Evening star., 1937-09-11
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

iHc NOiillillSSlOIleTS IOoay Drought
to a close a two-day public hearing
on the s65.000,O00 budget estimate of
department heads, firmly convinced
the majority of taxpayers oppose any
further increase in taxes or a bond is
sue to finance public improvements, ir-
respective of the urgency of their
need.
More than 40 business and civic
leaders paraded before the Commits
sloners during the two-day hearing,
bearing requests in most instances
for improvements of all types-new
schools, new bridges and increased
personnel in various municipal de-
partments-but virtually all registered
vigorous protest against adoption of
budget for the 1899 fiscal year that
would force taxpayers to dig any
deeper into their pocketbooks.
Chief opposition to a proposal for
floating a bond issue of 100000
that would be needed to finance the
s65, 100000 budget of the department
heads came from Washington I. Cleve-
land, manager of the District Motor
Club of the American Automobile AS
sociation.
Favors Modest Issue.
Only one witness, Marvin H. Nc
Lean. representing the Brookland Cit
izens' Association, said he would favor
a modest" bond issue of about S..
100000 to finance school improve
ments If the necessary funds could
not be raised from any other source.
He also deprecated moves for local
suffrage for the District as well as
continued criticism of Congress, espe-
cially the House subcommittee ON Dis
trict appropriations. Such attacks, he
said, are harmful to the District and
should be checked"
"Of course, the Commissioners can
stand criticism because they are used
to it," Mclean declared. But criti-
cism makes members of Congress sore"
Cleveland declared if the budget
goes beyond the limit to finance out
of anticipated revenue the Federal
Government should be forced to in
crease its annual payment toward Dis
trict expenses.
L believe We should unite on one
fundamental point" said Cleveland.
The Federal Government should pay
more than S5,000,OO0 a year toward
the support of its Capital. An in
creased Federal payment should be
the No. l recommendation of every
civic and business organization in the
District. If the organizations make
that recommendation I am confident
1t will make dent in the attitude of
Congress. Nearly every one feels the
Federal Government should pay more,
but they have got to do something
about it."
Free From Bond Debt.
Opposing bond issue, Cleveland
pointed out the one redeeming fea-
ture of the financial set-up of the
District government is its freedom
from bonded Indebtedness.
This is condition which should
be maintained at all COSTS" he de-
clared. THE moment a program of
development is financed by the float
ing of bonds, the unit cost of con-
struction is increased, usually doubled
and frequently trebled by the interest
payments, and in the long run the tax
rate must be increased again and again
to meet these added costs.
THE citizens of the District are
able to pay as they go. Any improve
ments or capital outlay which cannot
be paid for should not be undertaken"
Cleveland also indorsed the pro-
posed five-year highway and bridge
program of Capt. H. c.
Whitehurst, director of highways, and
made specific recommendations for an
increase in the personnel of the Police
and in the department of
vehicles and traffic.
Washington needs additional per-
sonnel in traffic police work especially.
(See BUDGET, Page A-9)