Evening star., 1941-03-30
Two Vitul Needs


ties in the Anacostia -Benning area,
the Commissioners quite properly
are endeavoring to fulfill a commu-
nifty need which is both obvious and
pressing.
If the Appropriation requested
should be made available, the money
would be used primarily to provide
school facilities for thousands of
children who have been brought to
Washington more or less uneXpect-
edly as result of the great influx
of population incidental to the ma
tional defense program. For the
most part, these emergency school
requirements are over and above
what Superintendent of Schools
Ballou calls his accumulated needs"
needs which have been seriously
neglected in the past-and in view
CT this fact the urgency of the new
requests becomes all the more
evident
In submitting their recommended
ton to Chairman Taylor of the
House Appropriations Committee,
the Commissioners, pointing out that
no provision is made for this emer-
gency outlay in the current budget,
suggested four possible means Of
financing the new schools.
AS first suggestion, the Com
missioners proposed adoption by
Congress of the Overton formula,
which would add some $3,000,000 to
the Federal contribution toward the
expenses Of the National Capital
The Overton formula, which would
base the Federal contribution on
the ratio of Federal tax exempt acre
age to the total land area of the
District, after certain deductions,
offers a feasible method of meeting
the existing condition. At the same
time, however, it is necessary to keep
In mind the fact that the Overton
properly be considered, as a means
Of meeting an emergency condition.
On the contrary, it merely reaflrms
an obligation of the Federal Govern
ment, which has long been recog-
ntzed by Congress, and proposes
simple and equitable method Of
annually measuring this obligation.
The second proposal by the Com
rnissioners contemplates participa-
ton by the District in a fund of
S150,000,000 which the President has
asked Congress to provide for the
assistance of local communities in
meeting requirements created by the
national defense effort. This is a
somewhat uncertain prospect, as
there is no assurance that Congress
will appropriate the funds requested,
but If the money is made available
the District, with respect to its
emergency school needs, certainly
should share in it to the same extent
as any other community.
Thirdly, the Commissioners pro-
posed postponement of repayments
this year by the District of Public
Works Administration loans, and
deferment Of this years reimburse
ment for expenditures made under
the Capper- -Cramton Act. This
years payment on the P w. A. loan
balance of $9250,OO0 is $690OO0,
while the scheduled reimbursement
under the Capper- -Cramton Act, on
which a balance of $1,800,000 is
owing, is 100000. Thus, postpone
ment Of these two items would make
available 100000 for schools This
proposal has the disadvantage, how
ever, of placing on the District the
entire burden of financing a need
arising from national emergency.
AS a fourth possibility, the Com
missioners proposed postponement of
construction of the new central pub
lie library, already authorized and
partly appropriated for. In making
this fourth suggestion as "last
resort" the Commissioners said it
has the disadvantage of postpon-
Ing an improvement already found
necessary and appropriated for by
the Congress" This qualification of
the Commissioners fourth proposal
does not fully suggest the public
injury inflicted if recourse is had to
the fourth suggestion.
In 1888 Congress appropriated $780,
900 for the preparation of plans and
specifications for the new library
building to be constructed on Penn
sylvania avenue between Sixth street
and John Marshall place. In 1910
Congress authorized 81, ,118,000 for the
first of four units, and appropriated
S35O000 toward the cost of conStruc-
ton. The 1941 bill carried an addi-
tional appropriation of 100000,
bringing the total of funds already
appropriated for the first unit to
s550,000. The estimates for 1912 in
clude an item of $450,000 for the
first unit, so that, when the Commis-
sioners speak of securing S1,000,00
for the new schools by pOStpOning