The Washington times., 1935-01-17
District Fund Bill
Worse Than the Budget

Worse Than the Budget
The District subcommittee the House Appropriations Com
mttee has presented to local supply bill which will
hamsng the development Of the city during the coming fiscal
year.
The House will probably be browbeaen into accepting
bill just about it has been prepared by the subcommittee and
the city will wind the 1886 fiscal having collected from
its citizens money than it will be allowed to spend
The mpng of appropriations by the subcommittee should
however accomplish good thing IT SHOULD STOP ALL
THIS TALK WE HAVE BEEN HEARING LATELY ABOUT
INCREASING LOCAL TAXES.
The city would not have needed to increase taxes the
bill had been made liberal enough the urgent neces
ties which abound Since doesn't take Of those necess
ties has knocked the pins from under those who have
shouting for local income tax.
The reported by the subcommittee cut the budget
estimates by slightly than million dollars. It contains
however what to be small increase over the appropr
atons for the current year.
appropriations WILL NOT BUY SINGLE DOLLAR OF
ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENTAL SERVICE FOR THE TAX
PAYER.
Although it is an APPARENT increase it will be absorbed
completely restoring the salaries Of Government employees
their normal and base and in paying the Federal
ernment million dollars advances from the Public Works
Administration.
With the increase Of salaries their normal schedules there
will be no quarrel.
We are however somewhat in doubt as to the Justice Of max
Ing the District million dollars at this time the advance
from the Public Works Administration When it was decided
shat the city should pay this loan at the rate Of million
dollars contemplated that the loan would
$O5OOO So far however only half of that been
aocated to the city, not all of that has been advanced
The CITY, therefore, going to have back the Fed
eral the speed that it was originally
planned THE REPAYMENT COULD WELL BE CUT IN
HALF, JUST AS THE ALLEGATION HAS BEEN.
The bill reported faulty detail that columns would
be required to point out all Of the obvious in the ude
ment Of the subcommittee.
Some Of the faults however, require attention
The subcommittee refused to take realistic view
alton regarding the Public Utilities Commission keeps the
commission starvation budget in order attempt to Justify
the made last year when cut it to the bone
The subcommittee the commission did on the
short budget and points to the telephone Even
gressonal subcommittee should real work on that
cut done couple years ago. when commission had
more money
The subcommittee bill schools even worse than did
the District and the Bureau the Budget which
had first whack at the school estimates
cuts out school employees which vitality necessary
Vlclouy slashes the estimates for starting construction of
and SADLY NEEDED SCHOOLS.
The Police Department is refused new men that it needs
The Fire Departments estimates for hose and apparatus
cut to pieces
Other departments of the government likewise are cut
The subcommittee again INDUCES in favorite sport of
entering THE LEGISLATIVE FIELD IN WHICH IT HAS
NOT PROPER BUSINESS.
It attempts to regulate public utilities from Capitol H It
dictates school policies although knows about them
On the whole the bill is what might have been expected
to emerge from committee from which interested cit
zens were barred.