Evening star., 1938-08-19
2ARMOR|ESASKtD
FORD. c. GUARD IN
$3,366,O8O BUDGET
Garages and More Land at
Camp Simms Included
in Estimates.
$31O,3OO is SOUGHT
BY DR.. MANN FOR ZOO
District Inspection Division Cites
insufficient Force in 1921 ,020
Request.
BY DON S. WARREN.

as against appropriations OF S42,78'
approved for this year.
The huge increase, of 7,768 per cen
over this year, represents for the mos
part a renewed effort to obtain fund!
for construction of two new armories
A program of S2,750, 900 of improve.
ment projects has been suggested by
the Commissioners as part OF the
Districts P. w. A. program. These
and other items were incorporated b,
the Guard in its regular 1910 estimates
because of present uncertainty as te
what items may be found possible
under the P. w. A. program.
S310,30B Asked for Zoo.
The Commissioners also revealed
that DR.. William M. Mann, director
of the Zoo had submitted estimates
totaling $310,300. which would be an
increase of $83,300 over this years
appropriations. The requests would
provide for increases in personnel
equipment, a number of relatively
minor improvements and for purchase
Of additional animal specimens.
The Department of Inspection, in
cluding the building. plumbing, elec-
trical and smoke and boiler divisions
requested 1910 appropriations totaling
1891 ,020, an increase of $51 900 over
this year. which would permit the en-
ployment of % additional workers
mostly inspectors.
Judges of Municipal Court SUBJ
nnitted 1910 estimates amounting to
S97 400, an increase of $2,430 over
this year.
The National Guard estimates call
for $4,000 for preparation of de-
tailed working drawings for new
armory structures, 100000 for pur-
chase OF sites for the new armories
e2700, 900 for construction of armories
one for white troops and one for COL
ored units; $4,000 for construction
!, Of IL garages to house the trucks and
other militia motorized equipment and
$4,000 for the purchase of additional
land at the training grounds at Camp
Simms in Congress Heights.
Armory Sites Not Disclosed.
While sites for the armories were
not specified, in the hope of avoiding
boost in land prices. it has been
reported officials of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission
were considering land near the end OF
East Capitol street.
II the estimates are approved an
Item Of $4,000 would be provided for
the purchase of dress uniforms for
the 81 Officers of the Guard and an
item of $l3,500 for the payment of
Guardsmen while they are in the sum-
mer training camps. They would be
given added compensation of about
81 per day. This would not apply to
Guardsmen who are in Government
employment. under which they may
be given military leaveS
The Guardsmen were given added
pay for training periods from 1900 to
1882, but this item was dropped with
the adoption of the economy program.
Oficers of the Guard argued that
many of the troopers make a finan-
cial sacrifice to attend camps since
private employers will not give them
leave with pay.
Mandatory Dress Uniforms Expected.
In support of the $4,000 request for
dress uniforms for officers, the Ma
tional Guard officers recalled that the
War Department recently prescribed
that Regular Army officers equip
themselves with dress uniforms, leav-
ing this optional with Guardsmen
They added they believed the dress
uniforms for the Guard officers would
become mandatory soon. The uni.
forms, it was said, would cost from
$500 to $500 each.
Five new units are to be added to
the Guard this year To meet the re-
quirements of handling the increase
in force. the Guard seeks $4,000 for
rental of temporary armory quarters
and an increase of II in its annual
personnel, including a number OF
clerks, Guards and mechanics The
salary item would be increased from
S2i 500 to $46,480.
Extensive improvements would be
made to the old National Hotel at
Pennsylvania avenue and Sixth street
NV. pending provision of proposed
new armories Use of this property
has been authorized by Congress as
the site for the projected new central
library building.
The National Guard seeks an in
crease from $15,480 to $7S,800 for in
cidental expenses. Part of this sum
would be spent to recondition the Ma
tional Hotel. a building 125 years old,
to replace plumbing, repair walls, re-
place flooring and provide new furni-
ture. Officials said the present struc-
ture presented fire hazard.
inspection Held Vital.
In asking provision Of % additional
engineers and inspectors for the De-
partment Of Inspection, Capt. Hugh
p. Dram, its director. said demands
on the division had increased due to
increased use of -condition;no
among other things, and that there
were scores of cases which should
be inspected for protection of life and
health which must go without inspec-
tion." He added that there was a
very considerable" number of new
installations of refrigeration equip
nent which are made without permit
or inspection and that the department
now is "powerless to check this dan
gerous practice"
Three additional inspectors would
be assigned to plumbing inspection.
three new engineers and four inspec-
tors would be assigned to building
plans and inspections, three additional
inspectors would be detailed to the
smoke and boiler inspection service
and three engineers and three inspec-
tors would he detailed tn electrical