Evening star., 1938-01-26
PARED $1,517,38O,
|D.C.APPR0PR|AT|0N
bill IS REPORTED
$45,827,322 to Support City
Government in 1889
Recommended.
REDUCTION OF DEFICIT
TO $1,972,5OO SEEN
Provision for Power Survey Is
One of Several Surprise
Suggestions.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

A slash Of s1,517,380 in District ap-
preparations from 1889 estimates of
the Budget Bureau was recommended
to the House today by the District
Appropriation Committee in reporting
the 1889 appropriation bill.
Altogether, the supply bill calls for
appropriations Of s45,8827, 1922 to sup
port the municipal government in the
1889 fiscal year. of which s5,000,000
would constitute the Federal payment.
The total recommended is Just $751;.
746 more than appropriated for the
current year.
Under the bill the net anticipated
budget deficit in the coming fiscal year
would be reduced to a new low of
s1.972, 500.
The irony of this situation Is that
at the same time the appropriation
bill was reported. the Fiscal Affairs
Subcommittee of the District Legisla-
tive Committee of the House was at
work behind closed doors perfecting
revenue bill that would saddle on
taxpayers in the new fiscal year an
additional tax burden of 100000
or $4,000, ,000-far more than Is
needed to keep the District out Of the
red.
Power Survey Approved.
A surprise element in the appropria-
ton bill was provision for steps toward
possible development Of a municipality
owned and operated power plant. An
oF -
city's power needs by the Federal
Power Commission was approved.
Some of the other unexpected pro-
visions OF major import in the bill
provide for:
disqualification in the future Of all
child patients now cared for at the
Gallinger Hospital in Children's Hos
pital.
Re-establishment of the long-vacant
office of peoples counsel.
Sixty thousand dollars for prep
aration of plans for new central
public library to be located on a site
in the Municipal Center area on Penn
sylvania avenue between John Mar.
shall place and Sixth street NV,
facing the Mellon Art Gallery.
Autoists to Pay for Light.
AS previously intimated, the COM
mittee carried out its plans to place
the expense Of maintaining the street.
lighting bill of s765, 900 in the coming
fiscal year on automobile owners. The
bill specifically provides that the cost
of street lights shall be borne by the
gasoline tax instead Of the general
revenue fund as in the past.
Fears have been expressed that such
move would constitute diversion of
gasoline tax revenues and jeopardize
an allotment Of Federal highway aid
funds estimated to range from $780,
900 to s75G,O00.
School Budget Hit.
The public school budget, as usual,
bore the brunt of the intensive prun-
ing process.
A total of s636, ,OO0 most of which
Supt. Frank w. Ballou wanted to
employ additional teachers, was
Topped off, in addition to $25,000 for
the purchase of fuel. The commit
tee cut into the fuel bill on the
ground that school custodial employees
are inefficient and waste that much
money every year.
Other reductions, but not quite 20
large. were scattered in various
branches of the municipal service.
An item of $4,000. which the
Budget Bureau recommended for pur-
chase of site for the proposed
National Guard armory. was elm
mated. together with 100000 for in
stallation of a new trunk line water
main in M street and $500 for
increasing the nursing service in the
Health Department.
Police Department Benefits.
The committee, however. was more
liberal with the Police Department..
1t not only provided s500000 to begin
construction Of new $l,500,000
headquarters building in the NUM-
cipal center, but authorized Police
Supt. Ernest w. Brown to 60 ahead to
the extent of $4,000 in restoring the
old second precinct station in the
heart Of Washington's socalled crime
area" And, in addition, 1t increased
Maj Browns confidential fund from
1000 to $4,000 50 he will be able to
employ more "undercover men" to
(See D. c. BILL, Page A-6.)