Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-30
&5,596,228 DISTRICT
MEASURE REPORTED
Appropriation Bill in House
$242,789 Below Budget
Estimates.
Continued From First Page.)

engaged under authorizations for the
employment of laborerS and mechanics.
Upon learning of this practice the COM
mittee expressed diSapproval and in
sisted that permanent clerical workers
should be employed and designated as
such and carried on the regular rolls"
Creation of a new Office of project
engineer" at a salary of $4,000, is rec-
. commended for the municipal architect S
Office. The committee approved $76,l20
for this office, which is an increase of
$12.420 over current appropriations and
$10.280 more than the budget esti-
mates. Chairman Simmons said that
"due to the greatly expanded work of
the office an additional employe is re-
quired for follow-up work Oh contracts
and specifications and in connection
with future projects"
An estimate of Sl50,0O0 for erection
of a house for Fire Engine Company No.
16. Truck Company No. and the
Fire Police Department Clinic in the
vicinity of Thirteenth and K streets is
recommended and made available i'm
mediately, together with the unexpended
balance of S150,000 for such projects
contained in the 1881 law. Approval
also is given of the purchase of site
for house and truck company in the
vicinity of Twelfth street and Rhoce
Island avenue northeast, at an esti-
mated cost Of $4,000.
A request for 100000 for the purchase
and installation of traffic signal lights,
an increase of $27,100 over the current
year, was approved by the committee.
The amount recommended for personal
services in the Office of director of
traffic is $4,000, which is $2,420 less
than the estimates. This reduction is
due mainly to elimination of junior
traffic engineer, who was to have been
0aifratino mobiles for
traffic studies.
Two new positions are included in
the appropriation recommended for the
Public Utilities Commissions activities
during the next fiscal year, consisting OF
one valuation engineer at $4,000 and
one valuation accountant at $4,000, and
authority is provided for the employ
ment of expert services to the extent
Of $1,000.
Library Was Approved.
The committee has approved II new
positions in the Free Public Library.
Fourteen of these are for the new
Northeast branch, which is scheduled to
be opened on January /, 1882. The
three other new employees are each to
receive $1,000, and one is to be de-
tailed to the main library building, one
to the Chevy Chase branch and the
third to the Mount Pleasant branch.
During the hearings it was disclosed
that the personnel recommended in the
budget for the northeast branch would
not permit such branch to keep open
more than 80 hours per week, whereas
other major branches are conducted on
the basis of ~ hours weekly. The COM
mittee believes that this branch should
be operated on a par with other major
branches and has therefore included in
the bill additional attendants at cost
of $4,000 for TIE period from January
] to July /, 1882.
For the purchase of books, periodicals
ana SO forth the estimates contain a
request for $4,000, $4,000 of which is
fer original stocking of the northeast
branch, leaving but $40 900 for the other
objects, or S14,500 less than for the cur
rent year. The committee does not
favor the reduction and has added
S14,500 to the estimate.
The estimates also contain provision
for the acquisition of site for branch
library in Georgetown at a cost of
$4,000 The committee believes that
the site now owned by the Government
at Wisconsin avenue and r street on
which the Georgetown reservoir is stu
ated offers a desirable location, and,
therefore, has inserted a paragraph
authorizing transfer of this site to the
District Commissioners and an APP
preparation of plans for a new library
structure thereon.
Two additional employees at 81 500
each are provided in the auditors Office.
It is explained in the report that these
new positions are required as result OF
the order of the Commissioners bring
ing under the provisions of the retire.
ment act a large group OF laborers and
mechanics.
Municipal Center Financing.
In explaining the. financing of the Mu-
nicipal Center project Chairman Sim
mons reported to the House as follows:
"a supplemental estimate requests
S1,5c0,000 for beginning the construc-
ton Of the first unit court building) Of
the Municipal Center project, and, in
addition, suggests that the total cost
of preparation of site and completion
of such unit be fixed at $5,000,000. The
committee recommends the appropri-
alton of the 81 100000 but proposes
that the entire cost Of the courts build
ing unit shall be fixed at $4,000, 900
instead Of $5,000,000 The bill provides
that the whole project with respect to
such unit may be placed under contract.
1T is contemplated that the Mu-
nicipal Center Building will be con-
structed comparable as to material,
architecture and utility with the build
ings now under construction in the
Mall area.
Under the appropriation of $780,
600, which the committee recommends,
it is estimated that 81 100000 VIII be
expended for the building, $266,664 for
clearing site and foundations, and the
balance for certain preliminary work,
such as test boringS, grading, sewer and
water changes.
In connection with financing the cost
of the courts building it will be recalled
that the Federal Government building
program contemplates the acquisition
OF the District Building. 1t has
been assessed at $3,471,000, including
the site. Whatever is realized from the
sale of this property will appreciably
reduce the cost of the entire under
taking to the District"
The committee inserted in the bill a
provision for 50 400. Immediately avail
able for an assistant to the electrical
engineer, who is to be retired September
80 next For the electrical department
the appropriation of $l,244, 800 is Sll2.-
500 more than the current appropria-
ton and S5,120 less than the budget
estimates.
A reduction of $4,000 has been made
by the committee in the item for light
ing This saving is possible owing tC
a recent reduction in the electric light
rate which went into effect after the
estimates were submitted to Congress.
The committee has added $4,000 tt
the bill for use in connection with the
= power survey being made by the Dis.
trict government. This sum is to bC
used for engineering assistants, draft
ing and clerical help, and for travelling
and other expenses incident to the in
spection of modern power plants ant
their accessories.
The total amount contained in tn
estimates for public schools for tn
fiscal year 1882 Is $13, $50, and tn
the