Evening star., 1943-02-17
Hearings Open
March Isl on
DC. Budget
1914 Appropriation
Of S55,344 ,664 Is
Million Under 1o43
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Hearings will start before the
House Appropriations Committee
March IS on the S55 ,344 664 District
appropriation bill for the fiscal year
beginning July l, it was announced
today.
The subcommittee which will con-
duct hearings and prepare the bill is
composed of Representatives Mahon
Texas, chairman; Coffee, Washing
ton; Gore, Tennessee, and Anderson,
New Mexico. Democrats; Stefan,
Nebraska; Dworshak, Idaho, and
Jensen, Iowa, Republicans.
Million Under Current Year.
The 1914 District budget is ap-
proXimately $1,000,000 under the ap-
preparations for the current fiscal
year. This total is made up of
three sections: General appropria-
tons to be paid out of taxes, $50
,90l, compared with $46,862 900
appropriated for the current fiscal
year; highway appropriations paid
out of the gasoline tax fund, 81
79l, ass, compared with current ap-
preparations Of $6,039,028 for the
current fiscal year; Water Depart
ment to be paid out of the water
rent fund, $2,167 308, compared
with current appropriation of S.
404,895 for the present fiscal year.
The budget is based on a Federal
contribution of S6,0000 900.
In the appropriations for the COM
Ing fiscal year, provision is made
Tor repayment to four Government
agencies of a total of S65O0,O0O.
Contemplated repayments include
$4,000 900 on a WPA lean; ST 900 900
for repayment of a blackout fund
loan from the Secreary of the Treas
ury: sl,000,000 for repayment to the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission under the Capper-
Champion Act, and S500,O00 for re-
payment of loan to FWA for de-
tense public works and equipment.
Plan Investment of Surplus.
Water department estimates pro-
pose investment of estimated sur
plus funds in United States securi-
ties to the amount of 100000. Un-
der the estimates for the fiscal year
l943 it was expected that deficit
would develop in the Water Depart
ment funds and the request was
made for language in the appropria-
ton bill permitting the sale of Sc
curities held by the department.
This was opposed by Chairman Nc
Carran of the Senate District Com
mittee, who at that time had Or
dered an investigation made of the
Water Department. 1t now develops
that instead of a deficit it appears
there will be surplus of 100000
in this fund.
In the highway fund the proposed
appropriation has been reduced more
than one-half. Part of this is due
to the fact that last year an appro-
priation of 81 100000 was made for
the new bridge at the foot of South
Capitol and p streets to Anacostia
parkway. This is continuing ap-
Under the appropriations for Dis
trict schools, there has been an i'm
portant consolidation of items which
will facilitate hearings on the esti-
mates and preparation of the appro-
priations bill. A number of various
small items for night school, Ameri-
canization work, crippled and blind
children, fuel oil and gas, and con-
tingent expenses have been COM
bined into eight major groups. The
total estimates for the school de-
partment for the coming fiscal year
are S12.799 ,899. which is an in
crease of s260,O00 over the 1943
appropriations.