Evening star., 1933-09-07
FURTHER MERGERS
Of D. c. FUNCTIONS
ARE URGED BY king
Senator Hopes to Make
Further Economies in
District Government.
EMPLOYEES GIVEN HOPE
OF FULL PAY NEXT YEAR
New Budget Estimates Made With
100 Per Cent Scale as
Basis for Figures.


The District Commissioners were re-
quested today by Chairman King Of the
Senate District Committee to include
In their 1885 estimates, now being pre-
pared, recommendations for any con-
solidations they believe could be made
In the District Government.
The Senator said he expected the
estimate for each existing agency in
the municipal structure would have to
be presented separately. as in the past.
but that the local budget could be
accompanied by list Of suggestions
as to the particular instances where
consolidation Of similar functions might
be made II Congress should see ft to
do so.
He said these suggestions would be in
line with the work Of the two local ofd-
cials who were designated at the close
Of the last session to study possible re-
organization of bureaus and depart.
ments within the District Government
These officials are District Auditor
Donovan and Assistant Corporation
Counsel Roberts.
Seeks Release Of Funds.
Senator King said he also suggested
keep the possibility Of consultations m
mind when they review the Commits
sioners, estimates. -
The Senator had expected to con-
fer also today with Budget Director
Douglas to urge immediate release Of
the, District gas tax and water-fund
surpluses to create work In the Dis
tr1ct Government, but had to postpone
this conference for few days. The
Senator said. however, he Is still hope
full that these District funds will be
made available. particularly the part
Of the gas tax needed to begin work
on the new Calvert Street Bridge.
The Senator suggested consideration
of consolidation of District agencies
during a conference he had at the
District Building with Commissioner
Reichelderfer and Auditor Donovan.
Hope for Full Pay.
Hope that the reductions in the pay
Of District employees may be restored
under the local government budget for
the fiscal year arose today As the Dis
trict Economy Committee plunged into
its second day Of study Of the 1885 estt-
mates.
It was revealed today that the esti-
mates Of the department. heads for the
year beginning next July I are predi-
Gated on 100 per cent salary basis
for regular District employees. II this u
approved by the Commissioners and
later by the Bureau Of the Budget and
Congress it would bring about restora-
ton Of the Is per cent cut in pay
effective this fiscal year.
Odicials at the District Building de-
chned to say today If they had been
advised or instructed by the Bureau Of
the Budget to provide for restoration
Of the pay cut for District employees, and
the hopes Of the District personnel are
based primarily on q paragraph Ct .
call for the 1885 estimates issued re-
Gently by Maj. Daniel ]. Donovan,
District budget officer.
Called for 100 Per Cent
That paragraph stated:
Salaries: Estimates for salaries for
1885 viii be prepared on q 100 per cent
basis, and no legislative reductions will
be indicated for that year. No step
ups for employees whose positions come
under the classification act of 1923 as
amended are to be included. Automatic
increases for school teachers, policemen
and nremen should be included for one
mendations for new positions should be
made except In the event that there be
urgent and pressing necessity therefor.
Such recommendations must be accom-
panied by full and complete justifica-
ton"
Beyond the instructions issued by
Maj. Donovan to the department heads,
there was no ofncial information today
- to whether the Budget Bureau as yet
had approved . plan for restoration Qf
the pay cut. The District Building.
however, was hearing unofacial reports
that administration hopes are for lift
ing the Government pay cut next July.
Departure From Procedure.
The basing of the District estimates
on 100 per cent basis Is in itself de-
parture from the procedure Of last. year
in the preparation Of the budget under
which the District now Is operating.
An allowance was made last December
for continuing the then existing 8h per
cent economy act pay cut. The original
District appropriation act died, with the
Seventy-second Congress. The new
budget, submitted to the special session
Of Congress last March allowed for the
additional 6 % per cent Government
pay cut, bringing the total deduction
to is per cent.
The two reductions IN pay Of District
employees prevented the ptling up Of .
large deficit, 1t has been revealed In
financial statements by Auditor Dono-
van. He reported several months ago
that during the 1888 fiscal year, which
ended june 80 last, the economy act
pay cut totaled $2,550,0 He added
that the savings under the economy acts
for the two fiscal years Of 1893, and tho
current year Of 1884 would total 36,-
550,000. The District Economy Conn
mittee IS making speed In preparation
Of the 1885 budget which must be sub
September 80. The committee IS hold
ing night as well as day sessions in
hearing the justiflcations BY the various
department heads.