Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-03-04

and indefinite items. This represent.
an excess of $908,283 over the amount
recommended by the Budget Bureau
But the increase is deceptive, due II
the juggling of various items.
First, the committee Topped $1,000
600 off the Federal share toward the
Districts expenses Then it made a
series Of cuts in various items, spread
ing them over nearly every depart
ment Of the municipal government
to provide some new projects not rec
commended by the Budget Bureau
The result Is an unbalanced budget in
the coming fiscal year-a situation
which confronts the District with a
deficit in revenues at the close of the
coming fiscal year estimated at more
than 100000. However, there are
deficiency and supplemental appro-
priations that probably will be added
which District financial experts figure
will raise the deficit to about 50 ,200,-
900.
No remedy for meeting this antici-
pated deficit is contained in the bill
Neither is there any linking of how
the committee arrived at the $4,000
600 reduction applied to the Federal
share toward District expenses.
Tax Increases Suggested.
In the report Of the hearings on the
bill. however, there are suggestions of
increased taxation. as provided in the
four pending Mapes bills, which would
increase the gasoline tax from 2 to 4
cents a gallon, place weight tax on
automobiles. substitute an income tax
for the present tax on intangible per-
sonal property and provide a local
inheritance tax. Enactment of these
four bills, it has been estimated, would
yield the District about 81, 00O,000 ad-
ditional revenue each year.
The only reason advanced for a cut
OF 100000 in the amount of the
Federal obligation is that this figure
had been mentioned several times as
the amount OF an anticipated surplus
in District revenues at the close of the
coming fiscal year, on the basis Of the
estimates as approved by the Budget
Bureau.
At any rate the committee, in its
report on the bill. said, in effect, that
taxpayers in the District do not have
the tax burden suffered by those in
other cities of comparable size. so it
recommended the reduction in the
amount of the Federal obligation.
The new projects for which the COM
mittee provided without Budget Bu-
reau sanction are estimated to cost
81 SOB, 900. The largest is a new courts
building to be erected in Judiciary
Square at cost of $1.500,000 The bill
provides 81 100000 of that amount to
begin construction.
$350,000 for Eastern.
There are two other major items,
one Of which is $685., 900 for an addi-
ton to Eastern High School, which is
seriously overcrowded. The other is
$250,000 to begin replacement of the
superstructure of Chain Bridge, the
limit of cost being fixed at $3.50, 900.
Construction of a new bridge has been
advocated by Representative Smith,
Democrat, of Virginia, and several
civic and trade organizations, but the
committee said it had been advised
that the foundations of the existing
structure are in excellent condition"
Aside from cuts in the welfare
and public health items, the bill re-
duces the budget-approved estimates
for the Police Department, the Public
Utilities Commission, the surveyors
office, the Office of the recorder of
deeds, the city refuse department and
emergency relief activities.
The emergency relief appropriation,
which the committee described as
public assistance" was cut $l5O,18O,
but the committee said the reduction
would not decrease the amount avail
able for direct relief because it had
been applied entirely to personal serv-
ices. In this connection, it slashed
the salaries of many of the executives
engaged in relief activities. As an
illustration, the salary of Miss M.
Alice Hill, director of emergency re-
lief, is cut from $1,000 to $500 q
year.
Budget Items Approved.
In addition to the construction prof.
ects authorized by the committee.
those recommended by the Budget Blu
reau, which were approved, include:
l. An appropriation of $4,000 for
engineering surveys and preparation
of plans for a new bridge to replace
the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge across
the Anacostia River.
2. An appropriation of $4,000 to
begin construction of a new branch
library in Petworth.
3. An addition to the Lafayette
School.
4. An addition to the Truesdell
School.
S. Completion of the second floor
of the Hardy School.
6. An addition to the Grimke School.
z. An addition to the Young School.
3. Construction Of a new vocational
school to replace the Dennison School.
9. An addition to the Paul Junior
High School.
10. Completion of the Anacostia
Senior Junior High School.
II. Additional land for the Cook
School.
For the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board, the committee recommended
s39, 800, which is $3.50 less than the
current appropriation, and $500 less
than the budget estimates. The ap-
for the coroner's ofice
likewise was cut $500, the reduction
being due to the disallowance Of funds
for the full-time pay Of one janitor.
Estimates for the Public Utilities
Commission were cut $1,000 under the
amount recommended by the Budget
Bureau. The reduction WAS heca1ixe nf