Evening star., 1940-03-15
100000 DC.
Budget Slash
Indicated

Caldwell Points to
Deficit Danger as
Hearings Conclude
The House subcommittee in charge
Of the 194l District appropriation
bill may be forced to slash nearly
2,0o0,0 900 of recommendation ap-
proved by the Budget Bureau, to
keep the municipal government out
Of the red in the coming fiscal year,
it was indicated today by Chairman
Caldwell.
Information has been given the
subcommittee that the 194l budget
as approved by the Budget Bureau
might create a revenue deficit of at
least $1,800,00O. The bureau ap-
proved appropriations totaling about
$49, 300 900.
1--WE hope to keep the appropria-
tions within the money available"
said Representative Caldwell,
Florida Democrat, serving his first
term as chairman of the subcommit.
tee. I'VE have been told the Dis
trict would face budget deficit
of $1,800,000 in the coming fiscal
year on the basis of the estimates
approved by the Budget Bureau"
Mr.. Caldwell said the estimated
81 100000 shortage did not include
the possible loss in revenue result
ing from recent decision of the
United States Court of Appeals for
the District, Which has been con-
strued as meaning that persons
working in the city who pay taxes
in the States where they maintain
a legal residence may be exempt
from the local income tax.
Hearings Concluded.
The statement was made by Mr..
Caldwell as the subcommittee con.
cluded hearings shortly before pm.
yesterday on the 1941 District ap.
preparation bill. The hearings were
| started Monday. In past years
House subcommittee handling Dis
trict appropriation bills spent at
least two weeks considering budget
items and taking the testimony Of
heads of the various municipal de-
| partments.
Asked for his impressions" of the
District government, Mr.. Caldwell
said:
"On the whole I believe the Dis
trlct government is being operated
very well. There are some sore
spots and these are in the public
welfare institutions. But I believe
this situation might be corrected by
some changes in directional pol
icies."
Mr.. Caldwell said conditions in
the welfare institutions were due
primarily to the lack of manage
ment, not mismanagement." He did
not mention the institutions by
name.
The subcommittee earlier in the
day devoted special consideration
to the appropriation requests of the
Home for the Aged and Infirm, the
Receiving Home for Children and
the National Training School for
Girls-three institutions which Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt visited and
complained of conditions she OBJ
served.
No indication on Increased Funds.
The Public Health Subcommittee
of the House District Committee re-
Gently investigated conditions at
these and other public welfare in
stitutions and recommended in
creased appropriations to enlarge
the staff at each as well as TO i'm.
prove physical conditions. Mr.. Cald-
well, however, declined to indicate
whether the subcommittee would
provide increased funds in the ap-
preparation bill.
"The subcommittee will get to-
gether next week and 60 over all
these items before reaching a deci-
sion," he declared.
Mr.. Caldwell, however, did reveal
the subcommittee had been i'm
pressed by the plea of five crippled
children who made an appeal yes
terday that funds be provided so
the Board of Education could hire
teachers to be sent into their homes
to teach them the things normal
children learn in the public schools,
The chief witness for the children
was Miss Martha Geesling, % years
old, who lost both legs 13 years ago
IN an accident. She was wheeled
before the subcommittee on a mo-
bile cot to give her testimony.
The crippled witnesses were in
charge Of Mrs. Odetta O'Hara, pres
1dent OF the Association for Handi.
capped Children, who SAID only $22,.
400 is needed in the coming fiscal
year to employ teachers to visit the
homes and the hospitals of those
children unable to attend school.
Impressed by Need.
Mr.. Caldwell said after the chill
dren testified: II am convinced
there is serious need for the educa-
ton OF these shut-in children. But
where are we to get the money!"
The hearing was brought to q
close after 80 civic leaders had out
lined briefly to the subcommittee
certain projects and public improve
ments in which they are particularly
interested.
George E. Keneipp, manager Of
the Keystone Automobile Club of
Washington, Endorsed an item Of
$500 in the budget for traffic safety
education and urged appropriation
OF sufdcient funds for proper main
tenance of traffic lights.
washington motorists are to be
complimented for managing to
avoid serious accidents when the
Capitals traffic lights 60 berserk
as they did for two hours Christmas
night and as they so often have be-