Evening star., 1936-02-02
BUDGET SESSION
THURSDAY To HEAR
D. c. HEADS FIRST
Commissioners Prepare for
Annual Battle After
BIant0n'S News.
MAPES ASKS REPORT
ON FOUR TAX BILLS
1887 Estimates Now Before Con-
gress Will Result in Surplus Of
Unobligated Revenues.
BY JAMES E, CHINN.

o1 JANES Gs NH1NNs
The Commissioners began prepara-
tions yesterday for their annual bat
tie for an adequate budget after re-
ceiving word from Chairman Blanton
of the House Subcommittee on APP
preparations in charge of the District
supply bill that hearings on the 1887
budget estimates would begin Thurs
day at 10 am.
Blanton, who succeeded Representa-
tive Cannon, Democrat, of Missouri as
chairman of the subcommittee, said
the Commissioners would be called
as the first witnesses.
The budget estimates for 1887. as
approved by President Roosevelt,
recommend appropriations totaling
s43, 100000, a slash of s4,377,000 under
the amount urged by the Commis-
eioners. AS a result of this cut, 1t Is
estimated the District at the close
of the 1882 fiscal year would have
a surplus Of more than S2,500,000 in
its general revenues and about $780,
900 in the gasoline tax and water
rent funds
Mapes Asks Tax Report.
Blanton had planned to start the
hearings Tuesday, but agreed to a
delay because the Commissioners said
they had arranged an important hear
ing by the Zoning Commission We'd
nesday.
In the meantime, Representative
Mapes, Republican, of Michigan, who
introduced four bills at the last ses-
sion of Congress to raise additional
taxes in the District. asked the Com
missioners to give him report on
them One would provide weight tax
on automobiles as substitute for the
present 81 fee for tags. Another
would substitute an income tax for
the present tax on intangible personal
property. The third would increase
the gasoline tax from 2 to cents a
gallon, and the fourth would provide
an inheritance tax for the District.
The Commissioners, it is under
stood, propose to advise Mapes that
the Budget Bureau has held that none
of the four bills conflict with the
Presidents financial program, al
though they are opposed to increasing
the District tax burden in any way in
view Of the fact that the 1887 esti-
mates now before Congress. will result
In a surplus of unobligated revenues.
Press Conference Held.
After definitely fixing the date to be-
gin hearings on the budget, Blanton
established precedent by calling a
conference of the representatives OF
the five Washington newspapers to
discuss the plans of procedure. The
conference lasted about 80 minutes,
during which Blanton revealed for
publication these facts:
l. That he considers the S43. 100000
estimates for 1887 as "a fair budget"
2. That he already has conferred
with Supt of Schools Frank w. Ballou
about the congested condition at East
ern High School, which will not be re-
lieved under the Budget Bureaus rec
concentrations.
3. That he also has conferred with
q representative of the District Tuber-
culosis Association over the Budget
bureaus S plans Ior CLOSING Ille 1uDer-
culosis Hospital at Fourteenth and
Upshur streets. Blanton was told the
facilities of this hospital are needed
in addition to those provided at the
new adult tuberculosis sanatorium at
Glenn Dale, Md.
Anti-Red Rider to Stay.
4. That the anti-communism rider |
in the 1896 appropriation act is not |
to be repealed.
The Budget Bureau recommended |
that the Federal obligation toward the
$5,700,000, the same as appropriated |
for the current fiscal year. Indica-
tions are the subcommittee will not |
recommend an increase in this amount. |