Evening star., 1939-05-20
Board Of Trade
Urges DC. Bill
Within Income
Fleming Suggests
General Fund Items
Of About $4,000, 900
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

With a petition before it from
the Board of Trade urging that the
1910 District budget be based on a
policy of living within income, the
Senate appropriations Subcommit-
tee IN charge of the measure stovo
In recess today for the week end.
Robert " Fleming, chairman OF
the boards Municipal Finance
Committee, testified it would be
wise ito hold the general fund
items to about 100000 in view
OF the legislative outlook" whicn
would mean restoring to the bill not
more than $250,000 of the S75O0OO
the House cut from budget est.-
mates.
Accordingly, the board limited its
proposed changes to list of school,
health and fire items that would
make a net addition of S218,35O.
The general fund total in the House
bill is $40,750,0O0. Of course wheu
highway and water requirements ars
included, the grand total of the
bill would be approximately SAT.
100000. But since those two de-
partments are financed separately
out of motor vehicle taxes ard
water rents, they do not enter into
the city's general tax problem.
Favors Overton Bill.
Mr.. Fleming, accompanied by the
boards new president, Lawrence E.
Williams, stressed the inadequacy OF
the Federal Governments present
5000, 900 lump-sum payment to-
ward District expenses, and ex-
pressed strong support of Senator
Overton'S bill, which would re-es-
tablish definite basis of fiscal re-
lations. The Overton bill would fix
the Federal share at the percentage
OF land area in the city required for
national purposes, which would
make the national payment for the
coming year 100000.
After pointing out, however, that
there has been no congressional ac-
ton thus far on either the Over
ton plan or on a revised local
tax structure, Mr.. Fleming added:
In the event neither of these
measures is favorably acted upon
we shall be able to support a SAL.
100000 general fund budget by con-
| tlnuing our present tax system dur.
ing the next fiscal year"
Proposes Conditions for Increase.
Previously he had emphasized it
would be unfair and unWise" to
| further increase taxes under the
present taxing system, because Of
the existing differential between
rates in this and other Jurisdictions.
If additional revenue through local
taxation is needed, he said, it must
come through revised and broad
ened tax structure. He pointed
| out the board has indorSed changes
IN the structure recommended by
the staff of the Joint Congressional
Committee on Internal Revenue
! Taxation.
The House cuts recommended for
restoration by the trade body are:
seven Junior high school clerks,
0,400; restore funds for So teach
ers, including occupational class
instructors, S93,400; repairs to
schools, $4,000; 35 public health
nurses, s57050; repairs to fire ap-
paratus, $4,000; fuel for Fire De.
partment, $500; salaries of fire.
men, $4,000, or a total of S238 $50.
The board suggested elimination Of
$4,000 for plans for the new Abb
bot Vocational School.
The Board of Trade strongly
supported the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission's
recommendation for placing the
new National Guard Armory at the
end of East Capitol street, as part
Of the Anacostia Park development.
Accordingly, they urged elimina-
ton of the House provision for
selection of site in the Southwest
section.
Mr.. Fleming expressed the
boards qualification that the vari-
GUS officials through whose hands
the 1910 budget has passed have
given close attention to effecting
economies.
Dispensary Funds Asked.
! Inc subcommittee also heard
Mrs. Frederick H. Brooke and Miss
Matte Gibson on the Children's
Hospital item. They were satis-
fled with the House amount, but
asked that $4,000 of it be avail
able for dispensary purposes.
H. B. Schreiber of the Traffic
Safety Council and Washington I.
Cleveland of the District of Co.
lumbia A. A. A. appeared in sup
port of the House item of $500
for traffic safety educational cam
paign. They presented a series
OF 81 charts emphasizing salient
facts about pedestrian fatalities.
Another witness yesterday after
noon was Howard E. Woodson, who
told of the need for a new build
ing for the Armstrong School, He
also urged the employment of COL
ored mechanics for repair work on
colored schools.
The subcommittee will reconvene
Monday, with Health Department
estimates listed for consideration.