Evening star., 1933-08-26
DISTRICT LEFT OUT
!. OF BUDGET TALKS
WITH ROOSEVELT
Release of Gas and Water
Tax Funds Not Discussed
by Douglas.
DIRECTORS VISIT HELD
PRIMARILY A SOCIAL ONE
Splendid Headway Seen in Prepa.
ration of Preliminary
Estimates.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG,
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

HYDE PARK, N. Y, August 26.-
During President Roosevelt's informal
chat yesterday afternoon with Lewis w.
Douglas, director of the budget, regard
ing fiscal problems. especially as they
relate to the budget to be prepared for
the next fiscal year, matters concern
ing the District of Columbia were not
discussed.
This was learned from an authorita-
tive source and may be taken to mean
that the budget director did not take
up with the President the question of
releasing gasoline and water tax funds
for use in connection with the District
OF Columbia public works program, for
which the District Commissioners have
been striving for weeks
Director Douglas was with the Presi-
dent less than two hours. and his visit
was described as primarily a social one.
He was on his way North to spend a
short vacation with his family, and
merely "dropped-of" en- route for a
talk with the President, at the latter's
request.
To Keep Figures Low.
The Summer White House announced
afterward that the President and his
budget head discussed principally the
necessity for keeping down the next
puget figures to the figure for the
current fiscal year. if that may be pos
slble. The figure for the current fiscal
Jear is slightly under S2,5OO. 900 900.
Also the President is known to have
taken the occasion of this talk to urge
expedition of the budget estimates for
mex year. Assurance was given by
Mr.. Douglas that the department and
bureau heads are making splendid
headway in the preparation of these in
dIvldual preliminary estimates. These
figures showing what these department
and bureau heads think is necessary for
operating the Government next year
will be in the hands of the budget
director before October !, the President
was told. Although Congress will not
meet until early January. as result
OF the lame duck amendment to the
Constitution, the President is anxious
to have the budget estimates whipped
into shape in advance for the various
Appropriation Committees and Subcom-
mlttees of Congress. in case these COM
mitteeS desire to come to Washington
in advance Of the convening and start
to work studying the estimates and
conducting hearings. In eXpediting
matters, the President secs a possible
gain of q months time for Congress
in this procedure.
Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of Interio
and administrator of public works.
expected to arrive at the Summer Wh:,
House next Monday for conference
the public works program and presun'
ably the administration of the oil COG
Secretary Ickes, thus far has given tt
impression of being especially intereste
in the public works program for tE
District. and it may be possible tina
the availability of the Districts ga
and water tax money and the building
of the Calvert Street Bridge will be in
cluded in Mr.. Ickes' talk, if the District
public works program is discussed a.
all on this occasion.
Farley to Come Monday.
Postmaster General Farley, who has
! been handling patronage matters for
/ the President, including the so-called
District patronage, also is scheduled to
visit the President here next Monday:
| The Summer White House admitted
today that undoubtedly Mr.. Farley's
visit at this time is for the purpose
| of dispcsing of number of patronage
| matters. To what extent the appoint
ment of District Commissioners will be
discussed is somewhat a conjecture,
since it has been indicated by the Pres
| ident that he is considering an indefl-
mite postponement of this matter.
However. it is assumed that the opln-
| ion of the Postmaster General regard
| ing such a course will be sought.
Mr.. Farley is understood to have long
since disposed of the problem OF select
ing the two civilian Commissioners, at
least so far as his own personal study
of the subject is concerned. After
studying the qualifications OF at least
half a hundred persons suggested for
these appointments, Mr.. Farley put
these names through the process OF
| elimination and then submitted to the
President a so-called preferred list OF
| four or five from which to make his
| choice