Evening star., 1943-09-16
Witnesses Oppose
Any Tax Increase for
1945 District Budqet
But Civic Leaders Tell
Commissioners Greater
Spending Is Required
BY DON S. WARREN

oPehoin9 IS required
BY DON S. WARREN.
Wartime problems of the Dis
trict government will require in
creased outlays for many mu-
nicipal services, but the 194s
budget must be limited so as tc
avoid any tax rise or new levies
spokesmen for organized citizen
and business groups advised the
Commissioners today.
At the opening of public hear
ings on the s67,230,00o budget re-
quested by departments and serv-
ices. representatives of the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations, the
Board of Trade and other groups
while urging expansion of funds for
various operations, demanded that
total expenditures be kept within
expected revenues.
From Harry S. Wender, president
of the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, came a demand that the
Commissioners continue to fight for
more equitable Federal payment
toward expenses of the Capital. He
said his group was convinced the
present S6,000,000 annual payment
was too small and was becoming in
creasingly so as District costs rose
from year to year He said efforts
should be continued for adoption of
an equitable "yardstick" for the
Federal payment as against the
present arbitrary fiat sum.
Urges Tuition Charge.
Mr.. Wender also urged the Com
missioners to demand that Congress
permit the District to charge tut
ton for school children of parents
not residing in the District. The
present free tuition, he insisted, is
unfair.
l.. H. Parker, chairman of the
Municipal Finance Committee of
the Board of Trade, summed up the
recommendations of the body's 4,200
members as follows:
"We recommend the 1945 budget
be supported with funds to be re-
ceived from present taxes at present
rates; We heartily approve in prin-
ciple the postwar aspects of this
budget: we believe capital expendi-
lures should be kept to a minimum;
where absolutely necessary, expendi-
lures should be increased, but that
all frills and unessential items be
eliminated, and that close regard
be given to personnel requirements
In view of the extended work week. :"
Mr.. Parker said the trade body
desired that District functions be
maintained at the present high
level" and that services be con-
stantly improved. but he agreed this
would present serious problem.
Cites High Federal Taxes.
Recognition must be taken of the
fact that Federal taxes are at their
highest level. Also we must be
aware of the fact there is strong
likelihood of further increase in
these taxes. Intensified War bond
campaigns and increased living costs
likewise must come in for consid-
Grafton. These are known factors
which must be dealt with as a neces-
sary incident to the war" he added.
He termed IAN admirable STEP
the proposal in many OF the depart
ment requests for postwar budget
ing-that is, proposals for purchas-
ing sites and drawing actual plans
now for capital improvements,
which must be provided as soon
II roiI y,
Board of Trade had established
post war. planning committee with
the premise that planning is good,
but plans are better"
Mr. Parks said there is no aues-
tion but that the District, like all
other communities, will be faced
with tremendous task of read
justment following the war Re-
quests by the welfare, school and
library systems for purchase of sites
and development of plans for post
war use is regarded by the Trade
Board as forward looking" he said.
Mr.. Parker recommended that
funds be provided for the Motor We
hicle Parking Agency, SO that it
lidy CClliRkLtC otddlCS iBoW All pal n
ing facilities that will be necessary
after the war.
Health Program Praised.
Provision of funds for the Health
Department for the proposed estab-
lishment of a cancer control pro-
gram and mental hygiene services
was called highly desirable and
~f do Ico oIli
tional funds for food inspection work
and for rat control program.
1t was suggested that in view of
a lessening in school attendance a
revision of the school budget might
be possible, but the trade body said
If this is done there should be no
lowering of educational standards.
Recalling that the work week for
municipal employees had been in
creased, the Board Of Trade urged
that each department make a close
study to see If there could be any
reduction in personnel.
Mr.. Wender emphasized the de-
STABILITY of buying needed sights
now for school, library and recrea-
tional areas and stressed that con-
siderable time would have to elapse
after land is purchased before it
could be taken over by the District
and developed or used He said the
municipal government cannot "and
should not" oust people from their
premises "overnight-like the War
Department"
An urgent demand was made by
Mr.. Wender for purchase Of three
more playground sites in the mid
city area, which he said was "teem-
ing with small children" and that
it would be "a blow to the morale
of the people" if such provision was
not made
Permanent Cleanup Urged.
The Commissioners and the Health
Department were commended by the
Federation spokesmen for the re-
cent campaign to clean up restau-
rant san dother eating establish