Evening star., 1933-02-12
BUDGET ASSA|LED
BY DISTRICT HEADS
Say House Bill Will Force
Skimping as Unusable
Credit Piles Up.
Continued From First Page.)

The bill in its present form carries
about $4,000, 600 in Capital expenditures
the lowest amount for many years
Compared with $l2.ooo.o0o in 1882, it
represents drastic out.
The virtual scrapping of three COM
paratively new municipal plants in
which the District invested more than
$500 900, and the reduction in the funds
sought for street and road improve
ments and extensions IN the water
service, were considered by District off,
cials as among the other major inequi-
ties In the bill
No Funds for Incinerators
SPECIFIC legislative provisions were
written into the bill denying any funds
whatever in 1884 for the operation Of
the two new high temperature incin-
orators, one in Georgetown, and the
other in Southeast washington, which
were built at cost to local taxpayers
Of about s74o,000 Instead Of burning
refuse In these modern incineratorS, the
Appropriations Committee directs the
Commissioners to go back to the old
faShioned dump disposal system and
suggests the establishment Of q public
dump ON land bordering the Anaoostia
Aats. The committee ordered the
change because it found the cost Of
operating the incinerators would amount
to 100000 a year, whereas the dump
would be less expensive.
Another legislative provision would
abolish the Highway Departments test
ing laboratory. which was established
several years ago at cast Of about
$4,000 by the same committee which
now seeks to destroy 1t, The commit
tee. however. said 1t discovered that
tests made by the laboratory could be
handled at the Bureau OF Standards at
no cost to the District.
Exception Is taken at the District
Building to the committees economy
move with respect to the testing
laboratory. Oficials insist its abolition
would "cut off the right arm" of the
Highway Department, since ES per cent
Of the tests are made at the point of
unloading of paving materials. and the
Bureau Of Standards cannot be expected
to undertake such work. In addition,
II is feared at the District Building that
paving projects might be delayed II the
Bureau Of Standards should happen to
be busy on work for the Federal Govern
ment.
Two Departments Cut Hard.
Gripping Of the building inspectors
ofiice and the ofice of the recorder Of
deeds Ia foreseen In the deep slashes
made in the budgets of these two de-
partments. The bill carries $105,5a0
for the building inspection division,
which is S5l,080 less than the current
appropriation and $28,550 less than the
budget estimsts. The reduction, it was
said, was made in view Of the marked
decrease In the amount OF new con-
struction in the District. The COM
mittee declared 1t believed the once
could be organized on basis which win
enable IT to enforce all inspection re-
Quired by law in an efficient manner,
and pointed out that in 1927, when
building operations were nearly double
those OF the present time, the appro-
priation was tss,540, with no compensa-
ton deductions,
A cut in the building inspection force
cannot be avoided, under the House
bill, 1t was said 81 tho District Building
and the recorder of deeds likewise Will
be forced to reduce his STAFF since the
appropriation carried in the bill,
amounting to $48,485, is $5I,4l5 less
than the current appropriation and
$48.5o5 less than the estimates THE
approximation Tor rent for the ofhA Of
the recorder also was cut from $4,000,
as recommends by the Budget Bureau,
10 $4,000 The decrease, according to
the committee,sts made possible by the
greatly decreased volume of work in the
recorders ofiee.
Aside from possible loss of the test
ing iaooratory the Highway Depart
ment also viii suffer q serious curtail-
ment in its street improvement work,
although it expects to have a surplus
In gasoline tex revenues which could
oe used for that purpose, amounting
70 $l,20O,OO0. The arbitrary cut in the
highway program will deny employment
10 ABOUT 1000 men in the coming fiscal
year-men who would be given Jobs
ny contractors who are awarded the
street paving contracts.
Seven Street Projects Dropped.
Seven specific street improvements
projects. estimated to cost S278,OO0,
were dropped from the estimates by
the House Committee without explain
alton, the largest of which called for
the grading and surfacing Of Conduit
road from Reservoir road to the Dis
trict. District officials had been par
Hcularly anxious to see this project
executed for two reasons-primariiy to
Improve a road that Is badly In need Of
repair, but also to afford greater pro-
lection to the water conduit which runs
under 1t. The cost OF this work was
estimated at. $4,000.
The bill also transferred all items
ior repairs to streets, construction and
maintenance and repair OF bridges and
repair Of payements OF street railways
from the general fund to the gasoline
tax fund, thereby adding this burden
on the motoTist
The Sewer Department suffered q cut
along with other departments, the ap-
preparation recommended amounting TO
sl,252 300. which Is $489,057 less than
the current appropriation, and $l69,337
below the budget estimates The reduc-
ton included an item of S28. 800 recon-
mended by the Budget Bureau for con-
tmuation Of mosQuito-control work, but
the Appropriations Committee said 1t
did not believe Washington Is menaced
by this insect ito degree suffered by
the average community, or that IL car
be considered danger to the health OF
the people of the District" The current
appropriation for mosquito control IA
$4,000.
Bridge Outlay Limited.
Although plans have been drawn for
new Calvert street bridge, estimated
70 cost 81 $50 600, the bill limits the
amount to be spent en- this project tc
xTOOO00, and carries S500,00O to begin
the work. The reduction in the esti.
mated cost was ordered. the committee
said, after taking into consideration the
extremely low estimates received from
contractors on other construction prof.
eets during the current year, which have
been far bslow the budget estimates"
II was pointed out by District officials
however, that the minimum cost of the
new bridge at current prices would be
&i,l66,000, and that it would be i'm.
possible to erect the proposed structure
for 100000
The bill treats the pubic school,
mofe literally, perhaps. than any othel
department, providing appropriations to,
falling Sl0,l8l ,569, which is Sl,98l ,l6l
under the 1888 appropriation and S493
05l under the bulge. figure. The onl!
increases allowed, however, are in tn,
teaching personnel ealing for 40 addi