Evening star., 1944-04-27
Budget Probers
ASK Figures on
Defe!Tnnents
Inquiry Continues
Study of Funds
For School System
By DON 5. WARREN.

fSsSH0
BY DON s. WARREN.
Chairman Coffee of the House Ap-
preparations Subcommittee ham
ding the Districts s67 ,000, 600 budg-
ct for l945 directed city officials
today to supply data on draft de-
ferments among municipal employees
for the record of the hearings.
He said no criticism was intended.
but that the committee thought the
facts pertinent information which
should be incorporated in testimony
on the budget proposals. Walter L.
Fowler, budget officer and head of
the District government Deferment
Committee, said deferments total
about 1,100, of which more than TOO
were policemen and more than 800
firemen.
The call for this information came
during consideration of school es-
Inmates totaling $15000,000. Testi-
mony on the shortage of teachers,
how teachers salaries compare with
those OF other cities, postwar plans
for school building construction and
the need for additional clerical helm
was given by school officials. Among
those testifying were Mrs. Philin
Sidney Smith, member of the Board
|of Education; Supt. Robert L. Hay-
cock and Assistant Supt. Chester w.
Holmes and Garnett C. Wilkinson,
Plans Study Of Tuition.
Mr. Cof1ee announced the com,
mittee planned to go into the oues-
tlon OF taxes paid by District resi-
dents to offset the cost of free
tuition for children of nonresidents.
He added the committee would in
quire into other costs borne by the
District not entirely chargeabIe to
District taxpayers.
He declared 1t was his personal
belief there should be small paw
roll tax to cover the costs of the
operations of the Minimum Wage
and Industrial Safety Board. This
would be applied to businesses
whose employees are covered by the
minimum wage law.
Meanwhile, President Roosevelt
sent to Congress requests for addi-
tional outlays of close to 81. .500.0 600
Tor various purposes, about half of
which would be added to the Dis
trict budget to raise its total to
$67 ,4S1 900, the greatest in municipal
history.
Some criticisms of the Juvenile
Court and the District rent control
office were heard at yesterdays ses-
sion.
Judge Fay Bentley was accused of
having been "too lenient,o but she
replied she did not think so. all
though she might have made mis-
takes IN some instances" She added
she thought the question of rehabil-
itation of youthful offenders would
prove more important later.
While Rent Administrator Robert
F. Cogswell was on the stand, SUBJ
committee members asserted there
mad been "evasions" of price control
IN some apartment hotels. Instead
OF awaiting complaints, the rent
control administrator was urged to
go out and investigate. He indicated
he would do so.
$4,000 Asked for Fairgrounds.
purchase OF three playground sites
IN the midcity area was proposed by
President Roosevelt under the
lCapper-Cramton program. at a cost
OF $4,000, sum already covered in
the Districts proposed debt-repay.
ment plan for the next fiscal wear.
Speaking for the President, the
Budget Bureau said: I'm recent
months there has developed among
the citizens and certain Federal and
local agencies conviction that ad.
dlt1onal recreational facilities must
be established to reduce juvenile de-
llnquency. AS one of the essential
steps in this desired direction. the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission with the active support
OF the District Recreation Board and
the commissioners, recommends that
FUNDS be appropriated to acquire
tnree playground sites in the midcity
area"
Budget Supplementals.
The President also forwarded sup-
plementals to the 1945 District
budget, amounting to s750,069. These
included:
An item of $34,3O0 toward ex~
penses of the inaugural ceremonies
next January; $15O,00O for District
civilian defense purposes, including
10000 for the civilian war services
division; $59,693 for establishment
and maintenance of two phychiatric
units In the Health Department:
S22,487 extra for the Alcoholic Bey.
erage Control Board, including pro-
vision for employment of Seven ad-
oltlonal inspectors (this in response
TO demands for more rigid enforce.
ment of District liquor laws) sits. :
ozo for Gallinger Hospital, including
provisions for remodeling of the old
kitchen quarters into new laundry
ana to re-establish the old coal.
heating plant for hot water.
Also $50, ,989 for the Board of Pub
lie Welfare for additional sums for
care OF dependent children; $685.
900 for the Sewer Department for
acquisition and development of a
materials storage yard; SCI 1850 extra
1or operating expenses of the water
division, and $2,120 for operating
expenses of the Free Public Library
Mrs. Curtin Says Australia