Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-06
BY JAMES E. CHM.


On the first lap of its legislative
Journey through Congress, the DlstrlctS 5
appropriation bill for the 1882 fiscal
year is now under the microscopic
scrutiny of the House subcommittee on
appropriations, headed by Representa-
tive Simmons of Nebraska. officials OF
the municipal government are appear
ing before the committee to defend the
items the bill contains-public improve
mentS, salary increases and recurring
expenses which, in their best judgment,
constitute the actual needs OF the DIS
trict in the coming fiscal year beginning
July l.
The bill calls for appropriations to-
falling $47, 796,047. Though S60,385 less
than the appropriation for the current
fiscal year, the amount sought Tor 1882
actually reaches the unprecedented to-
tai of $49, 296 DAT, because of a provision
reserving 81 100000 for beginning con-
struction of buildings in the Municipal
Center area, if the plans can be COM
pleted in time.
Far Above 1922 Budget.
Nearly $4,000, 900 for the operation
and maintenance of a municipality that
only a decade ago was aStounded and
staggered when Congress approved a
budget of $19,709 ,292!
Whence is coming this $50,00o,00o
How much of it is to be raised by
taxation? How much of it will rev.
enueS from other sources produce? And
the unknown quantity, the Federal con-
tribution, what will that be?
Important too, is what will this $780,
OOO, 600 budget provide? What are the
Improvements contemplated? How much
is to be spent on streets and sidewalks,
schools, police and fire protection,
health and sanitation and free libraries?
These and numerous other pertinent
questions will, as far as possible, be an
swered in this series The budget as it
now stands before the House subcom-
mittee on appropriations will be ana
lyzed and the reasons for the various
items outlined in detail. In other
words, this series will be the story of the
tax dollar and the work it is to per-
form.
Funds Asked for Market.
Taking the budget in its chronology
cal order, as the House subcommittee
does in its study there is found among
the first items a request of George M.
Roberts, superintendent of weights,
measures and markets, for $4,000 to
complete the repairs to the Western
Market and $4,000 for the purchase Of
a heavy motor truck and its equipment
to test scales up to 10 tons. These are
the most vital needs of this department,
and both will be of unreasonable pub
lie service.
Congress provided in the 1929 appro-
priation act 5000 for the partial re-
Mobilization of the Western Market, and
Mr. Roberts is extremely anxious TO
complete the work, because he believes
that so long as the municipal govern
ment continues to operate public mar
kets they should be maintained, at least
to a reasonable degree, in accordance
with well recognized requirements for
institutions of the kind.
A close estimate indicates that new
plumbing and toilets for the Western
Market will cost IS 900; new doors and
window frames and the bricking up of
certain useless doors, $500, and the
repairing Of walks in front of the build
ing, 1900.
Test Truck Necessary.
The weight-testing truck is particu-
larry needed, according to Mr.. Roberts,
because of the lack of proper equip
ment in the past the department could
not comply with the provisions of the
law requiring it to check up on the
weight of coal and other commodities
and test scales of large capacity. The
only equipment now used for such pur-
pose is an old four-cylinder truck Of
1000 pounds capacity. Therefore, a
test to the extent of only one ton can
be made on large scales.
survey has shown that there are
in the District 1879 establishments using
358 large scales, ranging from 1000 to
10000 pounds capacity. These scales
are used in weighing a large variety Of
merchandise, much of it of high value,
Ss-eie=ilng coal, food, live stock, freight,
Hui:ding materials and numerous other
commodities customarily weighed by
the load or in other large quantities.
Million Tons Of Coal Sold.
More than one million tons of coal
are sold annually to consumers in the
District. and all of it is weighed at
the time of sale on large scales. The
total amount paid for this coal Is
placed at $12,000,000 year The
value of other commodities weighed on
these scales has not been determined,
but Mr. Roberts believes it runs into
millions Of dollars annually.
Mr.. Roberts declares the equipment
OF his department is wholly insufficient
TO test the many scales of large ca
pacity in daily use. As has been
pointed out, a test of only one ton
can be made at this time, because the
department has facilities for hauling
ana naDQlllB CtlIy OIlC OO4l VI bSot
weights on most of the large scales in
use in the District for weighing COM
modities by the truck or wagon load
or in other similarly large quantities
Obviously the test which the depart
ment can now make is OF little or nc
practical value 1t does not protect
the public and does not meet the re-
quirements of any rational interpre-
tation Of the weights and measures
Law.
Protects Public and Companies.
The appropriation for the proposed
truck is urged chiefly upon the basis
of the duty of the superintendent OF
weights and measures and his assistants
to administer and enforce existing Law
for the protection Of the public against
fraud. The lack of equipment properly
10 comply with the law is a matter o.
great concern to Mr.. Roberts. In ad
dition, however, one of the purposes Of
the weights and measures law which L
Of much importance is the protection
of honestly conducted business agains
unfair competition.
For years, Mr.. Roberts declares, som'
of the better class Of business men II
the District have complained that tn
wcights and measures law, in so IA
rs il affects them, has not been fairl,
administered because his department
does not have the equipment necessar,
for the performance OF its plain duties
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