The Washington times., 1934-01-05
Nonsense Budgeting
Starvation And A Surplus


The District budget for the fiscal year 1886 as submitted
to Congress- would continue the cys services
ton basis refuse to grant full salary schedules to the
employees AND WOULD PILE UP IN THE FEDERAL
TREASURY A DISTRICT SURPLUS OF NEARLY SIX
MILLION DOLLARS.
The budget if adopted as submitted would pile up that
six mondollar surplus while denying the public school sys
tenn of the city single school building although ia
cilites already overtaxed and crowded.
The budget, if adopted submitted, would pile up that
surplus while the ciys hospitals other welfare nst
tuons forced to refuse admttance to those who
cryingy in need of their services.
This sx-milon-dolar surplus would accumulate despite
the fact that the Federal Government under this budget would
continue to shrk its responsibility to the National Capital
and continue to pay its propoonate share only the
five million hundred thousand dollars which
tributing in the current fiscal year.
This document applies to the District and its power
less citizens is masterpiece of NONSENSE BUDGET1NG
THE ONLY ACTION WHICH WOULD MAKE 1T AT
ALL ACCEPTABLE TO OUR CITIZENS WOULD BE TO
REFLECT THE DECREASED EXPENDITURES IN A
REDUCTION OF THE PRESENT TAX RATES
Unfortunately there is little likelihood Of accomplishing
that because the nstence of members of Congress
that District residents already greatly favored in the
matter of taxes That of is not the fact but
tagonc members of Congress insist upon creating that idea
In October the District Commissioners through Budget Off
Ger Daniel Donovan submitted the Bureau of the Budget
balanced local budget for the 1885 fiscal year.
Those estimates called for expenditures of approximately
forty million dollars Even that would left the District
surplus although probably nothing more than sound fl
nancing demands.
Those estimates provided for restoration Of full salary
schedules for District employees They provided for ezpend
schools They provided for reasonable appropriations for the
public welfare institutions of the city
But the budget that from the Districts masters in
The Bureau of the Budget is totally different thing
Salaries would be restored only per cent instead Of Is
per cent Not cent would be allowed for school
sruction Street and highway Improvement and repair would
be held down. Public welfare institutions would continue
etarve.
These depression expenditures would leave surplus
the general fund of approximately four million dollars
plus Of about half million in the tax fund and surplus
of nearly million in the water fund.
In addition to these funds there will be the from
the liquor control law which, it is estimated will about
another million dollars.
The surplus in the water fund would be about half million
dollars additional it not for the fact that the budget
contemates reduction Of twenty-five per cent in the rate
charged for water and increase in the amount of water
allowed. This urged by The Times when the Comms
soners considering the estimates and recommended
by them to the Bureau of the Budget.
Either the estimates must be increased in the appropra
Lion bill to provide for decent treatment of the ciys nst
lions and employees Congress should make plain that
1t expects the depression budget to be reflected greatly
decreased taxes.
Money should not be grabbed from District citizens pile
up unexpendable surplus in the Federal Treasury.