Evening star., 1933-04-11
D. C.. REPAIR SHOP
FACES PART Time
DwindIing of District Funds
May Be Blow to Per
Diem Employees.

Per diem employees of the District
repair shop would be placed on a part
time work basis during the rest Of the
current fiscal year due to a dwindling
Of funds available for repairs to Dis
trict properties, under recommenda-
ton made today by Harold w. Baker.
director Of construction.
The statement was made In reply to
published reports that 80 employees Of
the shop would have to be furloughed
without pay because the appropriation
Of $437 900 for labor and materials for
the work had been expended at a
rate greater than would have per-
mitted continuous employment up to
July /.
Items Specifically Authorized.
In answer to reported complaints that
funds had been spent for projects
deemed by some interested parties to
be not absolutely necessary, Mr.. Baker
explained that the work done was for
items specifically authorized by Con-
gress or other work which had been
requested by school officials, and spent
out OF the general fund for which no
items were specified.
It appeared apparent at the District
Building that either part time or fur
Tough measures would have to be re-
sorted to under available funds. The
repair shop now has left about $68, 900
for both labor and materials. II the
present staff Of about 267 employees is
retained, the pay roll itself would
amount to about $66, 5000.
Funds spent for painting and general
repair work at the Wilson Teachers
College, not q part of the program to
make 1t safe In structure. and the pro-
posed expenditure of about $4,000 for
replacing Of heating plants in four
schools, which serve to deplete the
working funds, brought reports Of pro-
tests from per diem repair shop work.
men.
$4,000 Made Available.
Congress made available for expendi-
ture during the current fiscal year an
not to exceed $120, 900 for
the reconditioning of the Teachers Col
lege to make it safe In structure, and
for the razing of the old Ross School,
which was found unsafe.
This work actually cost about $65, 900
and the remaining SIS, 900 Of that total
appropriated for specific
purposes has been left In the United
States Treasury. Maj. John @. Got
walls, from his Interpretation OF the
specific appropriation, directed that
this work be limited to necessary work
only.
Also, however, other work was done
at the Wilson Teachers College, such
as moving Of partition walls, painting
Of the building, replacement OF electric
wiring and repairs to machinery. This
work was deemed needed, was requested
by school officials, and II done, should
have been done while the rebuilding OF
the structure was done, Mr.. Baker held.
This work used up about $4,000 from
the general repair funds.
Requirements Sought.
Also, it is explained, there had been
vigorous petitions for the replacement
of the heating plants in the Morgan.
Towers, H. d. Cooke and Cleveland
Schools. In their justification OF the
general repair appropriation for this
year, before the Budget Bureau and
committees, District OH
cials told of plans for these heating
plant requirements.
Plans for these new heating plants
now are being drawn by the Office OF
architect, and bids will be
asked next month, Mr.. Baker said.
L. G. Wormington, superintendent OF
the repair shop, declined to comment
on the matter or to say If he had de-
cided to furlough per diem employees.
Mr.. Baker was awaiting his recon-
as to part-time work or fur
loughS.