Evening star., 1937-12-12
Decline in Federal Payment
Becomes Lever for Tax Boosts
Capital Forced to Bear Costly Growing Pains
With Urgent Needs Delayed or More
LevieS in Prospect

Would the District taxpayers be in favor
OF cutting down existing appropriations for
public health in the face Of concrete facts
which show the need for more generous an
propriations?
Must public welfare appropriations be
reduced? The average taxpayer probably
would favor such reduction in principle.
He doubtless conceives public welfare as
meaning relief" and as relief expenditures
show less in tangible benefits to the tax
payer than almost any other, the taxpayer
is probably in favor of the reduction. The
welfare estimates. Of course, finance many
activities beyond relief Of the destitute.
But where to begin? Are such expendi-
tures-of relatively recent date-as those
which go for the assistance of the needy
nhno' the needy aged and dependent chill
dren, to be eliminated? Is the aid to the
hopeless group Of unemployed unemploy-
aoles' to be withdrawn in the face of
another recession?
How Long Can Needs Wait?
There may be opportunities for savings,
otner economies which can be brought
about in the District government. But,
supposing there are. what are some of
the items on the other side of the LEDGER
items which call for increased expenditure? T?
How long, for instance, can the con-
struction of new buildings at Gallineer
Hospital be delayed? How long can the
authorities close their eyes to the crowd
ing together of hardened criminals and
hrst offenders at the penal institutions.
because OF lack Of space? How long can
the school building program be delayed?
are the authorities to witness the con-
tinuation of the handicap placed on the
public library system by lack of proper
library buildings? There is lengthy
catalogue OF unmet needs facing the Dis
trlct, OF which these are only few. WASH
lngton is tagging far behind what it should
pe showing the rest of the country in
furnishing to its local taxpayers services
which they should be and are not re.
ceiving.
Are the Commissioners contemplating An
extravagant budget? Why is it, with Dis
trlct residents carrying a tax burden Is
per cent higher this year than last (not
counting social security taxes or Federal
ievles), and with the total tax load more
than three times higher than it was in
l2sO, that the District still needs more
money?
Inc increase in the Districts population
mas increased its problems faster than the
ABILITY to take care of them. The 1920 non.
Lation was 439.900, as estimated by the
census Bureau. Today it is $4,000 This
is an increase of ~ per cent in span OF II
years What is the result?
Back in the fall of 1920 there were 81 400
scnool children. This year there are some
sa,soo. IN 1920 there were 2,.98 teachers
auenorizeo Today the number is 3.07e
No'e mat IN this I7-year stretch the num-
DER OF teachers was increased by IS per
CENT Wnlie the number Of pupils rose 81
per cent. For economy reasons the Dis
trlct has fallen below its 1920 standard AZ
10 the load OF pupils per teacher.
New schools were built, due to the rising
pupil population. but today schools are
crowded; some of them date back to Civil
war days and some have been condemned.
The five-year s3O,000,00O school building
program. proposed by school officials last
year. has received no encouragement.
The population growth of Washington
and its suburbs has made a teemine
metropolis OF the Capital City Traf1ic
congestion demanded increasing attention
OF police; physical developments called for
more hremen and fire stations: additional
mlles OF water mains and sewers had to
be laid; many miles of additional streets
were paved and repaved.
Two Increases in One.
Mere cost of maintenance has mounted
on an annual. permanent basis with every
dollar spent in the past for capital i'm
provement. To build new million-dollar
nigh school means 10 cents added to the
real estate tax rate. But that is only the
beginning. Each year several hundred
Thousand dollars must be spent for the
salaries OF teachers, janitors and clerks.
Tor heat. light, equipment and repairs, to
take care OF the new school building.
large proportion of the total District
revenues now available goes to pay mere
maintenance and operation COSTS For in
stance: For this year maintenance and
operation costs amounted to $38,50o. .ooo
leaving but s7,500,000 for permanent i'm
provements Every permanent improve
ment means higher maintenance cost
next year.
Here are some of the increases that have
taken place between 1920 and 1898: Schools,
from $3S0o,0o0 to s128o0,0oo. or 23o per
cent; police, frcm $1,000 900 to So, zoo, 900,
or 131 per cent; fire, from 100000 to
s2,4Oo,0 900, or 100 per cent; public welfare,
from $2,000,000 to $7,100,000, or 255 per
cent; health, from $670,0O0 to $4,000, 900,
or 220 per cent, and miscellaneous divisions,
where costs go almost entirely to salaries,
from 100000 to $1,6oo,o00 or 1855 per
cent.
District services have grown greatly,
especially in the past five years, partly
IN recognition Of public demand, partly
IN accordance with Federal concept of
new government responsibilities Com
missioner Melvin G. Hazen, in defending
the Commissioners nifty million budget
proposals, recently explained that new
services and improvements have added
q