Evening star., 1943-09-03

wen advised by the trustees and
Mis- Clara Herbert, librarian, of
the Free Public Library. For this
purpose an appropriation of $780,
600 is sought.
Holice Department estimates, re-
leaied last night, call for an outlay
of %, 4,769, 185 and outline plans for
Strengthening this protection serv-
ice without requesting additional
meh. 1t was reported the depart
meht now has 201 vacancies in the
present. authorized uniformed force,
due mostly to the manpower Short
age and the induction of hundreds
of police into the military and ma
val services.
Tor the Fire Department there is
iequest for $2,814,927 for next year,
Including provision of $105, 800 for
pui ichase of nine pieces of fire ap-
paiatus to replace three pumping
ensines, three hose wagons and
thee aerial trucks which are be-
twten is and 10 years old
Importance of Sites.
Tt is important that progress be
made in the provision of branch Ii
brries to serve large established
sedions of the CITY," library officials
declared. THE next sections on the
trustees program are Cleveland
Park, Brookland and Pleasant
Plains. Due to the rapid growth
of the city, sites strategically To-
Gated are becoming increasingly
scarce and costly, making early ac-
qulsition of sites urgent.
The Congress Heights site is pro-
posed in conjunction with a school
development. Moreover, if sites are
available, it is possible that build
ings could be provided through the
postwar building program"
For all purposes an outlay of
$872,797 is requested for next year,
including about $85, 900 for the leg
islated overtime and salary increase
payments This years total library
appropriation of s642,621 is to be
increased by deficiency funds to
cover similar extra pay obligations.
Book Fund Decrease.
An increase of $40, 900 is requested
for the book fund, to bring the total
for next year to $4,000. This would
raise the per capita library book cost
from rs cents to 10 cents, still less
than the 11-cent standard for Ii
braries In cities of more than 200, 900
population.
Library officials reported the fund
for purchase of books and period
icals had lost ground In recent years,
even in comparison with the 1881
1888 depression years. Illustrating
the need for larger fund, officials
said that since 1881 the population
served has increased AZ per cent,
the number of registered borrowers
has more than doubled. and the
number of agencies to be supplied
with books has increased SIS per cent
In addition. the cost bf books is ris-
Ing.
For book binding the library seeks
k30. 900, an increase of $4,000 over
this year, in a plan 10 clear lip ar
rearages that have been piiing up in
this work.
Additional Employees.
Six additional employees are re-
quested One of these would be a
division chief to take charge of all
extension work witn handicapped
children, except that conducted
through the regular schools. The
expanded program would be carried
on in hospitals, especially among
heart, crippled and tubercular pa
tients, with follow-up at home
during convalescence; in special
schools for delinquent and subnor-
NAL children, deaf and dumb and
sight-conservation with the Braille
committee, Americanization school,
summer camps for under-privileged
children, orphanages and summer
recreation centerS.
The demands of the war situation
led to the opening of a War Reading
Room to take care of inquiries and
to act as an official information
center for the District Civilian De-
fense. One extra reference librarian
is requested for this work to permit
the chief of the Washingtoniana di-
vision, Temporarily assigned to the
War Reading Room, to return to
work on Washingtcniana. Another
of the new positions requested would
be for the Southeastern branch, to
meet heavy demands from employees
of the Navy Yard and teachers and
students in the area.
New Police Program.
The budget proposals of Police
Chief Edward u Kelly indicate a
suggested increase of S532 ,240 over
present appropriations but much of
this increase is due to pay boost
legislation.
One feature OF the new program
Is creation of the grade of corporal
between private and sergeant) to
provide an Officer In charge of pri-
Yates when the sergeant is else
where. The Commissioners last year
approved similar request but the
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