Evening star., 1940-05-10
Senate Expected
To Pass District
Bill Monday
$1,405,623 Increase
In Measure O. KID
By Full Committee

By Full Committee
The Senate is expected to pass
without material change Monday
the 49,607 $40 District supply bill
for the next fiscal year, approved
by the Appropriations Committee
late yesterday.
The full committee accepted with
out q single change the recommen-
dations Of the subcommittee headed
by Chairman Overton, which added
81 ,405, ,623 to the House total, mainly
for schools, public welfare, health
and water supply improvement
On the basis Of consultation with
District officials, Senator Overton
expressed confidence that the in
creased total can be met without
increasing the real estate tax rate
for the year beginning July ! by
adopting the plan developed dur.
ing the hearings Of crediting to the
fiscal year 194l all of the income
taxes that will be collected dur
ing the calendar year 194l.
Although the bill was estimated
to create an $500 900 deficit when it
passed the House, Engineer Com
missioner McCoach testified In the
Senate hearing that was q deficit
"due entirely to the fact that Con-
gress authorized the deferred pay
ments Of part Of the income taxes
." He was referring to the
fact that under the new law per-
mitting semi-annual payment of In
come taxes q large part of this
revenue next year would not come
In until October, several months
after the close of the flscal year
being covered by this appropriation
bill.
$325.47o for Water Department.
1t was brought out that by credit
ing all of these taxes to the fiscal
year the Senate could increase sub
stantially the House total and still
have a balanced budget.
Out of the 81 ,405 ,623 of net in
crease, $325,470 is for the Water
Department and payable out of the
separate water fund, in which there
was no deficit problem. OF the re-
mainder chargeable to the general
fund, the $150.000 for starting the
food stamp plan for needy families
will be reimbursed to the city after
the plan gets under way, so that
only about $500 900 actually has
been added to the total charge
able to the general fund. Senator
Overton said he believes all of this
money can be kept in the bill with.
out raising real estate taxes under
the proposed method Of crediting
the income tax.
Public school needs were allotted
$427,5 Of the total Senate increase,
of which $3.50, 600 is to buy sites for
three large elementary schools to
be built later, under the Overton
plan of replacing antiquated, small
buildings.
Next came public welfare with an
aggregate increase of 1865 O45, the
bulk Of which was for the food
stamp plan, plus a $l00,0O0 increase
for administration of public relief.
Is More Police Authorized.
Police Department was given $48,-
090. mainly for adding Is patrol
men to the force. The Fire Depart
ment was given $l0,250 for a new
pumping engine, more hose and fuel.
The Health Department fund was
increased by $88, $50, q large part of
which Is for more nurses at CAL
linger Hospital.
Senator Overton was authorized
by the committee to offer from the
floor an amendment restoring the
Scott Circle underpass, for which
the District already has funds avail
able out Of gas tax money to build
as a Federal-aid highway project
If the authority to proceed is put
back in the bill.
Senator Overton paved the way
for erection of new Children's Re-
ceiving Home in 1912 by having in
cluded in this bill $3,675 to prepare
plans.
The full committee approved
without change the subcommittee
action In leaving recreation ac-
tivities under the present Joint con-
troll of the Board of Education and
the Commissioners, instead of trans
ferring the function entirely to the
school board. The Commissioners
were believed to be agreeable to the
House provision for Board of Edu-
cation control, but the National
Capital Parks Office urged that It
be given joint supervision with the
school authorities. Instead, the
Senate group went back to the
present arrangement.
School Oflcials Praised.
School officials were highly "grat-
ified" today over the treatment ac-
corded the school system.
Praising inclusion of funds for
plans for new Wilson Teachers
MI = =