Evening star., 1933-04-12
GROUP CONSIDERS
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Funds for New Construction
Omitted in Schedule for
1894 Budget.

The effect on the school system curing
the mex. few years Of allowing an entire
fiscal year to 60 by without any build
ing projects was discussed by members
Of the Senate Subcommittee today as
executive hearings were continued on
the pending 1884 District appropriation
bill.
Nearly all of the morning session was
devoted to school estimates. The House
bill carries nothing for new buildings
whereas the bill which died with ad-
jo,,rnment Of the old Congress contained
nearly million dollars for public works
in the school system. While no de-
cisions are being made until the hear
ings are over, several subcommittee
members displayed a sympathetic atti-
tude toward restoring some OF the build
ing projects.
Decisions Delayed.
Some members of the subcommittee
believe it would be mistake to call a
halt on the entire school building pro-
gram for the fiscal year. There are
others on the subcommittee, however.
who indicate that, aside from the merits
of particular items, the bill should not
be Increased materially above the House
figures for the coming year because OF
economic conditions. What the SUD
Committee will finally do regarding
school buildings as we'll as all other I'M
portant issues will not be decided defl-
nitely until the hearings are over ana
the marking of the bill begins.
Supt. of Schools Ballou urged the
subcommittee to consider the school
building situation. Members Of the
subcommittee said much Of the discus
sion related to the need for the proposed
new woodrow. Wilson High School to
be built in the Reno section. The sub
committee was told that even II start
on the building is authorized In the
coming fiscal year the building will not
be occupied for two years, and that dur
ing that time the number Of high school
pupils would be steadily increasing.
DR. George Bowerman, librarian OF
the free Public Library system, will be
heard when the subcommittee recon-
yenes tomorrow morning, on the effects
of the cuts made by the Budget Bureau
and the House in the library funds.
The subcommittee expects to complete
the hearings tomorrow or Friday, but
Senator Thomas, chairman, could not
predict today when 1t would be reported.
After the hearings are closed the sub
committee will begin celebrating over
what changes are to be made, includ-
ing the question of what the Federal
contribution should be. The subcom-
mittee also heard brief testimony today
District Supreme Court items
and the Register of Wills office. Chief
Justice Alfred Wheat was present from
the courts.
Ask Larger Lump Sum.
District officials told the Senate Sub
committee yesterday that If the formula
by which the Budget Bureau arrived at
the Federal contribution of $5,700, 900 is
to be adhered to, the lump sum should
be raised to $6,000.000 In view Of the
amount added tn the total Of the bill
just before it passed the House. The
subcommittee members have not yet
determined what amodnt they will
probably will not do so until all testi-
mony regarding details of the bill has
been heard. D1a f
The Budget Bureau in revising the
District estimates determined that total
appropriations for the fiscal year 1888
were $45,l22,622, including gas tax,
water fund and the $4,000 carried in
the first deficiency bill for emergency
relief.
The Bureau then fixed q limit of
s33, 5000 on the revised District
.udget, which meant reduction under
current appropriations of $l2,122,6 ,622
This was equivalent to a reduction of
26.86 per cent. The bureau then ap-
piled this same percentage of reduction
to the current Federal contribution of
$7,775.000. which gave figure Of S.
686,635. The bureau submitted its rec
ommendation in round numbers of
SIS, Toe, ,000
The Commissioners and Auditor
Donovan pointed out to the Senate
subcommittee. however, that the House
added to the bill 81 ,040 900 to be spent
from the gas tax fund, and $685. 900
additional from the water fund, which
upset the ratio on which the Budget
Bureau arrived at the $5,700,000 lump
sum. They suggested, therefore, that
If the Senate is going to follow the
Budget Bureaus formula, the lump sum
should be approximately $6,00o,000,
which would still be $1,775,000 under
the current amount.