Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-12-18
SCHOOL PROGRAM
PLEA IS SHELVEO
FOR TIME BEING
Commissioners Put Aside
Request for $50, 1000,
Expansion Plan.
COMMITTEES DECISION
ON LUMP SUM AWAITED
Present Financial Problems Of
District Held Obstacle to
Educational Proposal.

A plea by school officials for sup
port Of legislation authorizing a five.
year $4,000 900 school building pro.
gram was laid on the shelf today by
the Commissioners for the time
being" to await a decision as to what
will be the Federal payment TOWARD
the District and an answer to other
finance problems.
The city heads we're petitioned by
representatives of the Board of Edu-
cation and officials of the school sys-
tenn to urge the Budget Bureau te
recommend congressional approval OF
= separate bill authorizing the pro-
posed school building program to run
from next July l through the 1942
fiscal year.
This program, proposing construc-
tion of many schools or school addi-
lions and purchase of numerous sites
for additional schools, was designed to
enable the system to catch up with
needs accumulated in recent years.
Hazen States Position.
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen an
Aounced the Commissioners could not
back such legislation now because of
she uncertain state of city finances.
He added that they did not propose to
take any. action at least until after
recommendations on the Federal pay
nent are forthcoming from the Fiscal
Relations Committee appointed sew
sral months ago by President Roose-
yelt.
Hazen said unless there is a substan-
tial boost in the Federal payment over
the current appropriation of S5,000,-
900, or unless taxes are raised or some
ether means of additional finances
found. it would be impossible for the
Commissioners to demand approval of
the s30,000,oO0 five-year school ex-
pansion plan.
The question of Treasury loan and
the suggestion of bond issue to pro-
vide funds for needed school ex-
pansion. he said. would be considered
If the Commissioners were pushed to
that point. He had reference to re-
ports of District Auditor Daniel j.
Donovan that without an increase in
the Federal payment, the receipts dur
ing the next fiscal year. on the basis
OF present estimates, would fall short
BY approximately 100000 of meet
ing maintenance and operation ex-
penses next year without allowing
any money for new capital improve
mentS.
Estimates Submitted.
Several months ago, school officials
submitted estimates to the Commits
sioners for the next fiscal year, asking
appropriation of some $17,5OO, 900, an
increase of more than $5,000,000 over
this year. Included in the requests
were proposals for spending $780,
o30 for buildings and grounds. This
would have constituted the first of the
proposed f1ve-year building programs.
The Commissioners sliced the esti-
mates for buildings and grounds to
s2,144,000, and the items for school
expansion were relegated to the Com
nnissioners' secondary budget" which
would be dependent upon provision of
additional revenues. Their primary"
budget contains nothing but items for
maintenance, operation and personnel.
The only hope given school author
1ties today was promise by Hazen
that the Commissioners would recon-
alder the proposed bill after the Fiscal
Relations Committee has reported.
Heading the delegation of school
officials was George Whitwell. chair
man of the Finance Committee of the
Board of Education. Other members
Of the board, DR.. Frank w. Ballou,
superintendent of schools, and other
school officers attended the conference.