Evening star., 1941-03-10

To adjust to the increased costs
the department, he said, was max
ing all possible reductions in ex-
penditures. Stocks are running out,
he said, but the department can't
afford to buy more. Repairs to
shops, incinerators and equipment
are being neglected in favor Of
releasing labor for collection serv-
ices.
But still the people keep pouring
in for Federal employment, many
OF them with their families. Con-
servative estimates set the popula-
ton increase since last April and
May, when defense activities began
to get under way, at $4,000. Civic
leaders are looking to Congress and
the Overton-Hunter formula for
the Federal share in District ex-
penses as a means of lifting at least
part of the load of the Federal
activities from the local residents.
The formula would compute the
share according to the ratio which
Federally owned land in the Dis
trict bears to the total District area.
1t is estimated this would now add
some S3,000,000 to the present
Sc 900 900 lump-sum payment.
More Trucks Used.
In the rapidly expanding Ana
costa area Mr.. Xanten said he had
been forced to add truck to each
service-aSh. trash and garbage
each of which must be supplied with
a driver and a three or four man
crew
For the first time a white wing
has had to be assigned to the area
which previously was serviced only
by occasional visits from a suburban
STRENGTHENING truck.
More men have had to be added
to the business district because the
department figured that area should
look clean even if the appearance
of other sections suffered. Since no
more men can be taken into the
service, it has meant just that-less
frequent cleaning of streets in other
areas.
The department, long suffering
from inadequate appropriations, had
already cut its collection service be-
fore the present emergency.
Decreases at a Minimum.
THE decreases in our service have
already reached minimum" said
Mr.. Xanten. I'VE have reduced to
what we fell is sanitary minimum
and we can't reduce any more"
Every additional person VINO comes
to Washington increases the ex-
pense of the department by 1925,
Mr.. Xanten said. This represents a
per capita increase of $1.52 for
refuse collection and disposal and
IA cents for street cleaning.
Every additional 1,500 homes in
habited by families represents an
increase of two and one-half trucks
and crews for refuse collection. The
cost of labor alone to man these
trucks is $500 per truck. g.,
Most pressing single need, said
Mr.. Xanten, is another incinerator
plant. The Commissioners included
in their budget request of Congress
$150,000 to start construction of a
new high-temperature plant.
Wants Plant Rushed.
Mr.. Xanten, however, said the
plant should be rushed to compile
ton and wants the entire $4,000
to complete it included in the 1912
appropriation. He pointed out that
the need for a new incinerator was
already recognized before the emer-
gency and now is more necessary
! than ever.
Discussing the entire budget for
the department requested by the
Commissioners, Mr.. Xanten said
the estimates submitted by his de-
partment were based on an expected
normal increase in population, rep
resenting, roughly, 8 per cent a year.
The increase allowed by the Com
missioners took into consideration
the proportionate increase for refuse
collection, but for the street-clean-
ing service simply allowed the de-
partment to put its per diem work.
ers on a 40-hour week and did not
allow for any additional workers.
The Refuse. Department had re-
quested 81 more men simply to
cover the normal increase in re-
quired service, Mr.. Xanten ex-
planned.
In July of last year Mr.. Xanten,
at the request of the Commissioners,
submitted his estimate of what a
$4,000 increase in population would