Evening star., 1940-04-10
Budget Bureau
Sanction Given
School Plan
Unit Also Fuvors
Programs for All
Improvement Needs
BY DON s. WARREN.

BY DON B. WARREN.
Budget Bureau sanction was given
today, in general terms, to the pro-
posal Of the Commissioners that
they be authorized by Congress to
prepare q five-year program for re-
placement Of small and antiquated
school buildings.
The bureau also favored prepara-
tion Of programs for all District i'm
provement needs. The Commis-
sioners' school program idea proba-
bly, will be broadened to include
these other needs, since the city
heads themselves had suggested the
advisability Of the broader plan.
The action was taken on q pro-
posed report to Congress by the
Commissioners on the comprehen-
sive survey Of needs for replacing
the outmoded school structures,
which was made at the direction
Of House and Senate conferees at
the last regular session Of Con-
gress when agreement was reached
on the then pending District supply
bill. The survey was called for as .
result Of the fight made by Chair
man Overton of the Senate District
Appropriations Subcommittee.
Budget Bureau Notice.
The Budget Bureau notice, signed
by Assistant Director John B. Bland
ford, jr., said:
Il believe that a five-year con-
struction plan comprehending the
needs of the entire District govern
ment and revisable every year or
two would be a forward looking step
toward developing each year q prop
erly balanced fiscal program. Such
plan could serve as a guide in the
preparation of the annual estimates
Of appropriations, whether or not
specific legislative authorization is
obtained.
I'm reply to Acting President
George E) Aliens letter of March
%, 1910, you are advised that, while
there would be no objection to the
submission Of the aforementioned
report to the Congress, neither
would there be any objection to the
submission of q report covering a
complete five-year school building
program or, as indicated above, q
report covering five-year con-
struction program to meet all Dis
trict needs.
ut would be understood, of course,
that this advice would involve no
budget commitment with respect to
individual items in such a program
or toe4kes submission Of estimates
of APPROPRIATIONS therefor"
Additional Structures Suggested.
Mr.. Blandford had noted that the
Commissioners proposed report to
Congress dealt only with replace
ment of certain obsolete buildings
and did not take into consideration
future requirements for new school
buildings.
1T Is felt that a well-rounded
school construction program should
include such additional structures
as the needs for the school popula-
ton might require and as available
funds would permit" said Mr..
Blandford.
The survey report, made by q
committee INCLUDING Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner John L. Per-
son. Auditor Daniel j. Donovan and
School Supt. Frank w. Ballou,
recommended construction Of IA new
District school buildings to replace
"a small and antiquated structures,
some Of which have been in use
70 years. The cost was estimated
at $7,8S9,0 and, recognizing that
this sum was huge as q one-year
program, the committee suggested,
and the Commissioners agreed. that
1t should be extended over q period
Of five or more years.