Evening star., 1938-03-04
New District Bill.

In approving a S48, l56,328 District ap-
preparation bill for the next fiscal year,
adding more than $3000,000 to the House
total. the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee has given evidence of a sincere
desire to make better provision for the
city's needs, as outlined to a subcom-
mittee during several weeks of hearings.
If local residents were not facing a
new tax bill--the extent of which de-
pends on the final outcome of the pend
ing appropriations-en of vir-
tually all of the Senate increases would
be desirable, and probably would win
approval of the community.
Unfortunately, with the Federal pay
ment remaining stationary at the S5000,-
600 lump sum figure, the amounts added
to the measure Except in the highway
and water funds) mean so many addi-
tional dollars of new taxation from the
local partner in National Capital MAIN
tenance.
Accordingly, the Senate bill is esti-
mated to have raised the deficit to be
met by the pending tax bill from s2000,-
900 under the House bill to about $4000,-
600. If, as some local officials predict,
the business privilege tax raises only
S2300,0O0 instead of $3,OO0O0O in the
current year, then the deficit would be-
come at least s4,700000. 1t must also
be borne in mind that the immediate
unemployment relief investigation pro-
posed by the Senate bill may lead to an
increase in later deficiency bill of the
100000 now being allotted to aid the
unemployed. If the inquiry justifles an
increase, that also would have to be re-
f1ected in the tax program
1t is not likely that all Senate in
creases will be retained in conference,
where spirit of -and-take usually
prevails. Even with compromises how
ever, the District probably will face
tax program not far from s4OOO0OO.
The Senate Committee is to be COM
mended for enlarging the street paving
program by approximately $1,O00,00O,
avoiding an idle surplus in the highway
fund and at the same time creating
an opportunity for employment. 1t also
substituted a different bridge program
for the traffic underpass and bridge
items favored by the House. The cost
Of these alternative construction pro-
grams is about the same, and both con-
sist Of desirable projects. 1t becomes a
question for the conferees to decide
which should be carried out first.
The Senate group likewise displayed
sympathetic consideration of municipal
problems by adding so policemen, re-
storing nearly all of the House cut in
school budget figures and half of the
House reduction in Public Welfare esti-
mates for various institutions
1t is to be regretted the Senate Com
mittee did not see its way clear to ac-
cept the opportunity offered by the
House bill to designate part of the Mu-
nicipal Center area as a site for a new
Public Library, to be erected at some
future time. The only appropriation
the House bill called for at this time
was seo,OOo to prepare plans for the
building. This item is still open to
further consideration in conference.
In returning operation of school play
grounds during the summer to the mu-
nicipal Fairgrounds department, the
committee has acted wisely, pending a
complete coordination of the city's
recreational activities. 1t may ulti-
mately be decided that these play
grounds properly fall within the scope
of the community center branch of the
school system, but such changes should
be worked out as part of the general
recreation plan, embodied in separate
pending legislation,