Evening star., 1940-03-20
District Bill
ToProvide
SnowMachiinery
House Subcommittee
Also Plans FuII-Time
Doctor at Aged Home
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Funds for the purchase of modern
snow removal equipment and to
correct some of the most "glaring"
OF unfavorable conditions at the
Home for the Aged and Infirm at
Blue Plains are to be provided in
the l941 District appropriation bill.
These revelations were made to-
day as the House subcommittee in
charge of the bill put it in final
shape for consideration of the House
next Tuesday.
1t also was disclosed the subcom-
mittee had decided to reduce the
Budget Bureau recommendations
for the coming fiscal year by at
least $1,000000. The Budget Bu-
reau had approved appropriations
totaling about SAC, 100000.
Deficit Seen Shaping.
The cuts were made, it was said,
to prevent the District from run
ming into serious revenue deficit
IN the new fiscal year, which begins
July /. Information had been given
the subcommittee, it was explained,
that on the basis of the $49, 300, 900
budget the District would go into
the red in the coming fiscal year
to the extent of $1,8OO,OOO.
THE BILL said Representative
Caldwell Democrat, of Florida,
chairman of the subcommittee, will
come as near to meeting the needs
OF the District as the revenue that
Will be available to support the ap-
propriations
He indicated the major changes
made in the Budget Bureau esti-
mates were warranted by chang
Ing conditions since the budget was
prepared"
Provides Full-Time Doctor.
AS forecast in The Star last Sun
day, the subcommittee has added to
the bill appropriations to provide
Tor a doctor who will devote his
full time to the more than 700
patients at the Home for the Aged
and Inflrm and for two additional
nurses. In addition, the subcom-
mittee decided at the last moment.
1t was said, to give the institution
nVe more attendants. 1t is under
stood, however, the bill will not
contain funds for any physical i'm
provements at the home.
Mrs. Roosevelt on her recent sur
prise visit to the home criticized
physical conditions she observed as
well as those she found at the
Chlldren's Receiving Home on Po-
tomac avenue Sc. The Public
Health Subcommittee of the Dis
trlct Legislative Committee of the
House, which subsequently made an
investigation of both institutions,
recommended Improvements in the
physical conditions.
Repairs in Prospect.
The Appropriations Subcommit-
tee, however, it was said, was un-
able to allocate sufficient funds to
either institution to carry out the
recommendations. There will be an
increase in the item for repairs at
the Chlldrens Receiving Home, it
was said, and to relieve overcrowding
at this institution it will recon-
mend the transfer of delinquent in
mates to foster homes.
Funds also will be carried in the
bill, it was indicated, to finance a
special study of the electric power
needs at the District Reformatory
at Lorton, Va, and the Workhouse
at Occoquan, Va. Electric service at
the two penal institutions is now fur
nished by the Virginia Public Service
Co. The subcommittee, it was ex-
planned, believes the institutions
could furnish their own power at a
lower cost with the use of genera
tors operated by Diesel engines.