Evening star., 1937-09-15
EFFORT TO BOOST
FEDERAL PAYMENT
PLANNED FOR 1888
Commissioners to Make
New Appeal to Congress
for $7,50O,0 900.
NEW POLICE BUILDING
is HELD FIRST NEED
Hazen Puts Headquarters Struc-
ture at Top of 1889 Budgets
Projects.

The Commissioners announced to-
day they would make another effort
at the coming session of Congress to
have the Federal payment toward
District expenses increased from
$5,00o,0oO to s7,500,Oo0, and at the
same time disclosed new and modern
building for the police department will
be the No. l project provided in the
1899 budget.
A $7,50o,000 Federal payment would
raise to $4,500.000 the estimated
amount of money available in the
next fiscal year over the appropriations
this year which are chargeable to the
general fund revenue. Without this
increase in the Federal payment. the
Commissioners will have leeway
over this year of only s2,000,000 in
the general fund.
Demands for an increase in the
Federal payment were made by nu-
merous spokesmen for civic and busi-
ness organizations at the recent budget
hearings held by the Commissioners.
Already, Commissioner Hazen said,
the municipal architects Office has
been instructed to prepare estimates
on the cost of the new police depart
ment building.
1t is Commissioner Hazen's plan to
have the building erected as the first
unit of the long proposed municipal
center because of the emergency of its
need.
Il believe a new building for the
Police Department is the most out
standing need In the District today"
declared Commissioner Haxen. "The
building In which the department is
now housed is inadequate and is in
. deplorable condition. 1t is in such
. dilapidated condition it is unsafe
to place heavy objects, like safes, on
the top floors.
Disgrace to Capital"
ut is a disgrace to the Nations
Capital to have its Police Department
housed in building like the one it
now occupies. am going to do my
utmost to have the condition remedied
IN the 1899 budget, and have the
highest hope that an item for begin
ming construction of new building
will be approved by the Budget Bu-
yeau, as well as Congress"
Despite the efforts of the Comx,is-
sioners to keep the 1899 budget with
In anticipated income in the 1889
fiscal year, Hazen is confident there
will be sufficient funds available with
out increasing taxes to begin con-
struction of the new building.
Police headquarters is now located
In the old District Building at 462
Indiana avenue. 1t not only contains
the administrative Offices of the de-
partment, but the Traffic and Detec-
tive Bureaus. There are no facilities
for the detention of prisoners.
Temporary Home Discounted.
A suggestion has been made to Com
missioner Hazen that the excess space
In the new Police Court Building un-
der construction in Judiciary Square
be used as temporary home for the
Police Department Headquarters un-
til completion Of the proposed new
building. He does not believe, how
ever, there will be sufficient space to
take care of all of the Offices now quar-
tered in the present building.
pAliCa oc< ~ 4
. survey made sometime ago to deter
mine the advisability of moving head
quarters to the old Police Court Build
Ing as soon as the new building is COM
pleted. This study revealed that after
extensive remodeling, the old Police
Court Building might be a satisfac-
tory quarters for the Woman's Bureau
OF the Police Department. but it would
never meet the demands of the depart
ment as a whole.
Might Serve as Station.
The Woman's Bureau now occupies
the old second precinct station on Fifth
street between M and N streets. 1t is
Maj. Browns plan again to use this
building as police station if Con-
gress approves his program for re-
establishing the old second precinct.
Some years ago, largely at the in
stance OF the late Commissioner
Crosby, the old second precinct was
merged with the eighth precinct. Civic
organizations recently have cam
paigned for re-establishment of the
precinct on the ground its area is too
large for one precinct to cover eff
ciently and effectively.