Evening star., 1939-06-05
A Good Bill

a 0Ood Bill
The Senate Subcommittee on Dis
trict Appropriations gave evidence of
a clear understanding of Washing
tons needs in selecting the items
that make up the So ,6O7,77S added to
the House total for the coming fiscal
year.
Nearly all of this money is allotted
to education, to care of the unfortu-
nate through the Board of Public
Welfare, and to police, fire and
health protection. Without detract-
Ing from the value of other municipal
functions to city life, few will deny
that these are of major Importance.
Most of the school Increase
$859,55O-is to make a start on the
replacement Of small, eight-room
buildings, in use nearly half CEN
tury, or more A visit to some of
these schools convinced several Sub
committee members that they are a
disgrace to the Nations Capital
There is an opportunity for real
economy in starting this replacement
program, because the plan of the
Senate group is to erect in certain
neighborhoods one large, twenty
four-room structure, to take the place
of three of these small, old buildings.
As the program progresses, this will
reduce the number of school units
and give the community better re-
suits for the money spent on annual
maintenance.
OF the $912,S55 added for Public
Welfare, the greater part is to aid
the unemployed and to make better
provision for the children who are so
unfortunate as to become public
responsibility, through no fault of
their own In most cases. The Sub
committe was prompted to add $780,
600 to the relief fund after being
told that there are nearly 5000 en-
playable persons for whom w. P. A.
has no jobs available and who cannot
turn to local relief because the city
has had an appropriation sufficient
only for the unemployables.
The steady growth of Washington
more than justifies the fifty addi-
tional policemen now provided for,
an increase of twenty-five over the
House bill. The community also will
support the Senate Committee in
keeping the fire department up to
It's present strength by removing the
ban on filling vacancies.
In deciding to recommend that the
National Guard Armory be placed on
the site at the end of East Capitol
street, nearly all Of which the Gov
ernment now owns, instead of pur-
chasing new site in the Southwest
the Senate Committee wisely followed
the advice of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission and
other agencies created for the pur-
pose OF bringing about the best pos
sible development of the Nations
City. BY using this land, more money
will be available to start a building
that has been delayed far too long.
The Senate Subcommitte is to be
commended also for clarifying the
provision for starting the new Public
Library building in the Municipal
Center area, by coupling with the
first appropriation authority for the
Commissioners to enter into neces-
sary contracts up to the limit of cost.
OF greater Importance than any of
these specific changes, however, is
the recognition by the Senate Com
mittee that the local community
should not be required to meet these
growing needs from year to year,
with the Federal share remaining
stationary at $5,OO0OOO lump sum,
toward total outlay for the coming
year of $49, 9,522,9O Accordingly, the
Senate bill recommends a Federal
payment of $7,75O,OOO.
Under the guidance of Chairman
Overton, the Senate Subcommittee
developed convincing testimony of
the heavy burden the local commu-
nifty is now bearing on the $5,OOO,OOO
lump sum basis. 1t is to be hoped
that when the bill reaches confer
ence the House members will weigh
these facts in the light of the Dis
trict's present tax burden, which be-
comes heavier as the Government
steadily adds to its tax-exempt area
OF the city. AS desirable as the va
rious Senate increases are, it is diff
cult to see how the local community
could finance them out of current
revenues in the coming year with
out some adjustment in the Federal
share.
\A/L c,.L.l.x.