Evening star., 1942-02-15
Plan for Budget
Revision Is Studied;
Fowler Indorses Il
Mohon May Call PorIey
Of House Units on
District Finances

! At the suggestion OF Representa-
tive Stefan, Republican, Of Ne
braska, Chairman Mahon Of the
House Subcommittee on District
Appropriations said last night that,
if 1T seems desirable he will try to
arrange a conference with mem
bers of the Fiscal Affairs Subcom-
mittee of the District Committee to
revise the now obsolete" S55, ,000, 900
budget for the District for the fiscal
year beginning July l.
I'll admit" Mr.. Mahon declared,
that the war has changed the as
pect of the 1943 District of Columbia
budget"
Before taking any action, he said
he would consult with the District
Commissioners and with Budget Of
ficer Walter L. Fowler.
Meantime Mr. Fowler gave an
Endorsement of Representative
Stefan's proposal to newspapermen.
Il think some revision in the
budget may be necessary he said.
Idea Summarized.
Mr. Stefan made his recon-
mendation yesterday in a letter to
Mr.. Mahon. Briefly, it is his idea
that the two committees concerned
with District of Columbia approp-
riations get together with District
officials as soon as practicable and
bring the budget up to date before
hearings are held.
Framed last August, long before
the outbreak of tine war, the l943
budget. Mr.. Stefan said, leaves men,
bers of Congress and District Of
ficials cropping in the dark" Addi-
tional appropriations and perhaps
new taxes may be needed, he indi-
Gated, to carry the Municipal Gov
ernment through the new fiscal year.
In his conversation with news
papermen Mr.. Fowler said that
even though the budget might be
/ increased to provide some of Wash
! ingtons extra war time needs, he
did not know at this time whether
new tax legislation would be nee
eSsary.
That depends on what happens
to U.S." he declared.
Specifically, he mentioned two
sources of possible Federal aid to
the District-the Lanham housing
and the deficiency appropriation
bills, already passed by the House
and now pending in the Senate.
so Million in Lanham Bill.
The Lanham bill authorizes an
appropriation of s50,0O0,000 for de-
fense housing and additional public
works in the District and it's Metro
! politan Area. Approximately $10,-
100000 of this fund is expected to
be allocated for public works such
as additional school, water, highway
and sewer facilities and police and
fire protection.
The deficiency bill carries $780,
100000 for civilian defense through
out the Nation in which the Dis
trict undoubtedly will share, plus
about $400, 900 specifically earmarked
for an increase of 95 in the Metro
politan Police force and improve
ments at the Home for the Aged
and Inf1rm at Blue Plains.
Mr.. Fowler said such Federal as
sistance might avoid any necessity
for raising additional local tax rev.
enue in the coming fiscal year-a
goal to which he is looking be-
cause of the heavy increased bur-
den of Federal taxes on District
taxpayers.
"Mr. Stefan's suggestion for a
joint conference of the two sub
committees to 60 over the whole
problem of District finances in the
light of recent developments is a
good one" the budget officer de-
clared. II will be delighted to CO.
operate with him and the two
subcommittee. Such a conference
undoubtedly would result in the de-
velopment of a genuine picture Of
the financial situation of the Dis
trict, as it exists at present and
| what it NAV be in the future"