Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-29

date two tracts have been bought
under this Imitation school site in
Potomac Heights and police station
site in Tenleytown. The site for
fire engine house in the vicinity of
Sixteenth and Piney Branch road
northwest has been referred to pre-
viously.
The appropriations were made avail
able until July /, 1928. in order that
negotiations for purchase could be
deferred until the new assessment,
which becomes effective July l next.
Testimony at the hearings showed the
present assessment, the maximum
price payable applying the 125 per
cent limitation thereto, the asking
price and the new assessment. 1t dis
closes, according to Mr.. Funk's report,
that wide disparity will continue to
exist when the new assessment be
comes effective as between the asking
prices and the new assessed values,
and gives renewed emphasis to the
committees contention that the law
requiring full value assessments is not
being properly administered or else
that the owners of property mere
which is needed for public uses are de-
termined to force local taxpayers to
contribute toward extortionate prices
for their personal gain. The com
mittee, he says. does not believe that
it is futile to attempt to accomplish its
aim through the continuation of this
price limitation.
1t is true 1t will have the effect OF
delaying acquisitions, but by continu
ing to focus public attention upon the
matter, 1t is believed that much can
be accomplished to bring about more
satisfactory situation. The head OF
the Citizens Advisory Council is in
full sympathy with the committees
aim and policy.
School Land Purchases.
With respect to school building and
playground sites specifically appropri-
ated for, the current appropriations
act provides that If any of such sites
cannot be acquired under the 125 per
cent price limitation the funds thus
released might be employed in &C
quiring any other land authorized to
be acquired under the five-year school
building program act. 1t Is understood
with respect to some of these latter
that they may be purchased at fig
ure but little in excess of 125 per cent
of the present assessed value. In
order that advantage may be taken of
propositions of this character, the com
mitee Is proposing to exempt from
the 1875 per cent limitation until June
80, 1927, $154,000 of the funds made
available in the current appropriation
act for the purchase of school building
and playground sites.
The school estimates total $12,-
344,7O1. This sum Ia 81 ,439 1870 in ex-
cess of the current appropriations.
principally accounted for as follows:
Teachers. retirement fund. ....... 2soo 900 o09
F fr'Ha s0' for new Mckinley High ~ ooo
Fire GMooi; stage curtains for Central ooso
and Dunbar High Schools. loo, 600
School buildings and grounds. 710,76O
The committee has not disturbed
items 2, 8, and 5. With respect to
the increase on account of the teach
ers' retirement fund, this Is brought
about by the act of June II, 1926 IA
| Stat, 727), which provides for the Gre
alton Of fund for the payment of an
nuities as established therein. Through
the United States Bureau of Efficiency
an actuarial investigation has been
made of the financial arrangements
| necessary to establish such fund. A
summary thereof will be found COM
mencing on page sos of the hearings
| The appropriations necessary to be
made in conformity with the act must
provide for current liabilities and ac-
crued liabilities, requiring annual ap-
preparations over a period Of 80 years
of 81 ,439 1877 and 1881 ,844, respective
| ly. On the basis, therefore, that bene-
| fits remain at the present rates and
| the experience continues normal, 1t
will be necessary to make annual APP
preparations throughout this period Of
| $359.007 During the same period the
teachers will have contributed a total
of $3,264 ,795. On the basis of the
former retirement law, the current APP
| preparation for the payment Of annui-
ties to teachers is $4,000.
Fireproof Curtains.
The stages at the Eastern, Western,
and Armstrong High Schools are now
equipped with fireproof curtains. 1t is
felt by the committee that this precau-
ton should be taken at the Central
and Dunbar High Schools. The
estimated cost is 100000. which in
cludes money for making necessary in
cidental alterations.
AS to pay of teachers. the budget in
crease of $219, 440 includes 1921 100 for
the pay of "a additional teachers, the
remainder representing longevity ad.
vances. The committee makes no pro-
vision whatever for additional teach
ers. Apart from the administrative
and supervisory officers, of whom
there are 1875, appropriations are avail
able today for the employment of 1855
teachers. At the present time $3.50
| are on the rolls, the report explains,
1t is expected that 36 will need to be
added in February.
The school authorities have been un-
| able to satisfy the committee that
there will be a real need for "a addi-
| tional teachers during the fiscal year
| 1928, 1t is stated. The hearings dis
close an exhaustive investigation of
the subject. The school authorities
| contend that 90 additional teachers
will be needed in the elementary
schools. "A in junior high schools, and
in senior high schools. to provide for
| increased enrolment, to take care of
new classrooms. and for opening new
kindergartenS and Misunderstanding
centers. Studies made by members of
the committee suggest that these
needs can be met within the present
force of teachers through a redistribu.
ton to be effected by the school
authorities after further surveying ex.
listing assignments, says the report.
For building and grounds the budget
| proposes appropriations for 1928 to-
falling $3.006,750. This exceeds the
sum of the current appropriations by
| $710,750. The committee Is proposing
appropriations totaling $2,7s6, $50. or
| $1,000 less than the budget figure.
The committee Is proposing the re-
fusal Of the appropriation of 500. 900
| sought for an addition to the Crummell
School. and has excluded provision
for the purchase of a site for a. new
| health school for colored pupils.
Neither Of these items, in the judg.
| ment of the committee, needs to be pro-