Evening star., 1944-03-07
Deficiency Bill
Allows District.
$2,517,006
War Overtime Pov
Accounts for Most
Of Items Covered
BY DON S. WARREN.

most of which represent war over
time pay costs in keeping with ex-
isting law, are included.in the first
deficiency bill reported to the House
today by the Appropriations Com
mittee.
All items requested by the COM
missioners and forwarded to Con.
gress by the Budget Bureau were
included in the bill with the excep-
ton Of the $1,000 increase in the
commissioners confidential fund
which was drawn on last summer
and fall to expand operations Of the
poundmaster to counteract the
rabies epidemic.
To meet the pay costs in the re-
mainder this fiscal year the bill
carries $2,177, 100, about $500 900
below estimates made nearly a year
ago. The savings mostly result from
inability of the District to fill large
numbers of police, fire and teacher
positions.
Allows Sale Of Bonds.
Other District government items
approved by the committee after re-
cent hearings amount to 1899 ,906 so,
including $177 100 to cover expanded
operations Of the water supply and
distribution systems made neces-
sary by Washington's swollen pop
ulation.
The bill carries authority for the
sale Of up to $190, 900 worth of Gov
eminent securities, purchased out of
Water Department reserve funds,
which the commissioners found to
be needed to cover this years Water
Department costs. This would be
the first time the District has had
to draw on the invested fund which
was started some years ago to pro-
vide q source Of financing for an
ticipated expansion of the water sys-
tenn. The amount now so invested
was reported at 1885, ,621.
NCHA Gets Funds.
Needing the pleas Of John Ihlder,
executive ofncer Of the National Cap
ital Housing Authority. the commit
tee also recommended deficiency
appropriation of $4,000 to be ex-
pended for repair and maintenance
Of the liz dwellings and number
Of nonresidential properties held un-
der Title l of the agency's act,
which were said to have been ac-
quired or developed at cost Of more
than S731 600.
For the past two fiscal years Con-
gress has allowed only $4,000 for
the maintenance Of such properties
and Mr.. Ihlder declares the proper
ties were deteriorating to the end
that the investment was being jeop-
ardized. Up until June 80, 1912, he
explained, the agency could use its
receipts from rentals and other oper-
atoms to keep the properties in con-
dition, but revolving funds now must
be, turned In to the Treasury. This
is one OF the NCHA programs being
considered by the Burton subcdIn-
mittee OF the Senate. As
Items Listed. sTi
Among items in the District list
are: il,
Cleaning and repair Of sewers,
$33 800; police and firemen's pension
fund. $4,000; general expenses Of
the National Capital Parks once,
sec, 600; payment of final judgments,
IS, 5,3l5; payment Of audited claims,
$1,463; operation Of public con$en-
ienc stations, $3,o78: care of Dis
trict buildings, $6,8l8; contingent
expenses, $4,000; printing and bind
ing, $7,055.
The deficiency bill also carries
$305, 300 for the legislative estab-
lishment or $4,000 more than rec
commended by the Budget Bureau.
OF this total, $4,000 was for the
beneficiaries Of deceased Represent
atives; 5000 to cover contested
election expenses for House seats:
SITS 900 to cover expenses of special
and select committees-this being
$25 900 less than the budget esti-
mate, and 72,900 for improvements
to the Capitol power plant.
The bill also carries $105,038 to
cover war overtime pay for en-
ployes of the United States Sol
diers' Home.