Evening star., 1938-09-13
D.C.NEEDSPLACED
AT $52,761,OOO
BY TRADE BOARD
Spokesmen Urge Limit on
1910 Budget to Fit
Expected Revenue.
$13,604,0O0 BELOW
OFFICIALS PROPOSAL
General Fund Will Run to
$42,soo,o0o in Next Fiscal
Year, Donovan Thinks.
BY DON S. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
Limitation of the 1910 District esti-
mates to figure not in excess OF rev.
enue expectancy was urged upon the
Commissioners today by spokesmen for
the Washington Board Of Trade, as
the city heads engaged in the last day
Of their public hearings on the appro-
priation requests Of municipal depart
ment heads.
Calculations presented by Robert ".
Fleming, past president Of the trade
body and chairman of its municipal
Finance Committee. as checked later
against estimates Of District Budget
Officer Daniel j. Donovan, indicated
the budget would be held down to q
maximum OF some $52,76l 900.
II this is done it would mean that
the Commissioners would slice some
&l3,6O4,000 of of the $66, 1865 900 ex-
penditure proposals Of the department
heads, but would mean = budget,
roughly, $4,000, 900 in excess Of the ap-
preparations for the present year. This
Is on the assumption, however, that
the Commissioners would propose to
use all available estimated revenues
from the Highway and Water Depart
ments, in addition to all Of the general
fund expected revenues.
Estimates Not in Accord.
The position of the Board of Trade,
Is outlined by Mr.. Fleming and ap-
proved by President Francis G. Addi-
son and indorsed by the trade body
directors, carries general fund revenue
estimates not entirely in accord with
those of Budget Oficer Donovan.
Mr.. Fleming said: Our estimate Of
receipts from the general fund items
for 1899, including s5000,oo0 Fed
eral contribution, is s42750, 900, a sum
suficient to meet the appropriations
for the said fiscal year tthe present
fiscal year, after absorbing the deficit
for 1898 of sl,3o7 900. We. therefore,
urge that, in view of the above revenue
expectancy, the expense items OF the
general fund should be kept so within
the 1899 revenue figures as to assure
their being within those figures and.
II possible, provide a cushion for un-
forseen contingencies. "@
Later Mai. Donovan announced that
his calculations were that his general
fund revenues for this year would
amount to S42, ,3O8 900, or some $442, 900
less than the figure used by Board of
Trade spokesmen. Maj. Donovan es-
Inmates that, on the basis of present
taxes, the general fund revenue in the
next fiscal year would run to some
$4,000, 900.
Mai. Donovan said the expected
highway fund next year would amount
to $1,000 and that water revenues
likely would total 100000, which
would indicate q grand total of reve-
nues for next year of $50 1861 900. To
transcribe these into a possible maxi
mum budget there would be added
roughly $1,sOo,oo0 for trust fund ac-
counts to bring the total to s5l, ISL 900.
The total Of appropriations made for
this year is $40. .764, 600.
Policy Declared Sound.
In their general statement, Mr..
Fleming and Mr. Addison said:
The Board of Trade has for some
time directed its attention to a study
Of municipal financial requirements
with a particular consideration for the
general economics of the community.
In considering these problems we have
been fully aware Of the municipal re-
quirements and resulting necessary
capital outlay and maintenance costs
and are fully aware of the general de-
sire to make Washington magnificent
city as befits the Nations Capital, as
well as to provide the citizens with
those services which are today required
Of any progressive city
I'VE are aware that during the past
several years our program of capital
improvements has, by force of neces-
sity. been limited. Nevertheless. we are
u the opinion that this policy has
been sound and has helped materially
IN stabilizing the general prosperity
Of the community. We believe that
the policy adopted by the Commis-
sioners with respect to P. W. A. grants
to the end that they have applied
for such projects as are only OF definite
necessity, is sound We are of the
opinion that the P. w. A. grants. under
the terms offered so far as they have
gone, are not detrimental, but will
be beneficial to the general fiscal well
fare of the city for the reason that
present complications under these
grants can be met without the neces-
sity OF providing increased revenues
through further taxation or obligations
In the future that would be burden
some.
Economical Planning Stressed.
Eve do feel that a vigorous effort
should be made to see that these grants
do not increase the maintenance and
operation costs annually to the point
that budgetary figures will reach be-
yond . safe margin of revenue. We
particularly emphasize the need of
economical planning in the proposed
new capital expenditures with view
70 keeping down operation and main
tenance costs.
In view of the Commissioners hav-
ting availed themselves Of certain P.
W. A. offers of urgent necessity. We
wish to state that we are in accord
Nth this action already taken, pro-
viding there is corresponding re-
duction in the regular budget for such
items in the program As could be
eliminated by reason Of p. w. A.
grants. Further, the budget should not
be built up by the substitution of other
items either for capital outlays or
otherwise to take the place Of those
granted under P. w. A. loans"
An ardent plea for reduction of the
District realty tax rate from s1.75 per
800 to &l.60 was voiced late yester-
day by William NICK. Clayton, veteran
civic leader. who appeared as . mem
her Of the Brightwood Citizens Asso-
citation. .....