Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-31
Commissioners Write to Sen
ate Committee, Reviewing
Their Activities.
INSIST CARUSI ANSWER
is NOT CONTROVERSIAL
Declare Educational Expenditures
Made as Rapidly as Money
Became Available.

Defending the amounts that have
been recommended in recent years for
carrying out the f1ve-year school build
ing program, the District Commission
ers in a letter today told Chairman
Capper of the Senate District commit
tee that the public schools "have been
fairly and equitably dealt with" con-
sidering the available revenues and the
other needs of the municipality.
The letter covers nine typewriter
pages and reviews the history of school
estimates since the building program
began. 1t marks another chapter in
the discussion that has been in progress
since Senator Capper two months ago
requested both the city heads and the
School Board to report on the status
Of the building program.
In their letter the Commissioners re-
ply to several portions of a letter pre-
pared by DR.. Charles Carusi, president
OF the Board of Education, on October
%, but they emphasized that their COM
munication of today is not to be con-
sldered as controversial or critical"
They tell Senator Capper that they ap-
preciate the outstanding Importance of
providing adequate funds for the pub
lie schools system and its development.
but point out at the same time that
they are confronted with the fact that
their ability is limited by the amount Of
revenues available and the need for
making reasonable provisions for other
municipal activities.
In referring to the question of prog
ress on the building program, the Com
mlCS10nPTS
follows:
1T is believed that in general the
program of school construction work
has been satisfactory and that schools
nave been ready for occupancy in as
snort time after the appropriations
became available as could be reason
ably expected, although it is admitted
that In individual cases there have
been delays, some that were unayoid-
able, and others that might have been
avoided"
Surplus Reserve Necessary.
The Commissioners saw in their letter
that it would have been possible during
the last year or two to have allotted
q large amount for the schools by
drawing on the accumulated surplus
OF District revenue in the Treasury. but
tney declare that it was sound iude-
ment to save the surplus for large Inn
provemertS which are about to be car
ried out, calling for large expenditures.
The municipal center development is
cited as an example.
The Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia beg to submit the follow
ing additional response to your letter of
september 28 concerning the five-year
school building program act" the re-
port oegan. This response is also in
tended to be informative with respect
10 certain matters stated by the presi-
dent OF the Board of Education in his
letter addressed to you under date of
october 22, copy of which you kindly
forwarded to the Commissioners with
your letter of october "a.
Appreciates School Needs.
THE Commissioners hardly need say
to you that they are fully appreciatiye
OF the outstanding importance of pro-
Vldlng adequate funds for the public
schools OF the District of Columbia, both
Tor maintenance and operating ex-
penSes and for the speedy development
OF the physical plan of the school Sys-
tenn: Each year in their preparation
OF the budget they are actuated by the
desire TO extend the maximum consid-
eratlon TO school needs. At the same
time, confronted as they are with the
fact that their ability is limited by the
amount Of the current general revenues
OF the District of Columbia, and the
need for making reasonable provision
Tor other municipal activities and
for certain Federal activities which
receive appropriations from the Dis
trict Of Columbia, it has not been posi-
BILE to approve for the public schools as
large amounts as have been recommend
ed by the Board of Education. Yet the
Commissioners believe that, consider
ing the general revenues annually avail
able for appropriation purposes, the
public schools have been fairly and
equitably dealt with. OF course. if the
District were in the position of many
other large cities and were permitted
to borrow funds and issue bonds, 1t
would have been practicable to pro-
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