Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10
BUDGET HEARINGS
START TOMORROW;
TOTAL IS HELD UP
Estimates Kept Secret by
City Heads Until Errors
Are Corrected.
SUM OF 100000
BELIEVED REQUESTED
Based on Statement of Reichel-
derfer Cut of 10 to IL Million
May Be Necessary.

The District Commissioners will
start hearings on their department
heads estimates Of the amount OF
money needed to carry the various mu-
nicipal departments through the fiscal
year of 1888 at 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning. Departmental estimates were
submitted to the budget officer. Daniel
j. Donovan, April 25. The correct total
of the departmental estimates, however.
was not available at the District Build
ing yesterday.
Mai Donovan submitted to the Com
miSSionerS his take-off of the various
totals, but whatever total was reported,
IL was discovered to be erroneous. DR..
Luther H Reichelderfer, president OF
the Board Of Commissioners, said that
while Mai. Donovan was going over
the estimates with the board two errors
were discovered, and that on Mr.. Dono-
vans recommendation the board had
decided not to make the estimates pub
lie until the errors could be corrected.
Mai. Donovan also said that he did
not want to give the figures out until
he had time to prepare statement
explaining the figures in full.
DR.. Reichelderfer did say, however,
chat the Commissioners would probably
md it necessary to lop on some $1O.-
O0O, 900 to $4,000, 900 from the depart
mental estimates before submitting
their own figures to the Bureau Of the
Budget. From this statement the In
ference is quite plausible that the esti-
mates call Cor about $60,00O,000 and
that they will be pruned so as to bring
them back to about $48, 100000 Last
year the departmental estimates
amounted to $57,000,000. The school
estimates this year, the only ones which
have been published, are up 81. 164.177.
Annually about one-third of the Dis
frict'S tax dollar is spent on its schools.
Assuming that the other estimates are
up in proportion, the increase for all
departments would be about $3,494 ,33l,
which, added to last years $4,000, 600,
would show total exceeding $50 0O0, 600.
Omits Sums Annually Carried.
II must be remembered that the to-
tai obtained from adding up the esti-
mates Of the department heads omits
sums annually carried in the appropri-
alton act for certain trust funds. These
include such items as refunds OF err
roneously paid taxes, payments OF
awards in connection with condemns
ton proceedings for the opening and
extension of streets to conform to the
plan for the permanent system OF high
ways, transfer of moneys to the police
men and firemen'S pension fund to sup
nly deficits in the fund, and amounts
necessary TO provide for deficiencies,
judgments and claims against the DIS
Rrict
When the appropriation act for the
current fiscal year was under CONSIDER
alton. Mai. Donovan estimated that at
the close OF 1892 the District would
have a free surplus with which TO
start 1888 of $738 ,9o8.55. This was IN
addition to the cash fund OF $3,O0O,OO
required by law to be kept on hand IN
the United States Treasury to the creolt
Of the District to prevent the necessity
Of borrowing from the Federal treasury
20 meet District bills.
II this forecast should prove correct
and it will not be known for more than
4 wear how accurate it is. it would
mean virtually the end Of the days OF
I the Districts large cash surplus, ana WIZ
spresent the Commissioners and Con-
1ress with the problem OF whether they
are to md the money with when 10
continue the municipal Establishment
in its present scale by increased taxes
I or increased Federal contribution, or
both. or whether the standard OF ex-
: penditures will be reduced.
Executive Establishment First
Although not certain Of the goal
toward which they are aiming in the
size OF the total Of the estimates to
be submitted to the Budget Bureau,
the Commissioners will go ahead with
their hearings on the individual de-
partmentS nevertheless, and a correct
Total will probably be supplied in the
course Of the week The executive es-
ia blishment. including the salaries OF
the Commissioners, their secretaries.
and the clerical force Of the once OF
Daniel E. Garges. secretary TO the
board. will first be considered, ano
next the Health Department.
It Is believed that the Health De-
partnent estimates contain requests
FOR an authorization Of 100000 for
the establishment OF contagious
disease hospital on land owned by the
District adjacent to Gallinger NUM-
cipal Hospital. and also for increases
in the staff of physicians, nurses, dem
lists, and oral hygieniSts in connection
with the work of conducting examina-
tons OF school children. There was
an increase of 10 In personnel OF the
school health inspection force during
the current fiscal year. but no further
increase in the 1882 appropriation act,
and Health Oficer William C. Fowler
has been striving for years for much
more ADEQUATE health examination OF
4 nehool children.
Zone item OF the estimates is known
4Nr certain The Board OF Education
- asked for 1851 1897. an increase
81 aI.l6477, over the amount appro-
s hted for the 1882 fiscal year. These
3res were made public by the board
As Sunday.