Evening star., 1939-03-08
Interior Bill Lists
$10,642,000 for
DC. Institutions
$160, SIS, ,905 Estimote
$4,000, 900 Above '39
Appropriation

OCPoA eAACAC dPP1OpIAdtlOH Ul4 re-
ported to the House today which
carries a total of $3.50, SIS, ,9O5 %.
This is reduction of $6,254, 1873
from the budget estimate, but is
an increase of nearly $4,000, 900
over the 1899 appropriation.
Estimates for projects totaling
$3,125 ,038 were not allowed. These
included $2,500,00O for air condi-
tioning of five Federal buildings in
the District, $680,OOO for construc-
ton of continuous treatment build
ings at st. Elizabeth's Hospital un-
der Public Works estimates, and
$35,038 for maintenance in 1910 Of
the new $3,500,000 Census Building,
funds for which are included in
the deficiency appropriation bill on
which the two Houses of Congress
are still in disagreement.
The five buildings and the
amounts sought for each for air
conditioning are as follows: Part
of the Internal Revenue Building,
$760, 900; the entire State Depart
ment Building. $785 900; the entire
Civil Service Commission Building,
SAC, 900; the center wing of the
Agriculture Administration Build
ing. $265. 900, and the entire Tariff
Commission Building, $250,0O0.
Major District Items.
The major items included for
District institutions are 1880, 1862
for structures under public build
ings and grounds in the District,
which include the Washington
Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Lin
coin House, Lincoln Museum, Co.
lumbia Fountain and District Of
Columbia War Memorial, for st.
Elizabeths Hospital, $1,227 ,280; for
Howard University, $745,000; for
Freedmen's Hospital, s480,820; for
Columbia Institution for Deaf, $780,
$50; for repairs and Improvements
on the Arlington Memorial Bridge,
$67 $500. and for lighting of Mount
Vernon boulevard. $4,000.
Regarding the air conditioning Of
the five Federal buildings, Chair
man Taylor Of the Appropriations
Committee said the expense of in
stallation is great and the plan was
considered economically unsound to
proceed at this time.
In the recommendation for $685.
200 for the National Capital Parks.
there is an increase of $36 5000 in
current appropriations and $4,000
more than the budget estimate. The
Appropriations Committee approved
the proposal of the budget, which
provides $67 500 for repairs to the
road. walks and balustrade of the
Arlington Memorial Bridge. The
committee added to the estimate of
5000 an additional $4,000 for the
lighting of the Mount Vernon boule-
ward on a l2-month basis. The
budget estimate for the lighting
would have permitted the lighting
as far as the city of Alexandria
during the period from July l to
February, 1910.
st. Elizabeth's Item.
The item of $l,227 ,280 for sup
port and administration of ST. Eiz-
abeth's Hospital is $44,68O more
than current appropriations and
$24,440 less than the budget pro-
posal. Testimony at the committee
hearings showed an increase of 218
patients estimated for the fiscal
year 1910. An increase of Ill in
personnel is provided in the esti-
mate. on basis of better than one
new employe for every two patients.
Last year the superintendent of
the hospital advised the committee
that one employe for every 34 pa
tients was very good ratio and
during hearings on the present bill
agreed that this ratio is reasonable
On this basis the committee de-
cided upon a Is per cent decrease
in the estimate for new personnel
The reduction eliminates 13 new
positions with total salaries of
$24,44O.
During discussion of the estimate
| of $680,00O for construction of two
new continuous-tr treatment buildings,
the committee was advised that the
institution has virtually reached the
saturation point in so far as new
construction was concerned and that
the Budget Bureau had been re-
quested to submit an estimate for
the purchase of 5000 acres of land
within 20 miles of Washington to be
used for the construction of quarters
for 400 patients. The committee de-
cided that the construction of two
new buildings on the present hos
pital site would be unsound and de-
ferred the item until the new site
is acquired.
A Federal contribution Of $780,
$50 for the maintenance of the Co.
lumbia Institution for the Deaf pro-
vides $11 900 for the continuation of
improvements to the power, heating
and lighting systems.
Howard May Get Boost.
The item Of $745 900 for Howard
University is the same as the budget
recommendation, but $22, 1000 in ex-
cess OF current appropriations. The
committee found that the most ur-
gent need at Howard is for addi-
tional personnel, particularly in the
School Of Medicine, the Graduate
School and the College and the
School Of Law. So the committee
transferred $4,000 from the gen
eral expense appropriation to these
salary items. This transfer will leave
5000 in the general expense item
above current appropriations for the
purchase of books and will help to
strengthen the teaching staff.
For Freedmen's Hospital the bill
provides $480,820 for salaries, SUBJ
sistence and other expenses. This is
$30,740 in excess Of current appro-
priations, but $3.50 less than the
budget recommendation. Eighteen
additional nurses are provided for,
instead Of %, as proposed by the
budget. An increase is also allowed
of two Junior clerk-typists at $1,44O,
| instead of four as recommended