Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-06
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON, Jr.

by JOHN w. lHONIfSON, JT.
The District public schools receive
$1,000 SOC under 1910 District ap-
preparation bill reported to the House
today by subcommittee of the APP
propria tons Committee. headed by
Representative Ross Collins of Mis-
SlsSlppl.
This is nearly a quarter of a mil
lion dollars more than the 1889
appropriation, but sl74,124 less than
the estimates approved by the
Budget Bureau. The bulk of the
slash is from the salary item for
administrators. clerks, teachers and
librarians for new positions.
Features of the bill as they affect
the school include the following:
l. Consolidation of the Department
of Fairgrounds with the schools,
thus raising the Community Center
Department allotment from $l34 900
to s287 800.
2. A slash of S25. 1000 in the fuel,
heat and light item to a $1,000
total as in the present budget and
the identical legislative rider that
the sum must be apportioned so that
no deficiency will occur.
New Abbott Vocational School.
3. Plans for a new Abbott Voca-
tional School at Thirteenth and
Upshur streets NV. $4,000
4. Approval of the entire building
and land purchase estimates of ST.
100000, except plans for new Will
son Teachers College.
S. A slash of SIS 900 from the esti-
mates for repairs to buildings and
grounds where the estimate was al
ready $4,000 lower than the present
appropriation.
s. Retention of the legislative
riders opposed by the schools, pro-
viding that the average salaries of
school librarians shall not exceed
that of public librarians doing the
same type of work. and that in the
case Of teaching vacancy it be
filled by teacher of special subjects.
7. Reduction of $1,000 in the
amount for transportation of Grip
pied children sought by the Board
of Education. The present $4,000
is recommended.
In connection with the fuel and
light appropriation, the committee
explained that similar amount was
appropriated for this year and that
despite the request of the schools
for a supplementary appropriation,
responsible officials indicated that
the appropriation is adequate for
this year. The committee, therefore
felt that a similar amount would be
adequate for next year.
Sees Spur to Efficiency.
I'm the opinion of the committee -
the report accompanying the bill de-
clares, more efficient services on the
part of the custodial personnel and
more effective supervision and better
training of such personnel would
result in material economies in the
operation of the public schools"
Testimony by Assistant Supt. Jere
]. Crane before the committee in.
Dictated that no particular hardships
were worked on the children or Com.
munity Center Department by the
cut this year. Reports of children
resorting to matches to see in dark.
ened corridors occurred only in one
instance. to his knowledge. Mr.. Crane
said. and that was in a test of what
lights would be needed at high
school.
Consolidation of the Playground
Department with the Community
Center Department is dealt with in
detail elsewhere.
Plans for a new Abbott Vocational
School came as pleasant surprise
to school officials as this item was
not in the budget when it reached
the committee. The school is now
housed in the old Central High