Evening star., 1943-03-14
House Group 10 0per
Hearings tuesday
On District Budget
Will Stort With Review
Of Overall Financial
Situation Here
Rx JAMES Z. CHINN.

A House subcommittee on ap-
propriations will begin hearings or
the 1914 District budget Tuesday by
first reviewing an overall picture
Of the financial condition of the
municipal government, it was an.
nounced last night by Chairman
Mahon.
The Commissioners and Budget
Off1cer Walter Fowler, called as the
first witnesses, have been asked tc
bring the necessary financial data
Representative Mahon said he
wanted detailed information about
the general fund as we'll as the spe-
cial highway and water accounts.
The budget, as revised recently al
the request of President Roosevelt
calls for appropriations totaline
S55,009,698 This is a reduction OF
s334,966 under the original figure OF
SIS, 5,344 664
Cut Taken From Street Fund.
The entire cut was sliced out OF
street improvement and construc-
ton items in the highway fund
which already had been reduced
more than s3,00o,0O0 under appropri-
ations for the 1943 fiscal year ending
June 30. The President said the
changes were necessary ito meet
contingencies which have arisen
since the transmission of the budget
for the fiscal year 1914"
The corrected estimate Of highway
fund outlays for the new fiscal year
now stands at $2,446,4 ,489.
After cursory examination of the
budget, Chairman Mahon said he
found no controversial items" and
predicted that the hearings would
be short-lived.
Il see nothing ahead but rou-
tine procedure" he declared.
viii Follow Usual Practice.
The subcommittee, however, he
pointed out, will follow it's practice
of the last several years and make
unannounced visits to District in
stitutions If anything develops dur
ing the hearings to warrant such
trips.
Chairman Mahon has five new
members serving with him on the
subcommittee this year: Representa-
tives Coffee Of Washington, Gore of
Tennessee and Anderson of New
Mexico. Democrats, and Dworshak
Of Idaho and Jensen of Iowa, Re-
publicans Chairman Mahon and
Representative Stefan, Republican,
of Nebraska, have served on the sub
committee for several years.
Wartime economies and priority
restrictions have kept out of the
1914 budget many needed construc-
ton projects and improvements. As
result some of the money the
Commissioners had contemplated
spending on them-a sum of $6.500,-
O00-is earmarked for repayment of
Government loans.
Planned to Start Tomorrow.
Contemplated repayments include
$4,000, 900 on WPA loan. 81, 900 900
for repayment of blackout fund
loan from the Treasury. $1,000 900
for repayment to the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission
for loans under the Capper Cram
ton Act and s5oo0oo for repayment
Of an FWA loan for defense public
works and equipment.
The budget also pTpvides that the
Water Depaftner& invest $500 900
of its anticipated surplus in United
States securities to setup the nucleus
OF a reserve to finance future ex-
pansion of the water services.
Chairman Mahon originally had
planned to start the hearings to-
morrow but ordered a one-day post
ponement because Representative
Stefan, who he regards as his right
hand on District budget matters,
would not be able to take part. Mr..
Stefan long has taken a keen in
terest In District affairs.