Evening star., 1933-10-16
The Budget Estimates.

Auditor Donovan's report to the Com
missioners on the budget estimates for
1e35-the next fiscal year-indicates
difference of about $2,770,000 between
the Bureau of the Budgets allowable
total proposed for the District and the
total proposed to the Commissioners by
their Economy Committee. The differ
ence is largely accounted for by the
way the books are kept, and Auditor
Donovan seems amply justified in set
ting the figure at $39,484,858 instead of
the $36,71O,0Oo suggested by the Bureau
of the Budget, and which did not prop
erly take into account certain expendi-
lures.
The important thing, however, is that
the justifiable budget for the District
would be, in 1885, over $50 ,000, 900 and
that this would represent an increase of
about twelve per cent over the current
years appropriations. Yet. despite this
| increase, the Federal lump-sum figure is
tentatively set down as $5,700,000-the
same figure that stands as the Federal
contribution in the current years ap-
preparation. This is wholly unreason-
able and is doubly inequitable because
of the conditions set forth last year as
justifying the reduction Of the lump sum
from Sits 900 to $4,000
When the Bureau of the Budget sent
the District estimates to Congress last
March it proposed reduction of the
lump sum on the ground that the Dis
trict budget-in line with policy pre-
vailing in submission of departmental
estimates-was being reduced about
twenty-five or twenty-s per cent. Had
that actual reduction in local appro-
priation prevailed it would, as was
demonstrated to Congress, have severely
crippled practically all municipal serv-
ices. To prevent some threatened hard
ships, as well as to reduce the amount
Of surplus revenues which otherwise
would have been boarded in the Treas
ury, Congress permitted certain in
creased expenditures above budget esti-
mates and allowed the Commissioners
to reduce the tax rate on real estate
and tangible personal property. But
while the lump sum had been decreased
in approximate proportion as the esti-
mates had been decreased, the lump
sum was not increased as the appro-
priations were increased over the esti-
mates.
Now when it is proposed to increase
the estimates about twelve per cent over
this years appropriation, the proposed
lump sum remains the same. Does the
idea of proportional change in the lump
sum apply only when it offers oppor-
tunity to reduce the Federal contribu-
ton? If the Federal lump sum is de-
creased because District estimates de-
crease, does it not logically as well
as equitably follow that it should in
crease as the estimates increase?
OF course the lump sum should be
increased more than twelve per cent.
The reduction last year was below figure
already arbitrarily reduced from lump
sum that did not represent equitable
participation by the Federal Government
in Capital expenses. An increase Of
twelve per cent in the present $500, 900
would not represent equitable participa-
tion. But failure even to reckon on
an increase commensurate with the in
creased estimates is doubly inequitable.
Even with an increase OF s4,2S4,858
in the next years budget over current
appropriations, as proposed by the Com
missioners' Economy Committee, the
District would continue on starvation
rations. OF this increase, $3.50, 900
would be applied to restoration OF the
fifteen per cent salary cut. But If, as 1t
is to be hoped, the statutory base pay Is
restored, some Of the municipal depart
ments would continue operation by
furlough of employees without pay. While
severe economies are necessary and all
but mandatory public improvements
financed from current revenues must be
foregone until times improve, the pay
less furlough system is demoralizing and
productive of an inefficient type Of public
service. 1t is not sound economy and
it should no longer have place-undel
the principle of the new deal-either iu
the municipal or Federal service.