Evening star., 1936-09-14
JACOBS. REQUESTS
MASS Of DATA FOR
D.C.F|NANCE STUDY
Department Heads Called to
Budget Estimate Con-
ferences.
SLASH OF $18,O0O,000
WILL. COME UP FIRST
Skeleton of $40, ,00O,0Oo Sufficient
Only to Pay Bare Costs to
Be Arrived At.

A score Of District government de-
partment heads struggled today with
a varied assortment of facts and fig
ures requested by L. Jacobs. Chi
cago efficiency engineer and tax ex
pert, for use in the exhaustive study
he is making at the direction Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt to determine the Fed
eral obligation toward local ex-
penses.
At the same time. the Commis-
sioners, having closed the $4,000, 900
budget estimates for next year, begar
series of conferences with depart
ment heads with a view to making
final draft of operating expenses f..
submission to the Budget Bureau.
The Commissioners first will cor
slider slashing the original estimat
by approximately s18.000.000 In at-
cordance with previously-adoptr'
plan. This would leave a skeletc
budget of about s40,0oo,oo0, suficier
merely to pay actual maintenan'
costs and existing obligations Of Ii.
local government.
Alternate Budget Planned.
An alternate or supplemental bu
get. based on the action of the r
Congress with respect to the Fed
payment, will be submitted later.
The information sought by Jac
it is understood, is intended prima
to show the additional expenses
District must incur every year !
cause it is the seat of the Fed
Government. 1t will show, for
ampe, the cost of maintaining ex
sive park areas and wide streets.
cost of fire protection for Co..
ment buildings and the value of
eral property, based on present
sessments.
Jacobs, in asking the departn
heads to prepare this informal
indicated 1t would play an import
part in his study. This material, he
ever. is to be supplemented by oti-
factual information having a beari
on the fiscal relations question.
Later in the inquiry, Jacobs said,
will invite every organization intere;
ed in the problem to submit data
conference for this purpose. jacob
said, probably will not be held for
least another month.
To facilitate the study. Jacobs dir
closed, 1t has been decided tentative
to permit civic groups to submit writ
ten reports in advance.
Program Is Formulated.
The first meeting between Jaco
and the Advisory Committee Satu.
day resulted in the formation of
program of procedure for the inquir.
The details, however, were not mac
public.
The Advisory Committee, whicl
the President also appointed, is COM
posed of George McAneny, presiden
of the Title Guarantee Trust Co. Ct
New York City; James w. Martin.
chairman of the Kentucky State Ia:
Commission, and Clarence A. Dykstrf.
city manager of Cincinnati.
Those called in to go over estimatea
with the Commissioners today in
cluded Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, audi
tor; A r. McGonegal chief plumbing
inspector; Fred E. Allen, tax assessor;
E. P. Brooke, superintendent of the
District Building. and Godfrey Thor
nett, secretary to the Commissioners.
The chief difficulty in making the
s18,000,000 reduction will be encoun-
tered when the heads of the Health
Department. Board of Education and
Board of Public Welfare present their
estimates, which account for a major
portion of the increase in the crigi-
nal budget
Even after reducing the budget to
s40,000,0o0 it would still be neces-
sary to provide new sources of reve-
nue.. That estimate was said to ex-
coed the general revenue expected
from all sources next year by 81
100000, and this deficit will have to
be met somehow.