Evening star., 1941-11-07
By DON S. WARREN.


outlay of s55133147 to finance Dis
trict government operations and I'M
provements in the fiscal year TO
begin next July 1.-The greatest IN
the history of the Capital-was for
Warded to the Budget Bureau tooay
by the Commissioners.
This sum is nearly 81 900 900 above
current appropriations, but this dill
ference probably will be lessened by
anticipated congressional approval
of supplemental and deficiency re-
quests for extra funds which would
be added to this years accounts.
The total was held down to the
record S55000000 level only after
the city heads had slashed nearly
$40 900 900 from the original request
of their department executives.
To Retain Tax Rate.
Despite the substantial boost over
this years costs. as already ap-
proved. il was made clear that the
proposed 1943 budget would not en-
tail anv increase in the present real
estate tax rate of sl75 per SlOO OF
value. or in other levles The Fed
eral payment toward District ex-
penses was restated at S6,0OOOOO,
this issue. as CUSTOMARY, being left
for determination by Congress.
School. welfare and park improve
ment programs as outlined oy oe-
partment executives as well as In
creased funds sought by the Health
Department. were drastically slashed
by the city heads to get the total
within a figure not calling for tax
, increase.
While the Commissioners did not
so state, the limited amount OF IN
formation they made public as 10
their 1943 budget proposals, in
dicated they had rejected the sue-
/ gestion by Water Department off,
cials for a very considerable increase
/ in water rents as means OF flnanc-
| ing proposed extraordinary OUTLAWS
| to enable the water service TO keep
pace with the Capitals extraordinary
increase in population.
Highway Fund Reduced.
/ Also it was noted the Commis-
/ sioners propose a decrease rather
| than an increase in expenditures
under the highway fund. Their plan
! calls for an outlay next fiscal year
| of S5,845 ,063, a decrease of 1865 ,04l
from this year S presently approved
expenditures. However. it was re-
called there is now pending before
Congress the Whitehurst survey re-
port proposing expenditure over
period of years of more than $4,000
900 for highway and bridge improve
ments, and a suggested l or 2 cent
increase in the District gasoline tax.
If the Districts gas tax is boosted,
the Commissioners later will seek
more funds to carry some of the
suggested Improvements into the
construction stage during the next
fiscal year.
One of the outstanding items in
the Commissioners budget is the
proposed employment of 1875 addi-
tional policemen to enable the Met
ropolitan police TO meet more ade-
quately the increasing problems
caused to a large degree by Wash
ington's sudden mushroom growth
of population. This would raise the
presently authorized strength of the
department from 1916 TO I'LL. The
additional men would be 185 pri-
Yates. four heutenants and six SER
geants.
1t was understood that this pro-
gram for enlarging the police force
was drafted and sent to the Budget
Bureau without, for the moment,
consideration of the separate ques-
ton before Congress for the imme-
diate employment of 100 additional
policemen. Assuming that this sep
arate bill is finally approved. 1t was
expected Congress will be asked To
determine whether these extra 100
men should be absocbed in the
larger increase asked by the Com
missioners for the next fiscal year
s14,333,6O for Schools.
School authorities had requested
an outlay for the next fiscal year of
nearly $4,000 900. which would have
represented an increase of $3.50
900 over this years appropriation.
The Commissioners reduced this re-
Continued on Page A-2, Column s.