Evening star., 1938-01-27
The District Bill.

The District Bill.
Chairman Collins and the members of
his subcommittee are to be commended
:, for one of the most interesting District
> appropriations bills reported in recent
. years. The bill is as interesting because
OF the savings it proposes as on account
OF the expenditures.
On the savings side the treatment Of
the bill would apparently eliminate ne
eessity for another heavy boost in local
taxes. This, Of course. is a powerful
argument for economy. The benefits of
what amounts to promised tax reduc-
ton are apt to outweigh, in the tax
- payers mind, the disadvantages of
the savings. 1t is impossible at this time,
however, to pass judgment on the wis
dom Of all the savings. A substantial sum
Is saved by transferring the cost of street
lighting to the gasoline tax fund. This
may be gas tax diversion" but if such
diversion saves the general taxpayer
e765,OO0 year and does not cut the Dis
trict out Of its share of Federal road aid
funds there will not be much argument
against 1t. Another substantial saving
comes out Of the public schools, which
bear the brunt Of the pruning It is hard
TO believe that the schools can stand this
cut without injury. And if the schools
suffer, the saving is not worth while.
Another saving is accomplished at the
expense Of public relief. In view of the
tragic conditions of suffering and poverty
IN Washington now, Congress must be
sure that these are not increased by
Topping off relief funds.
On the expenditure side the provisions
tor a new central library building by
making available part of the site orig
finally purchased for the municipal center
development; the new police head
quarters building; the addition to the
Jail: the extensive and needed highway
Improvement. including the engineering
work at Dupont and Thomas Circles
which save the beauty Of the circles
While removing traffic obstacles-all these
are gratifying and represent beneficial
improvements that should not be de-
ayed.
Criticism of the bill may lie in the fact
that 1t provides immediate changes in
Jurisdiction and services that should be
decided only after full and open dis
cussions. There is always a great temp
tation for the Appropriations Committee,
because Of the conditions peculiar to
washington, to indulge in legislation on
IN appropriation bill. Legislation is and
should be left to the proper committee
not function Of the Appropriations
Committee
Notwithstanding the many difficulties
IN administration Of the Industrial Train
ing School for Girls, the proposal to scrap
this institution and transfer its inmates
to Occoquan is Of questionable wisdom.
Nor Is the decision in such matters prop
erly reached behind the closed doors of
the committee room. The same question
may be raised in connection with the
transfer Of the Childrens Receiving
Home from the Board of Public Welfare
to the Police Department. The same
thing may be said again of the COM
mittees renewed attempt-the same at
tempt having been made last year-to
place the school Fairgrounds during the
summer under the Community Center
Department instead of leaving them
under the Department of Fairgrounds.
1nere may be wisdom in all of these pro-
posals but the questions should be dis
posed Of in open hearings on legislation
: and not by the secret proceedings of the
Appropriations Committee.
, The item for another study to de-
. termine the practicability of a municipal
electric plant in Washington-the study
to be paid for by local taxpayers seems
extravagant. Only few years ago local
:. taxpayers were assessed $4,000 for a
comparable study which benefited no.
body except the engineers who made it.
II such study is deemed desirable, is
1t not possible to have it made without
: hiring more people?
! Members Of the District Legislative
. Committee will examine the bill when
, It comes before the House tomorrow and
should properly question the legislative
riders which 1t contains. Such examina-
!. ton will reflect no ingratitude to Chair
man Collins and his subcommittee for
, the hard and generally effective work
that has gone into this appropriations
bill.