Evening star., 1943-10-26
Simpler Budget
For D. {. FACING
Close Scrutiny
House Group Won't
Permit Any Loss
In Congress Power
BY DON S. WARREN.

Members of the House District APP
preparations Subcommittee said to-
day they would scrutinize carefully
the proposed shortened and simpli-
fled District budget, now being pre-
pared, to make sure Congress loses
none OF its present control over ap-
preparations, in view of objections to
the new plan voiced by Controller
General Lindsay C. Warren.
Both Chairman Mahon, Democrat,
OF Texas and Representative Stefan,
Republican, of Nebraska said they
saw advantages in simplifying the
form OF the District Appropriation
Act, that District officials would be
bound by the detailed justifications
supporting the budget act. but that
If serious difficulties should be found
the plan could be changed.
In a letter sent yesterday to the
Federal budget director and to
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee, Controller Gen.
eral Warren expressed fears the
auditing and accounting problems
would be multiplied and the control
now exercised by Congress would, to
some extent, be lost.
Would Consolidate Items.
The plan for consolidating a num-
Der of items listed in the District
budget under one heading, as to
salary appropriations, was developed,
1t was said, during conferences be-
tween District officials and the
Budget Bureau. There would be in
the budget proposals for the next
fiscal year single appropriation for
the District executive offices, in
| Guiding those of the Commissioners,
the Commissioners secretary. the
District budget officer, the purchas-
ing officer, the assessor. the Board OF
Tax Appeals. the collector, auditor
and corporation counsel.
Chairman Mahon said District
officials had discussed the plan with
him and his committee some time
ago. and he added the group was
willing to experiment with it. He
said the simplified form would give
simpler picture of the budget as
whole, but that if any one wanted
to know the exact details they could
be found in the justification state
mentS. He said the Commissioners
would be bound by such justifca-
tions.
Mr.. Warren assumed the Commits
sioners had in mind the appoint-
ment of an executive officer who
would allocate funds between the
various affected divisions, but it was
explained at the District Building
the ALLEGATIONS would be made only
by the Commissioners and in keep
ing with the details of the appro-
priation estimates and details.
Fears Some Features.
Controller General Warren said In
his letter that while it is not the
function of his Office to pass upon
or approve budget estimates. there
were certain features of the proposed
consolidation which he believed were
not in the best interests" of the
District. Mr.. Warren added: Sim
ollflcation OF appropriations is always
desirable provided the interests Of
the public and the control of Con-
gress are not sacrificed as a result
thereof
"A close examination and analysis
of the proposed budget discloses that
the functions Of several of the offices
created as separate and distinct
organizations for the purpose of ade-
quately safeguarding the interests Of
the public and the District govern
ment would be placed under the di-
rection of one official presumably
an executive officer. who in turn
would be accountable to the Com
miSSioners.
! While it Is presumed that the
said executive officer would be I'M
partially interested in the proper
performance of each of the officers
under his direction and that he
likewise would be concerned as to
the creditable performance of each
organization, there would remain
the possibility the officials in charge
OF the respective Offices concerned
may be hampered in the Zee exer-
else of their functions at the dis
cretion of the official who exer-
cises control over the funds ap-
propriated.
For the sake of illustration, as
sumo that the auditor, in the normal
pursuit OF his duties, discovered Ger
tain irregularities with respect to
purchases that might have been
made at the discretion of the execu-
tive officer. in which case it is en-
tirely possible that the auditor would
be discouraged from taking correc-
tive action by reason of. his subordi-
nate position"
|