Evening star., 1933-05-29
POWER TO EXPEND
SURPLUS ON D. c.
NEEDS REQUESTED
House Bill Would Permit
Commissioners to Act
Without Congress.
TWO MILLIONS LIKELY
TO PILE UP IN YEAR
Mcleod Points Out Only $1,000
Provided for Emergencies-Asks
, Leeway on Relief Program.

A bill designed to prevent accumu
1ation of surplus District tax revenues
by giving the Commissioners authority
to expend such funds for emergency
relief and needed public works without
congressional approval was introduced
in the House today by Representative
Mcleod, Republican, of Michigan.
Mcleod pointed out that in the COM
ing fiscal year, according to conserva-
tive estimates, the District would have
q surplus of about 100000 which
could be used under the terms of his
bill to augment the emergency unem-
pioyment relief fund If necessary and
to provide work for unemployed men
On street and bridge projects which
may be needed but are not authorized
In the appropriation bill for the 1884
fiscal year. The surplus also could be
used, he said, for various forms of re-
lief work in the event of a major dis
aster.
Stresses Emergency Need.
Mcleod called attention to the fact
that only $1,000 is made available in
the 1884 District appropriation bill to
take care Of any emergency which
might arise while Congress is not in
session MY measure" he said, would
insure to citizens of the District the
III
services in return for the taxes they
pay. It has happened in the past that
after deducting for all the regularly
authorized expenses a surplus of many
millions of dollars has remained to the
credit Of the District, which, no matter
how great the need for civic improve
ments, the District taxpayers have been
unable to realize any benefit therefrom
until action by Congress, sometimes
many months later.
"As an illustration of the need for
delegation of such authority to the
Board of Commissioners, the House of
Representatives recently passed the
public works bill, which carries an ap-
preparation of $4o0, 900 900 to be used
in direct grants for construction and
maintenance of streets and highways
as a means of helping to provide en-
2 oyment. Unfortunately, although the
District is and has been for some time
facing a most serious unemployment
p-cblem, this form of relief was not
ex-c1ded to include the District
The appropriation bill for the fiscal
y - Of 1884 carries an appropriation
@ $500, coo for relief work in the
D.s;t-.ct. About 5000 families are now
cn the city welfare rolls, with new ap-
r cations being received at the rate of
50 or more daily.
S59,0O0 Needed Weekly
approximately $4,000 is required
weekly to furnish the barest necessi-
ties of life to these 5000 families,
which does not include any relief what
soever for the many unemployed single
men in the District. If present condi-
tions continue throughout the coming
year, s2,50o,000, instead of $500 900,
will be required for welfare relief. If,
when present funds are exhausted, the
Congress Is not in session, and de-
ficiency appropriation therefore impos-
sible, q serious situation could only be
averted by allowing the Board of Com
missioners to expend the necessary
money from the surplus funds of the
District, as proposed In my bill. 1t Is
most conservatively estimated that this
surplus will reach more than 50, 100000
IN the coming fiscal yeor.
This bill supplements two other
measures I am sponsoring in Congress,
which are now pending in committees,
one to provide delegate In Congress
for the District of Columbia and the
other designed to grant authority to
the Board Of Commissioners similar to
that now held by city councils SO as to
expedite the handling of strictly local
affairs in the most efficient manner
possible.
"By making available, as the need
arises, the surplus funds Of the Dis
trict for necessary public improvements,
maintenance and repair work and
emergency enterprises, an important
step will be taken toward the attain
ment Of maximum efficiency in the To-
cal government of the District"
The bill was referred to the District
Committee where Mr.. Mcleod hopes
1t will receive consideration before the
end of the week so it can be placed
on the House calendar.