Evening star., 1933-05-30
Entitled to Parity With
States, Auditor Declares
in Brief.
AID FROM PUBLIC WORKS
PROGRAM is LIMITED
Attention Called to Construction
Reduction Almost to Standstill
Due to Budget Cuts.

If the District government Is to de-
rive any real benefit along with the
rest of the country from the pending
industrial recovery bill, it should be
included on a parity with the States in
the distribution of the $400 900, 600
highway program, District Auditor D.
j. Donovan has pointed out in brief
forwarded to Chairman Harrison of the
Senate Finance Committee.
Supporting the plea made to the com
mittee yesterday by officials OF the
Board of Trade for inclusion of the
District In the highway section of the
bill, Donovan outlines in detail the
reasons why the District cannot be
given any substantial assistance from
the general public works section OF the
bill AS the measure passed the House,
the District of Columbia was included
in the section dealing with general
public works, but was left out of the
highway construction program.
Under the general public works sec,
ton, the President would be authorized
to advance up to 80 per cent OF the cost
of job-creating construction projects,
but Donovan showed in his orlet tiaC
Washington's municipal construction
nropram has been reduced almost to a
standstiTl by reductions in the local
budget, and that this city cannot pro-
ceed with any project until 1t Is author-
ized by Congress.
Two Authorized Projects.
For the fiscal year now drawing to
close. the District has only two autnor- :
lied construction projects-a proposed
ward for Gallinger Hospital and junior
high school in Anacostia. These TWO
projects total 81 ,050,000 and 30 per cent
of that amount would be only S3l5.o .o0o.
The auditor then pointed out that tne
Districts 1884 budget, as submitted TO
Congress, carried no new construction
projects. because of the limitation
placed on the total of District estimates:
The House amended the District bill
TO permit expenditure of $l04O 600 OF
the Districts gas tax money and $685.
600 of water revenues, but in both in
stances the expenditures are conditioned
upon approval by the President. The
Senate added q few construction items
TO the bill. but whether these will re-
main when the bill emerges from con-
ference cannot be determined at this
time.
Borrowing Excluded.
Mai. Donovan reminded the Finance
Committee that the District cannot bor-
row money to take up the 10 per cent
of the work projects required under the
general public works section of the re-
covery bill, and the law prohibits the
creation of Indebtedness by the city.
Therefore, during the fiscal year 1884
at least, it would not appear that there
would be any authorized work projects
which would enable the District to obtain
any funds under section 202 (the gen.
eral public works section)," Donovan
argued. "And from the present outlook
1t would further appear that a some
what similar condition must Of necessity
exist in the fiscal year 1885, due to the
Districts financial condition.
Therefore, if any benefits are to be
obtained by the District of Columbia
under the provisions of H. R. 5755, such
benefits will not arise under section 202;
and unless section 204 (the highway
program) is amended so as to include
the District CT Columbia, then the
assertion may safely be made that the
District will receive practically nothing
under the provisions of that bill"