Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-15

fore Congress was through joint &C
ton, empowered Il special committee
of the chamber, in conference with the
other trade associations. to act for the
chamber in the consideration of the
estimates.
President Martin A. Leese named a
committee composed of Ivan G. Weld
Charles w. Darr, Ernest f. Herrell
Dorsey w. Hyde, jr., and himself to
take up the proposed new procedure
with the two other trade organiza-
tionS.
In presenting the unified action pro
posal, Mr.. Harper declared that should
difference of opinion regarding the
estimates arise among local Organiza-
tons it would but serve to further con-
fuse Congress as to the wishes of the
citizens, with the result that their re-
quests would be given but Scant con-
sideration.
Mr.. Darr, in urging that every eff
fort be made to bring about united
public opinion regarding the budgetary
estimates which now are under con
sideration, went a step further in the
proposal and suggested that a per-
manent joint committee should be
formed by the three trade bodies for
presenting to the Commissioners and
to Congress recommendations of the
organizations concerning all local mat
tiers of special Importance.
Plan Early Conference.
Mr.. Leese announced that repre-
sentatives of the Board of Trade and
the Merchants and Manufacturers As
ISOLATION would be invited to formally
consider unified action on the esti-
mates at an early meeting.
DIR. Frank w. Ballou, member of the
board of directors of the chamber, in
giving an explanation of the items re-
quested for the public schools during
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1929.
declared that If the requested appro-
priation of 1851, 243 be slashed to
any extent in the pairing of the esti-
mates it would mean disruption of the
five-year school-building program and
cause extension of the program over
longer period of years.
Asserting that all items in the bud
get to be absolutely essential" to the
school system if it is to keep pace with
the growth in the school population,
DR.. Ballou pointed out that with the
exception Of but one item of about
$4,000 for additional trade instruc-
ton, there was no new appropriation
items sought. The major portion of
the increase, he said, was for obligated
expenditures for new schools, sites
and additional teachers necessitated
by arrearages created following the
war.
S1,00O,OO0 for Sites.
In keeping with the five-year school
building program, which has been
ordered by Congress, he said, more
than S1,000,000 was asked for the &C.
QUESTION of school land. This item, he
pointed out, was unusually heavy, due
to the fact that but three sites were
provided for in the 1928 appropriation
act, because of the inability of the Dis
trict to buy the land at a cost not ex-
ceeding 125 per cent of the assessed
valuation. The heavy increase in the
assessment on real property, which
becomes effective next month, ac-
centuates the necessity of acquisition
of needed school sites at an early
date, he said.
should be the last to be reduced, Mr..
Darr moved that the chamber approve
the entire school budget, but the mo.
ton was withdrawn when the board
decided to defer action on the est.
mates pending the move for co-opera
tive action with the other organiza
tions.
In discussion Of the heavy increase
in the assessed valuation of District
property, Arthur c. Moses proposed
that the chamber organize a concerted
campaign for bond issue for many OF