Evening star., 1933-04-17
|C|TY HEADS make
I FUND SHIFT PLEA
Authority for Transferring
Items Within Departments
asked at Hearing.

LlOQ Dill D plOpOScO aulcIluINeuL "
give them general authority to trans
fer funds from one appropriation item
to another within departments, as q
means OF softening the effect Of some
Of the reductions that have been made
in essential activities In the pending
bill.
The amendment was prepared at the
suggestion of Senator Thomas. Demo-
crat, Of Oklahoma, spbconmittee chair
man. and while action remains to be
taken. later, in the week on all pro-
posed changes in the House bill. indi-
cations are that some such general
power will be given municipal oficials.
The subcommittee heard another
group of citizens today, principally or
public school needs, emergency unem-
ployment relief and public health items,
including adequate provision to combat
tuberculosis. Another meeting viii be
necessary tomorrow morning, however,
before the hearings close. The subcom-
mittee will begin, probably "wednesday
making decisions as to how It VIII
amend the bill. r.
Library Cut Deplored.
Mrs. Ruth s. McKelway. president Of
the Voteless District Of Columbia
League Of Women Voters, presented to
the subcommittee today the statement
Of committee of the league protesting
against any arbitrary and horizontal
reduction that would lower the stand
ards Of public education and child well
fare in Washington and against reduc-
ton that will serve to collect more
from local taxpayers than can wisely be
spent in these and other forms OF
municipal service to the taxpayers,
increasing unemployment and adding
to hardship. and suffering at this
time"
Mrs. McKelway told the subcommit-
tee the league favored Federal suffrage
for the District and that until Congress
grants residents Of the District the
right to participate in the Government
which taxes them, the league welcomes
such opportunities as these hearings
to take part in discussion Of matters
affecting the welfare Of Washington.
Mrs. McKelway said the league de-
plores the cut In the estimates for the
Public Library and urges these items
be restored to the 1888 appropriation
level and that no branches be closed
during the coming year. The league
also requested that at least . part Of
the school building program be put back
in the bill, and that the item for teach
ing personnel be restored to the amount
in the original appropriation bill at the
last session, in order that there VIII be
a sufficient number Of teachers for the
number of children In the schools.
Appeal for Fairgrounds.
An appeal also was made for adequate
provision for community center work
and for municipal Playground. The
league also opposed any cut IN the ap-
preparation for the Health Department
Other members of the committee repre-
senting the Voteless District Of Column
bia League Of Women Voters were Edna
S. Johnston, Clara Mortensen Boyer
Beatrice Stern, Nettte Gutenberg. and
Margaret p. McKelway.
DR.. Frederic w. Perkins, Of the WASH
ington Council OF Social Agencies. and
a committee from the Monday Evening
Club headed by Walter s. Ufford, urged
the subcommittee to make adequate
provision for carrying on the emergency
relief work Of the Board Of Public Wei
fare during the coming fiscal year. A.
j. Driscoll and Evan H. Tucker were
other members of the Monday Evening
Club Committee.
Mr. Uford filed a statement show
ing that with approximately 10000
families in distress here, representing
from 10000 to $4,000 individuals. the
Board of Public Welfare is faced with
the problem of finding funds to carry
its work until the next fiscal year, after
its present appropriation is exhausted.
The pending bill contains 81, ESQ, 900
for emergency relief work during the
fiscal year beginning July 1, and mem
bers Of the Senate subcommittee are
considering allowing the District ofnetals
to spend this money as the needs re-
Quire from time to time, making pro-
vision at the next session for any
additional amount that would be neces-
sary later in the fiscal year.
tuberculosis Map shown.
DR.. A. Barklie Coulter. chairman Of
the tuberculosis Committee Of the Dis
trtct Medical Society, made plea for
adequate provision for the tuberculosis
hospital. Mrs. Ernest r. Grant, In this
connection; showed the subcommittee q
spot map showing the number OF
deaths from tuberculosis In the District
last year and how they were scattered
throughout the city.
e. r. williams, representing large
delegation O of citizens and parent
teacher associations Of several schools
urged that the item Of $325,000 IN the
House bill for general repairs and i'm.
provements to school buildings be put
1xoN AZ laAef n <ha nAopA ~ TAsrA0 i
ton estimate of $400, 900. This item In
the fiscal year 1882 was $492, 900 and In
the current fiscal year it was 4437, 500
Mr.. Williams pointed out therefore that
it would be impossible to keep the 2l7
buildings in proper repair with $112 SOC
less than the current appropriation. He
pointed out that the major part OF
this expenditure Is for labor and that
the curtailment Of this kind Of munich
pal work means more unemployment
while District tax money remains un-
expended in the Treasury.
In connection with this same item OF
school repairs, Mrs. D. I. HUFF Of the
Legislative Committee Of the Roosevelt
High School Parent-Teacher ,Associa-
tion, pointed out that many Of the 217
school buildings are old and that unless
repairs are made promptly they soon
reach the stage where they must be
abandoned. She further pointed out
that If heating, plumbing and ventila-
ton facilities are not kept In good con-
dition the health Of school children u
affected. Calling attention also to, the
desirability Of keeping men employed,
Mrs. Hun said that II the $400, 900 esti-
mates Is restored, furloughs In the Dis
trict repair shops could be eliminated
and additional work given to other un-
employed. .
School items also were discussed by
DR.. Frances Butts.
PIRATES ATTACK SHIP;