Evening star., 1933-06-25
Appeal to Budget Bureau for
Release of Surplus Gaso-
line Tax Fund.
JOBS WOULD BE GIVEN
$500 UNDER PROGRAM
New Calvert Street Bridge and
Completion of Constitution
Avenue Proposed.

In a move to relieve local unemploy-
ment and provide needed public i'm
provements, the District government
late yesterday asked the director of the
Bureau Of the Budget to approve use Of
81 SOC. 900 Of the Districts own surplus
gasoline tax funds for a varied list of
highway projects.
The program will provide employment
for considerably more than $500 men,
prevent dismissal Of about 800 District
employees and put to work money COL
lected from motorists here which other
wise would lie idle. Maj Daniel j. Dom
ovan, District auditor. explained in .
statement tustifying the expenditures.
Use Of this fund was authorized in
the 1884 District supply bill, subject to
approval by the Federal budget officer
Of proposed projects.
Program Outlined.
The program, outlined by Capt. H. G.
Whitehurst, director Of highways. calls
for replacement Of the old Calvert
Street Bridge over Rock Creek, improve
ment Of section of Constitution ave-
nue., development Of sections of eight
major thoroughfares, improvement and
replacement Of list of old streets and
paving Of a list of 20 local streets.
Speaking for the District Commis-
sioners, Maj. Donovan asked that Bud
get Director Lewis w. Douglas give con-
sideration to the matter as ealy as
possible because Of the importance Of
the question from numerous points of
view
Maj. Donovan quoted testimony by
Maj. John c. Gotwals, Engineer Com
missioner. before the District subcom-
mittee Of the Senate District Commit
tee, that he was convinced the Calvert
Bridge was dangerous and menace to
the public welfare and should be re-
placed at once.
Asks $575,eoe for Bridge.
For this reason the item Of $575, ,000
to start construction Of a new bridge,
Mai. Donovan contended, should be
treated separately, since q matter OF
public safety Is involved, Is well as an
employment problem. He pointed out
that Congress spect1cally listed this sum
for starting the building Of q new Cal
vert Street Bridge, subject to Budget
Bureau approval, and authorized the
Commissioners to enter into contract
for the bridge at cost not to exceed
$1,250, 900. The type of the bridge u
to be approved by the Fine Arts COM
mission.
The budget director also was asked
to treat separately requested approval
Of an item of $45, TAO for widening and
paving Constitution avenue between
North Capitol and Second streets. He
cited the fact that this project is tied
In with the Federal building program,
the District paying so per cent Of the
cost and the Federal Government 40
per cent. This, as well as the bridge
item, he contended, was not intended
by Congress to be subject to the re-
quirement that employment be the
principal reason for approval.
Maj. Donovan, in giving comprehen-
sive outline of emergency unemploy-
ment needs, estimated that available re-
lief funds would be exhausted by next
February, leaving five months of the
1894 fiscal year without provision of re-
lief funds, unless additional sums be
provided later. He cited this as an arsu-
ment for approving the proposed prof.
ects, which would lessen the calls for
aid
He pointed out that the burden borne
by the District Government will be in
creased in the next month or two when
Continued on Page 2, Column So