Evening star., 1941-01-08
BY JAMES Z. CHM.

of the Budget Bureau 10 years ago,
the President today sent to Con-
gress a chart for expenditure Of
District funds which represented al
most entirely the recommendations
of the Commissioners, without any
major changes by the Budget Bu-
reau.
The 1912 budget calls for a total
appropriation of S51,765,236 This
is an increase of S2,785611 over the
amount in the 1941 District Appro-
priation Act and $4,000 more than
asked by the Commissioners.
1t is a balanced budget and en-
tails no increase in taxes The
budget, as usual is prediCated upon
a Federal payment of S6,OOO0OO
The boost in the budget reflects
chiefly funds allocated for public
mprovements-stre schools. well
fare facilities. water plant expansion
and several major projects to relieve
traffic congestion. The capital out
lay proposed totals s1O6O4 208, an in
crease of nearly S2000000 over the
NSAA ANAAI app 4OP4 4d NAO4A'
First Product of New Plan.
This years budget is the first
product of the recently announced
new policy of the Budget Bureau
under which it promised to give the
Commissioners a free hand Will
District estimates, except in cases
dealing with the Federal interest,
the total of the budget and capital
improvement items.
The only changes made by the
Budget Bureau in the original esti-
mates of the Commissioners were
those to which the city heads agreed
These alterations officials said, were
minor in character and in amounts
involved.
In view of the national emergency
the budget makes provision to pro-
tect the water system of the Dis
trict by calling for funds to prevent
disruption Of the supply and dis
tribution. Protective fencing will
be erected around vital spots and
provision is made for an emergency
supply of water from the c. g. o.
Canal.
New Projects Listed.
The new budget provides funds
for the long sought new and mod
ern Receiving Home for Children,
for purchase Of site in suburban
Virginia or Maryland for housing
four welfare institutions. for estab-
lishment of the food stamp plan
for the Districts needy and for 25
more policemen.
The latest five-year school build
ing program foStered by the Board
OF Education was given another Sc
rious setback by the Commission
erS and the Budget Bureau. The
public schools would receive nearly
S500,000 more than was appropri-
ated for this year, but the total rec
commended, S13 3,227, 900. was far less
than had been asked by school au-
thorities.
The budget calls for construction
of new colored senior high school
at TWenty-fourth street and Ben
ming road NE, for a new Abbott
Vocational School to be located in
Brentwood Park and for an ele-
mentary school in the vicinity of
Minnesota avenue and Ely place
Sc. In addition there are funds
for continuing or completion of
several other school projects. Funds
were not provided for a new teach
ers' college at Thirteenth and Up
shur streets NV.
Highway Plans Extensive.
An extensive program of highway
Improvements is contemplated in
the budget, including a major grade
separation structure at Fourteenth
street and Maine avenue S.W., as
well as funds for an engineering
study of proposed bridge or tun-
mel for the AnacoStia River on the
line OF South Capitol street.
Further extension of the use of
the District gasoline tax fund is
proposed. In addition to the pur-
poses for which the fund now is
used, it would be drawn upon to
finance the upkeep of roads in the
public parks as well as to pay
portions of the costs of various
municipal agencies that give service
to the Highway Department. Ac-
cording to District officials this
would not constitute diversion" of
the gasoline tax funds which would
deprive the District of its annual
Federal road aid grants.
S45O,O0O More for Library.
The budget provides funds for
purchase of six new pieces of fire.
fighting apparatus and a new fire
boat and S450,000 for continuing
construction of the new Central
Library Building in the municipal
center area.
Funds also are provided to start
(See D. c. BUDGET, Page A-4