Evening star., 1935-12-15
BILL ASKS LOCAL
BUDGET Be SENT
CONGRESS DIRECT
Domination of Bureau Elin1i-
mated if Measure Is
Adopted.
REVISION OF POWER
OF BOARD SOUGHT
Prettyman to Forward Modifca-
ton of Last Years Proposed
Legislation Tomorrow.

from the domination of the Federal
Budget Bureau under bill drafted
by Corporation Counsel E. Barrett
Prettyman at the direction of the
Commissioners, calling for submission
Of the municipal estimates directly to
Congress, it was revealed last night.
This is one important feature OF a
measure for revision of the powers
of the Commissioners. to be for
warded to the Commissioners by
Perttyman tomorrow. The Commis-
sioners are expected to incorporate it
in their legislative program to be
proposed to Congress early in the
forthcoming session,
The bill is a modification of the
measure drafted last year by the cor
poration counsel. From it he has
stripped all controversial features
concerning proposals to give the
Commissioners direct control over the
various citizens boards, such as the
Board of Education, Board of Library
Trustees and the Board of Public
Welfare.
1GdluISS "C1C
from the new bill at the direction
of the Commissioners, due to the
overwhelming protests raised by citi-
zens' associations and other groups
last year.
Demands Of Federation.
The move to have District budget
ary estimates sent directly to Con-
gress Is in keeping with demands
voiced a week ago by the Federation
of Citizens Associations and protests
raised many times against the prac-
tice. of having Federal officers revamp
estimates for the city as part Of
their work in managing budgets for
the national administrative units.
The Budget Bureau would retain
one vital function in connection with
the formation of the Districts fiscal
programs, that of recommending to
Congress what the amount of the Fed
eral payment toward the National
Capital should be.
Commissioner Melvin G. Hazen,
long champion of the proposal to
have District estimates sent directly
to Congress, explained such a change
in no wise would restrict the exclusive
Jurisdiction over the District which is
given to Congress in the Constitution.
Rather than to restrict the powers
of Congress over the District, such a
change would place the proposed Dis
trict budgets more directly in the
hands of committees of Congress" he
said. THE Commissioners carefully
prepared estimates now may be
changed to considerable degree at the
Budget Bureau and they go to Con-
gress in revised FORM
District officials many times have
argued that the District budget has
no part in consideration of national
budgets since the only connection is
the question of what shall be the Fed
eral payment. Since the fiscal year
1925, the Federal payment has been
on a lump-sum basis rather than on a
fixed portion of the total Of the Dis
trict budget.
Provisions Eliminated.
AS suggested by the Commissioners,
Prettyman has eliminated from the
bill provisions giving the Commis-
sioners much broader powers over GER
tain administration matters in addi-
ton to the question of being able to
direct or forbid actions by the Board
of Education and other semi-inde-
pendent citizens boards.
Among these are provisions that
the Commissioners have power to for
bid entrance into the District of large
bodies of persons, such as the bonus
army and the hunger marcherS, to
make more strict regulations dealing
with possession of firearms, and revo-
cation of the licenses of private asy-
lunls and charitable institutions.
The revised bill would contain
number OF new or enlarged powers for
the Commissioners. One section would
authorize the Commissioners pay
claims against the District, settled out
of court, up to $100. They now may
agree out of court to settlement of
claims up to $4,000, but such funds
must be appropriated specifically by
Congress. This latter provision would
not be disturbed.
The measure also would give the
Commissioners increased powers of
revocation of automobile permits, and
more particularly of automobile reg
istration cards, in a new move to keep
of the streets the cars or trucks of
persons guilty of violation of impor-
tant traffic rules
Discretion Allowed.
At present the Commissioners can
and do revoke operators permits for
serious infractions of traffic rules. Of
ficisls, however, have noted many
cases in which violations were caused
by relatives or employees of car own
ers.
The new measure is intended to per-
init the Commissioners, in their dis
cretion to revoke car registrations in
cases in which they find the vehicle
owners permitting others to drive their
machines, or hiring drivers, do not
properly insist in compliance with reg
ulations.
The Commissioners also would be
given power to order rmpounding of
motor vehicles for any violation Of
trafic rules. Present regulations call
for impounding for parking Of cars
which create traffic hazards. It Is
proposed to state this power in broader
terms, in law, to support any broader
regulations which may be issued.
Another section of the proposed
measure would give the Commission
ers, through the Health Department,
power to take steps to control any and
all communicable diseases. The pres
ent law lists certain specific diseases.
incidentally, it was disclosed that
Health Officer George c Rutland has
started a comprehensive survey OF
present health regulations and the
powers now conferred in law on the
subject to determine If they are ade-
quate. From one to two years may
(see BUDGET, Page %