Evening star., 1932-02-09
ECONOMY ADOPTED
IN DISTRICT BUDGET
Legislators Tell City Heads
They Oppose Projects
Costing Large Sums.

Adherence to a strict economy pro-
gram in drafting the District appropria-
ton bill for the fiscal year beginning
July l was determined upon in an
executive conference today between the
subcommittee on District appropriations
and District officials, preliminary to
starting hearing on the s45,000, 900 Dis
trict budget.
The District officials were advised the
subcommittee does not believe time or
conditions opportune for considering
any new building projects or other i'm
provements which would call for a con-
siderable outlay of funds.
Representative Robert G. Simmons of
Nebraska, former chairman of the sub
committee. promptly raised the question
of applying TO the District budget the
rule laid down by Chairman Byrns on
the other appropriation bills. which in
effect would not allow the subcommit-
tee to increase any of the budget items
or to put in new projects or to trans
fer items from one bureau or division
to another. 1t was emphasized that
this rule allows a subcommittee merely
to approve budget figures or to make
permit any judgment on the part of the
subcommittee regarding relative value
of various activities or the desirability
Of introducing new projects.
Would Block Civic Groups.
Representative Simmons served no.
tlce he would insist upon this rule
being applied in the District bills and
there was apparently general acquies-
cence that this would be done This
would obviate the opportunity usually
afforded to representatives of citizens
associations or other civic groups to
appear before the subcommittee in an
effort to have projects in which they
are particularly interested incorporated
in the bill
Quite little discussion developed
regarding the fact that the District
bill rests on a different basis from
other appropriation bills, but it was
determined that the District of Colum-
bia. viewed as a State or as a munich
pality, should ride along in the same
way as other States and n1unicipali-
ties, on strict economy and retrench-
ment program.
The question of promotion, salary
increases and the filling of vacancies
prohibited in appropriation bills al
ready before the House. by a special
rule, which makes such prohibition ap-
plicable also on the District bill, was
indirectly touched upon at todays con-
ference. The District officials advised
the members of the Subcommittee that
in the preparation of the District bud
get, the Presidents wishes had been
obeyed, and the bill does not carry any
requests for increases and promotions,
except a few automatic promotions as
provided in substantive law.
Session Called Harmonious.
After the meeting, Representative
Blanton. new member of the Sub
committee, who previously had much
to do with District legislation as a
member of the House Legislative Com
mittee on the District, said the session
had been entirely harmonious.
The members of the subcommittee
who are starting hearings on the Dis
trict budget are Chairman Cannon,
Missouri; Blanton. Texas. and Gram
field, Massachusetts, all Democrats;
Simmons, Nebraska and Holiday, Il
linois, both Republicans.
Among the District officials present
were Commissioners L. H. Reichelderfer
and Herbert B. Crosby. William H.
Richards, District assessor: Mai. Daniel
j. Donovan, District auditor; Capt. H.
c. WhitehurSt, engineer of highways;
Roland M. Brennan. chief clerk, En-
gineer Department: w. w. Bride, cor
poration counsel, and Miss Sibyl Baker,
in charge of the Playground Depart
ment