Evening star., 1938-02-10
SCHOOL OFFICIALS
AND ROADS GROUP
BEFORE SENATORS
Subcommittee Informed of
Views on House Cut of
$685. 900.
PROSPECT OF GAS TAX
DIVERSION IS WEIGHED
Thomas Indicates What Might Be
Done If Construction Is
Delayed.
BY ]. A. OLEARY.

Public school officials were heard
briefly today by the Senate subcom-
mittee handling the 1899 District ap-
preparation bill on House reductions
IN budget estimates amounting to
$636,000. They will not complete
their testimony until the subcommit-
tee reconvenes tomorrow.
Highway officials also were heard
today on plans for underpasses and
other construction work to aid traffic
conditions
Chairman Thomas of Oklahoma in
timated later he is considering the
advisabili,y Of postponing some Of
these highway improvements for an
other year and applying highway
funds not only to the cost of street
lighting. but possibly to other general
fund purposes that would reduce the
need for new taxes.
AS the bill now stands there Is
enough money in the highway fund
to pay for street lighting, even after
building proposed traffic underpasses
at Dupont and Thomas Circles and
an elevated highway on K street near
the Rock Creek and Potomac Park
way.
Law on Gas Tax Fees.
Substantive law requires that gas
tax money and fees from automobile
permits be used only for highway
work, operating the Motor Vehicle
Department and for Is per cent Of the
police pay roll for men assigned to
traffic control. Senator Thomas in
dicated, however, he believes that
action could be taken in the appropria-
ton bill to apply highway funds to
other purposes for the time being if
bridges and underpasses are post
poned II the rules relating to legisla-
ton on an appropriation bill should
prevent this, however, elimination Of
bridge and underpass Improvements
would leave an idle balance in the
highway fund.
The House sliced s242,585 from the
school fund for furnishing and equip
ping buildings, sl94.4l6 from the ap-
preparation for employment Of teach
ers and made a variety of smaller
reductions.
The subcommittee may finish hear
ing city officials this afternoon, after
which civic organizations will be
heard. Hearings are not expected to
be completed until next week.
While no decisions will be reached
until the hearings close, Chairman
Thomas emphasized again that his aim
will be to avoid increases wherever pos
sible. and intimated he might recon-
mend elimination of some items not
recommended by the Budget, but ap-
proved in the House.
Would Defer Secondary Needs.
The Oklahoma Senator takes the
position that under ordinary condi-
tions a much larger amount than the
House total of s45, ,o76,522 in the House
bill could be spent on desirable pro-
jects. but that projects not imperative
should be postponed in view Of ece-
nomic conditions and the need for new
taxes to cover items added to the gen.
eral fund portion of the bill at this
time.
Regarding unemployment relief,
which the subcommittee discussed
briefly with Public Welfare officials
yesterday. Senator Thomas indicated
he would be inclined to 60 along with
the wishes of the citizens as to
whether the House amount of 100000
should be increased The sentiment Of
the community will be developed when
civic organizations are heard within
a few days.
At the same time, the Oklahoma
Senator let 1t be known he is against
raising the monthly allowance to
any one family above SIS.
The National Training School for
Girls and the Children's Receiving
Home, both of which were eliminated
in the House bill, should be kept in
operation, in the opinion of Senator
Thomas. The House proposed that
inmates Of the training school be cared
for at Lorton Reformatory and that
children quartered temporarily at the
receiving home be sent to the House
Of Detention.