Evening star., 1933-11-27
.ANACOST|A SCHOOL
DEFINITELY HALTED
by COMMISSIONERS
Take Position They Do Not
Want HaIf-Finished Build
ing on Hands.
BUDGET BUREAUS BAN
on FUNDS UNEXPLAINED
School Officials Blame District Au.
thorities-Citizens Join Fight
for Structure.

The District Commissioners will make
no move to STAR construction of the
Anacostia Junior High School until
funds needed for completion of the
building are in sight. it was made clear
today at the District Building.
Carefully prepared plans for the de-
velopment. which Congress specifically
authorized in the 1888 District appro-
priation act, was suddenly halted early
this month when the Budget Bureau
slashed from the 1885 District estimates
an item completing construction of the
building
Since then Engineer Commissioner
Gotwals has urged that the building be
started with the partial appropriation
of $225 900 already made available by
Congress. The civilian members of
both the old and the new Boards of
Commissioners. however. 1t was reported
today, decided this would be unwise
until the additional funds needed are
approved by those who hold the Dis
trict's purse strings.
Silent on Funds.
The original appropriation for the
building was the result of agitation by
residents of the southeast section of the
completion fund apparently will rest
on success or failure of an expected
campaign for restoration of this item
in the 1885 budget.
District officials universally have re-
fused to say whether the Budget
Bureau has eliminated the fund re-
qlested in the appropriation measure
for the next fiscal year. Other events,
however, made very clear last Satur-
day that the Budget Bureau officials
have cut out this item
Specifications for the building were
completed by the municipal archi-
tect's Office october Is. The former
Board of Commissioners on November
4 formally approved the plans. Bids
were to be called Sor at once from con-
tractors who were to be given 81 days
in which to submit offers. Construction
was to be started within 10 days after
award of contract. Budget Bureau Off
cialS took final action on the District
estimates November 6. Since then no
and on Saturday II was learned that
the plans had been put on the shelf
as result Of Budget Bureau action.
Cost Set at S450,0O0.
The school was to be erected on the
west side of Sixteenth street between
Fairlawn avenue and Ridge place. In
appropriating S225,0 900 for starting the
building construction. Congress set as
the maximum cost $3.50 900. The recent
estimate of the District engineers was
that the cost would not exceed 1890, 900
District officials hesitate to start con-
struction of the building now for fear
they would have half-completed build
ing on their hands if Congress at the
forthcoming session failed to override
the decision of the Budget Bureau and
did not make available the additional
money needed.
Further delay in construction. schoo
officials pointed out, means that all the
children in Southeast Washington. east
of the Anacostia River. would continue
to be deprived of the advantages of the
Junior high school type of education
which every other section of the city
now enjoys. Further, 1t will mean the
continued use of the 52-year -old stove
heated annex" to the Van Burer
School. which was adjudged unfit fol
use more than 80 years ago.
School circles today were inclined tc
blame the delay of the Anacostia Junior
High Schools construction and its sub.
sequent elimination from appropriation
bills upon District Building authorize:
charged with responsibility for erecting
school houses
Meanwhile. the citizens associations oi
Southeast Washington are allying them
selves today for a fight which they
hope will ultimately give them the
school their children so badly need.