Evening star., 1943-01-11
District budqet
OF f$55,344,664
Asked for 1914
TotuI Sum Cut
$2,300,000 in
Late Revision
budget Stories on Pages AS,
A-6 and A-7.)

40 uUU A-f)
Last-minute slashing Of 81
800, 900 from the Commissioners
estimates for services and new
construction in a move to meet
higher salary and wage costs,
while still providing a tremen-
douSly increased debt repayment
to the United States, brings the
1914 District budget down to
SIS, ,344, 1854, it was revealed today
when President Roosevelt laid
the document before Congress.
Stripped Of many needed municipal
improvements or services made pos
sible by war conditions, the budget
remains one Of the largest in his
tory, although it is nearly 81 ,0O0, 900
less than the record $56,3lO,949
Congress appropriated for the cur
rent fiscal year.
The budget is almost devoid of
any new Observation-Disclosures Of
the virtual impossibility of getting
priorities-and requests for in
creased personnel were eliminated
in most cases.
No funds were included for new
school construction or for any major
highway improvements, and while
$500, 900 was provided for purchase
OF school sites, proposals for many
OF the requested extra teachers and
other school personnel were dropped.
100 More Policemen Asked.
One hundred additional police are
provided for, which would bring the
total authorized strength to l,796,
the largest yet. but in the eleventh
hour blue e-penciling Police Chief Ed
ward ]. Kelly found his request for
200 more police cut in half.
The 1914 budget is predicated on
continuation of the 5000, 600 Fed
eral payment toward expenses of the
National Capital and financial ta-
bles showed the city would end the
year with a surplus and that no
tax increase was in the picture.
1t was computed by the Budget
Bureau and the Commissioners that
increases in wages and salaries of
District workers. in the next fiscal
year would boost costs by $3,05O, 900,
In addition to normal hike in
operating costs of $1,000 900. Pay
raises already have been given per
diem workers and legislated for
classified employees, and congress
sional leaders have promised action
this session on higher pay for po-
lice, flremen and school teachers.
The 1914 budget is based in part
on Federal wishes, entirely in keep
ing with the desires of the commits
sioners, that since local moneys
cannot be spent for peacetime con-
struction and other capital outlay
available funds be used to pay off
Government debts at a faster rate
with the idea of retiring them be-
fore the end of the war.
$500, 900 Debt Payment.
On this principle the Budget Bu-
reau and the commissioners rec
commended that in the next fiscal
year the District pay to Uncle Sam
$500, 900 on such scores, although
so far as could be ascertained the
known requirement for 1914 would
have been but $1,300,OOO However
the budget message, in discussing
this question said the proposed pay
ments for debt retirement next year
would be 100 per cent more than last
years payments.
The 1914 repayment on the $18,-
10000 PWA loan-grant program
adopted several years ago was placed
in the budget message at $4,000, 900.
Under the law the District would
have been required to repay $753, ,161,
although with sums available this
year the District repayment ac-
tually was stepped up to $2,500, 600.
Under the Capper-C -Cramton Act
for park and playground acquisition
1t is proposed the District repay
81 ,000, 900 next year, whereas under
the combination of this debt and
the PWA obligation the require
ment used to be no less than 81 ,300,-
900 for both, with $500, 900 Of this
sum actually going for repayment
OF Capper- -Cramton money.
Approval of the budget also will
mean repayment in the next fiscal
year of $1,000,0 900 under funds ad-
vanced by the United States for
emergency civilian defense purposes.
Ofhcials said there was no require
ment stated as to how this money
should be repaid.
The last Congress authorized the
Commissioners to borrow a second
81, ,O0O, 900. In this connection it was
noted that while the Commissioners
had intended to include in their
1914 budget District fund appro-
Continued on Page AT, Column 81