Evening star., 1933-04-04
COMMITTEE D. KS
D. c. SUPPLY BILL
House Group Reports 1t
FavorabIy, With Only
Slight Change.

SIlgnl Cndnge.
Continued From First Page.)
annually without special congressional
action, is $32,989,942.
The legislative rider which has ap-
peared in all appropriation acts since
1880 prohibiting the Commissioners
from lowering the tax rate below s1.7o
has been removed from the bill, leav-
ing it discretionary with the Commits
sioaers what the tax rate for 1884
shall be. The committee report, how
ever. says that "if there Is not falls
ing off Of tax collections the surplus
in the general revenue estimated to
accrue as the result of the decreased
appropriations in this bill will permit
| a reduction in the tax rate from $l.70
to 81 So"
The bill carries $3.50 900 for emer-
gency relief of the unemployed. Rep
resentative Cannon in the report which
accompanied the bill. explained that
"the original estimates provided $685.
600 for the emergency relief Of the un-
employed of the District which was
intended to supply funds for this pur-
pose until December 81, 1888, and the
conference bill which failed of passage
contained this amount. The bill con-
tains total appropriation for this pur-
pose Of 81 ,250 900, as recommended by
the budget, which 1t is believed will be
adequate to provide emergency relief
in the District during the entire fiscal
year 1884. For the current fiscal year
Congress has appropriated q total of
$l,l50, 900 for this purpose and in addi-
ton thereto 100000 was secured from
the Community Chest making a total
sof $l.2500o0 available for the fiscal
year 1888"
Loan Power Eliminated.
The bill, however, eliminated the au-
thority fer granting loans. The budget
recommendation authorized the ex-
penditure of $1,250,000 by the Board
Of Public Welfare by loans, employ
ment and direct relief in the discretion
OF the Board of Commissioners In
the bill as reported to the House the
words "by loan" are omitted.
Regarding salary reductions the re-
port to the House said that "it is esti-
mated that during the fiscal year 1888
the savings under the economy act
will amount to $2,235, ,461 Original es-
Inmates for 1894 contemplated total
saving of $2,200,00O Under the act
Of March 20, 1888, additional reduc-
tions amounting to 625 per cent have
been applied resulting in a total esti-
mated saving because of salary reduc-
tions and other economy act savings
OF approximately $3,879.3s7 for the
next fiscal year."
In discussing the financial condition
OF the District government Representa-
tive Cannon's report says:
The committee was advised that the
revised estimates for 1894 as submitted
In this bill would result in surplus in
the general fund at the end of the fiscal
year 1884 OF approximately 100 900.
This figure does not include surpluses
which are expected to occur in the gas
tax fund and the water fund. such sur
pluSes not being available for expendi-
ture for general purposes. Although
the committee has recommended a 10
per cent reduction in water rates in the
pending bill, 1t is estimated that a
surplus will accumulate in the water
fund which will justify a substantial
and permanent reduction in the water
rates and study Is being made of the
financial and physical needs of the
water service with view to adjusting
such rates when the 1885 bill is taken
up for consideration.
No Readjustment Urged.
when appearing before the COM
mittee, the District Commissioners testi-
fed that they had no readjustments to
recommend in the various items within
the total budget figures. The committee
has taken this Endorsement of the rela-
tive Importance Of the items compared
with other needs of the District in con-
sideration in approving the estimates
submitted by the President without
material change"
Several limitations and legislative pro-
visions included by the District sub
committee in the bill that failed of
passage in the last session have been
re-included in the bill reported to the
House today. One of these is that mo
part Of the appropriation herein con-
tanned shall be used for the operation
Of testing laboratory Of the Highway
Department in which the tests are
made of materials In connection with
any activity of the District govern
ment"
Another provides that no part of the
funds appropriated shall be used for
the operation of high-temperature in
Generators for combustible refuse in the
District of Columbia.
Pay Increases Banned.
Another limitation is that no part of
the appropriation shall be used to pay
any increase of the salary of any officer
by reallocation Of his position to a
higher grade since June 30, 1882. by
the Personnel Classification Board or
the Civil Service Commission. 1
A fourth legislative provision provides
that the budget balancing act of March
20. 1888, Ito the extent that 1t pro-
vides for the impoundment of appro-
priations on account of reductions in
compensation of officers, shall not
operate to require such impoundment
under appropriation contained in this
act"
The reason for this special provision
Is because that section of the budget
balancing act refers to the appropri-
alton bills for the coming fiscal year
which had been passed in the last Con-
gress or prior to the passage Of the
budget balancing act, while the District
appropriation act takes care OF those
reductions without having them I'm
pounded.
a :