Evening star., 1944-05-23
Record D. {. Budqet
Proposes S5,0OO,0OO
Postwar Works Fund
Continued From First Page.

of $l,104,483 over the l945 Budget
Bureau estimates resulted from a
decision to raise the first-proposed
100000 postwar public works in
vestment fund to $5,0o0.0oo
This postwar building fund, which
Is to be invested in short-term Gov
ernment securities to await the dav
when priorities will permit deferred
Capital improvements, represents
nearly half of the sl0,45s, 1853 boost
over this years appropriations.
Other reasons for what appears to
be a staggering hike in outlays over
this year are that for the first time
IN keeping with the simplified and
consolidated District budget form
, there is included 1,141 900 to cover
/. the Districts share of costs of the
District courts and Freedmen's Hos
. pital, heretofore carried only in
Federal appropriation acts; con-
: siderable extra sum for wartime
extra and overtime pay and in
creased outlays for the Highway
Water and Sewer Departments, the
schools system and other municipal
divisions.
Outstanding Items In Bill.
Outstanding among the things the
bill provides are:
l. An item of $750,000 for con-
struction of the substructure of the
projected South Capital street
bridge over the Anacostia River, for
which $1,000000 already has been
appropriated, the total authorized
cost being s4,500,000.
2. Increased appropriations for
maintenance work in the street and
bridge divisions, which are largely
Offset by continuing the availability
Of sums appropriated in former
years. F..
8. Provisions of mental hygiene
services under the District Health
Department, to be drawn on by the
schools, welfare agencies and the
courts. The committee rejected pro-
posals for continuing a separate
psychiatric service under the Juve-
nile Court.
4. An increase of $112,632 over
current appropriations for the Rec
reation Department in a proposed
s67o,3o0 outlay which would include
funds for drainage and sanitation
facilities for "a of the newer play
grounds and improving shelter
houses at a number of locations.
Other items would cover wartime
salary boosts for playground work.
ers and installation of showers,
swimming pools and wading pools.
5. An appropriation of $4,000 by
the District government to match a
sum being raised as donation by
citizens in the Cleveland Park area
to buy a Connecticut avenue tract
as a site for a proposed branch OF
the Public Library.
6. An increase of nearly 100000
in the budget for public schools to
bring the total to s14,346, 900, which
though s232 900 below what school
authorities requested provides $781,-
600 for purchase of land for school
sites and nearly $4,000 for construc-
ton,
Z. An increase of s14O,500 over
current appropriations for the Wash
ington Aqueduct to cover improve
ments to the Mcmillan and Dalecar-
liza filters and other improvements
and preparation of plans for future
engagements of the system.
8. Funds for new elevators at the
District Building.
Additional ABC Inspectors.
8. Employment of seven addi-
tional inspectors for the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board at an an
nual cost of $23,30o. ABC officials
gave assurances this would permit
better enforcement of liquor regu-
lations.
Following an attack on the board
by Representative Cochran, Demo-
crat, of Missouri, who once de-
manded the Commissioners remove
all three ABC Board members mem
bers for alleged "laxity' in their
duties, the Coffee subcommittee
said: 'The committee is not at all
satisfied with the manner in which
this activity has been admins
tered, especially in that the board
does not seem to be using the au-
thority of law with which it is
vested. The entire request of $685.
945 is being allowed in hope the
liquor situation in the District may
be somewhat clarified and the citi-
zens and minors given the consid-
GRAFTON and protection to which
they are entitled"
10. An increase of S30S,000 for
Gallinger Municipal Hospital, prin-
cipally for the administration
dietary, treatment service and ward
service.
Omitted From Requests.
Among items omitted from the
budget requests were:
l. A requested appropriation of
$4,000 for installation of more traf-
f1c-control lights, while funds for
the traffic safety program were cut
from a requested $4,000 to $4,000.
The report said, The committee
was not impressed with the need
of additional traffic signals, but on
the contrary believes that fewer,
rather than more traffic signals,
should be operated. 1t added that
better synchronization of traffic
lights should be effected.
2. Requests from social work
spokesmen for funds for employ
ment of so housekeeping aides, and
here the committee suggested that
funds for "praiseworthy projects OF
this character" should be obtained
from Community Chest sources.
3. Proposals for appropriation OF
$1,000 for music, transportation, in
struments and directors pay for the
Metropolitan Police Department
Band. While saying the band is a
credit to the department, the COM
mittee declared it should not be
maintained by public funds.
Tribute to Commissioners.
The Coffee subcommittee paid a
tribute to Commissioners Young
Mason and Kutz for their "untirine
efforts" to give the District a better
government, and to Budget Officer