Evening star., 1935-03-28
Senate Group Studying D. c.
Bill Asked to Assist Com
munity Centers.
TAXPAYERS SPOKESMAN
OPPOSES ANY LEVY RISE
Iusk Would Allow Increase Over
House, Figure on Two
Items Only.

Need for better school facilities in
several sections of the city and for
more adequate fund for community
centers was emphasized by civic dele
cations when the Senate Subcommlt-
tee resumed hearings today on the
1896 District appropriation bill.
The subcommittee also heard RUFUS
g. Lusk, secretary of the Washington
Taxpayers Protective Association. op-
pose all except two small increases in
the House bill, together with plea
that this is not the time to impose
any further tax on citizens of the
District.
Lusk also appeared as a representa-
tive of the Dupont Circle Citizens As
sociation, which went on record
against any increase in local taxation
because of a belief that taxes here
not only are adequate, but also are
excessive.
Says Big Deficit Looms.
Calling attention to proposed un-
employment insurance legislation,
which would call for a tax of ST.
100000 a year from the District gov
ernment, Lusk argued that if this and
other pending legislation should be
passed, the District would face a
deficit of s2,106,00O next year on the
basis of present taxation
Evan Fl. Tucker of the Citizens
Advisory Council on Community Cen
tiers declared there has been no in
crease in the funds for this purpose
in recent years and urged that an in
crease be allowed for the coming year.
centers was $4,000. The Budget
Bureau cut this to $4,000 and the
House slashed it again to $4,000.
The value of community center &C
tiyities in providing wholesome recrea-
ton for the youth of the city was
emphasized by Mrs. Walter S. Ufford,
speaking for the Southwest Commun-
ity Council, and by Miss Edith Coul-
son Of the Council of Social Agencies.
They pointed out that it is far better
and cheaper to provide these facilities
for boys than to have to take care Of
them later on in institutions.
AVAIL os ShOAo CaRAdAlCo I1LC SOIil.
munity center needs of the Randle
Junior High School.
Facilities Estimate Backed.
Tucker also appeared for the
Northeast Washington Citizens Asso-
citation to urge the supplemental
school estimate of 100000 to replace
old heating plants in school buildings,
and the following other items: A
Viaduct across the railroad tracks at
Franklin street northeast, and across
and Bladensburg road; additional
funds for improvement of Fairgrounds.
especially the new northeast play
ground, where the land has been
bought, but is in need of improve
ment. He also indorsed an increase
in the police force and the prepara-
tion of plans for the Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge in southeast.
A delegation from Anacostia re-
quested an eight-room addition to
the Ketcham School to take the
place Of an old annex which, they
said, has to be heated with coal stoves.
This item was presented by Mrs.
Phyllis Plemmons, president. and
Mrs. Dorothy Todd of the Ketcham-
Van Buren Home and School Asso-
citation, and by Mrs. Carrie Smith,
AnacoStia Citizens Association.
The need for an eight-room building
and auditorium at the Truesdell School
was cited by the Truesdell PIT. A.
through Mrs. Paul Gottwals and Mrs.
s. G. Tupman.
New Fire Apparatus Asked.
DR.. George L. Johnson of the
Southwest Civic Association asked
for new fire apparatus to replace old
engines at No. 4 and No. 13 stations
and also urged retention Of the House
item for a 12-room addition to the
Randle Junior High.
Lusk said the Taxpayers Protective
Association believes the 1886 bill
should remain at the House total of
$39 1903 900, with the exception of the
following two items: A 81, 900 increase
In the salary of the new health officer.
DR.. Ruhland. and an increase from
S150,000 to 100000 for the building
OF permit and assessment sewers
needed in the construction of new
houses.
The taxpayers group objected to
writing definitely into the law pro-
vision for free lunches for school
children. The association did not op-
pose continuing to use emergency re-
lief funds to provide hot lunches for
the time being for children whose
parents are unable to provide them.
Lunches for All Feared.
The association took the view that
II this is written specifically into the
law 1t would grow in time into a pro-
vision for school lunches for all pu-
pills.
In objecting to all but two increases
above the House bill, Lusk argued that
after allowing for all existing obliga-
tions against the District, the House
bill would leave balance in the gen.
eral fund next year of only $267 900.
When the House passed the bill in
January the general fund balance was
figured at $612,000. which, Lusk said,
has been reduced by subsequent laws,
principally the pay restoration for the
last three months of this fiscal year.
He then called attention to the prob
able cost to the District of various
laws now pending in Congress on
which he based his estimate of large
deficit next year to be made up BY the
taxpayers If these laws pass.
TRIAL CONTINUED