schools by
$780, 900 and making provision for a
new elementary school building in
Woodbridge, to cost 100000. It Is
proposing the application Of $121 900
Of the reduction to the purchase of
sites, to be supplemented by the un-
expended balance Of the approprta-
ton Of $154,000 above referred to on
account of the Park View School.
The citizens in the vicinity OF the
Park View School are opposed to a
third.story addition to that school as
the appropriation previously provided
contemplates. They advocate the &C.
auisition Of additional land so that
the existing building may be extend
ed outward rather than upward. The
school authorities and the municipal
architect advocate the third-story
addition. In view of this difference
the committee Is proposing the appli
cation Of the money to other uses.
"The appropriation proposed for
the ACQUISITION of sites Is based on
estimated prices doubly and trebly
| in excess of the assessed value. II
the land can be purchased under the
Language employed by the committee
at prices not exceeding its assessed
value plus 25 per cent obviously
there would be a surplus. The com
mittee is proposing that this sur
plus may be employed as far as IL
will go in the acquisition or otnei
sites recommended in the original es
| tirnates of the Board of Education
but for which the budget estimates
make no provision.
Repairs and Improvements.
Much criticism is heard of the con.
dition of school buildings. The record
shows that the appropriations pro
vided over the last fvey year period IN
the aggregate are but s25, 900 less
| than the original requests OF the
| Board Of Education. a year ago. II
will be recalled. this committee pro-
nosed an increase Of $75 900 over the
budget estimate for school repairs.
This year the estimate that comes 10
us is $475.000. The original estimate
| of the Board of Education Is S550.0
and the committee Is proposing the
appropriation Of that sum. with re-
spect to the buildings scheduled for
early abandonment it is questionable
| lust how much should be expended
on them. If they are kept clean ana
sanitary and warm it would seem
there would toe no room Tor com
nlaint. The responsibility rests with
Tho school of9icials for this being
done.
Non.R esident Pupils.
"Out OF a total of. 10000 and over
nupils in ,.attendance at the public
schools of the District Of Columbia
| the committee finds that 3.o12 are
nonresident. Three thousand and
twenty.seven Of this number are resi-.
dents Of the States Of Maryland ano
Virginia. If all of these non-resioen!
pupils paid tuition at the rate OF
| actual cost. computed on the basis OF
| teaching service alone. they woulo
nav total of $274 4,005.so. The
amount actually collected during the
fscaI wear 1925 in tuition charges
from nonresident pupils not entitleo
| TO free instruction was SI,l2S.oo' Oi
| the basis Of 40 pupils to the room
these nonresident pupils require l0i
| their accommodation approxlmaIsis
| 10 eight room school buildings. me
Icommittee submits that 1t Is not fali
| to tha ,oral taxpayer or to the local
children who are crowded, atten0lng
ra ri time classes. and who may oe
attending portables by reason or TINS
| influx OF outside children.
Police Department.
"The toal appropriation proposed
hv +ha budget and the committee or
| account Of the Police Department. If
"a oo7 n70. or S6e, $50 in excess OF the
current appropriation. The sum
nronosed is adequate to provide 1ot
advancement of privates in CONFORM
ity with the law and for an auollion
al captain and lieutenant 1or the ne"
| thirteenth police precinct. the estap-
lishment Of which was provldeo iof
| in the current appropriation act
There are 1,2Sl members oI 'ne Aoi'e
at this time.
"The bill makes provision for the
nurchase of a site and the erectlon
of a building to be known as the
fourteenth police precinct station
house to replace the substation al
Tenleytown. D. c.
Fire Department.
"The committee is proposing the
budget estimate of S2,l9S,22o 1or tne
Fire Department, which is s17o,oou
in excess of the current appropria-
ton. The amount proposed PROVIDES
for the advancement of privates IN
conformity with the law and for ad
ditional personnel (see hearings, page
30T, properly to officer the organiza-
! tion and to officer and man a truck
company to be installed with and In
the quarters Of No. % engine com
pany, on Connecticut avenue between
Ordway and Porter streets.
"A new appropriation Of $4,000 Is
proposed for installing improved
toilet and bathing facilities in is fire
houses; another of $11,S35 Is propos-
ed for making repairs. alterations and
additions to the Fire Department re-
pair shop, and another Of $92,525 fol-
house, site. furniture and furnish
ings for an engine company to be
located in the vicinity Of Sixteenth
street and Pinev BRANCH road north L