Evening star., 1940-05-01
Brown Asks
Senate Unit for
More Police
Health Official Also
Heard as Hearing
Ends on Supply Bill
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

BY ]. A. OLEARY.
Need for additional policemen was
outlined to the Senate District Ap-
preparations Subcommittee today by
Maj, Ernest w. Brown, superin-
tendent of police, who was ques-
toned by subcommittee members as
to whether there is any lettering by
uniformed patrolmen.
Shortly before hearing on the 1941
supply bill ended at noon, Mai.
Brown Is understood to have told the
Senators that the department has a
good inspection system for finding
out whether uniformed men are
ptrolling their beats and that when
they are found not doing so they are
taken before the Police Trial Board.
The subcommittee also recalled
DR.. D. L. Seckinger of the Health
Department for last-minute testi-
mony as to the need for additional
funds for dental clinic personnel at
the Southwest health center and for
elevator equipment both there and
at one of the buildings of Gallinger
Hospital.
May Add $500, 900.
Chairman Overton, Democrat. of
Louisiana said the subcommittee
would meet Tuesday or Wednesday
OF next week to decide on changes
AS the subcommittee finished hear
Ing civic organizations late yester-
day, indications were it may con-
slider adding as much as $500, 900
to the House total of $48.276,717.
on the assumption this would be
possible if the Commissioners apply
to the Treasury for temporary ad-
vances of funds pending collection
Of the second half of 194l income
taxes. The authority to seek such
advances was granted by Congress
when it permitted semiannual pay
ment of these taxes.
In response to questions Mai.
Brown told the subcommittee he
recommended 100 more policemen
for the coming year. The Commits
Sioners cut the request to IS. but
the Budget Bureau and the House
eliminated the estimate entirely.
The Board of Trade yesterday sug-
gested Is men be provided.
The subcommittee was told the
present strength of the department
is 1922. Of which number 1876 are on
traffic duty. The subcommittee was
informed there are 200 patrolmen on
duty in each of the three periods.
Senator Overton made it clear he
Is not in favor of raising the bill
to point that would require the
Commissioners to increase the pres
ent SITS real estate rate, believing
that real property already is bearing
more than its proportionate share of
the total tax burden. Real estate
now produces about So per cent of
the city's general fund revenue.
Indicates Advances Useful.
The Louisiana Senator indicated.
however, he is in accord with the
view presented yesterday afternoon
by the Board of Trade that it is
possible to make some increase in
the House total and still keep the
local budget balanced by using the
authority given the Commissioners
until 1912 to obtain temporary ad-
vances from the Treasury in antici-
patton of income taxes that will
come in after the close of the next
fiscal year. The authority to obtain
such advances was given by Con-
gress last month, when it sanctioned
semi-annual payment of income
taxes.
Thus. while it was estimated that
there would be deficit at the end
Of the fiscal year, June 30, 1941,
under the House total, the recon-
mendation of the trade body for
some Senate additions was based on
the advisability of using the au-
thority to obtain temporary ad-
vances.
Senator Overton indicated he be-
Geves this could be done, at least
until the second half of next years
income taxes are due in October,
1941.
Would Work Toward Solution.
I'VE believe" said the Board of
Trade statement, that the amount
of money to come from second-half
income tax payments can be made
up over period Of several years on
the basis of the present tax struc-
ture. We also may have further
tax legislation from the next Con-
gress. Certainly through one of
these means we can soon arrive at
a point where continued borrowing
against second-half payments will
be unnecessary"
Senator Overton said he believes
the District needs more balanced
tax structure, and that he would like
to see enactment of the Pond re-
port, which recommended sales
tax coupled with an income levy on
large incomes only. He pointed out,
however, that neither the Appro-
priations Committee nor the Senate
can originate tax legislation. The
House, apparently, has sidetracked
local tax revision for this session
The Commissioners have asked
the Senate to restore approximately
1896, 400 of House cut in budget
estimates charpeable to the gen.