Evening star., 1944-04-23
District Budget
Hearings Due 10
Open Tomorrow
$4,000, 900 OutIoy
Possible Without
Tax Increases
BY DON S. WARREN.


Chairman Coffee of the House
District Appropriations Subcom-
mite yesterday completed arrange
ments for the opening of hearings
tomorrow on the Districts record
breaking 1945 budget, in which the
Commissioners propose an outlay of
more than s67.000,000 all of which
could be covered without any in
crease in taxes.
One of the first things to be con-
sidered in the executive hearings. 1t
was indicated, would be q careful
analysis of Districts financial situ-
alton, and along with this the Com
missioners' proposal for the creation
OF a 100000 public works reserve
fund.
Among prime reasons. for such
fund are the mounting evidence
that the war has created a huge
backlog of construction; needs which
must be met as soon as priorities
will permit and the fact that Dis
trict revenues have been swelled
to deceiving proportions, like its
population.
Many Projects Delayed.
On the surface, 1t would appear
the District was getting along we'll
as to revenues, but District Budget
Officer Walter L. Fowler has
warned that the District should not
be misled by what he terms paper"
surpluses, because of the heavy
costs that must be met when well
fare, school, highway, hospital,
sewer and water projects can be
put under contract.
Adding weight to this are the
recent demands by welfare agency
heads for improvement or replace
ment Of numerous welfare institu-
tions, which have been indorsed
in part at least by leading mem
bers Of the Appropriations Sub
committee. Most of such works
are expected to be for postwar de-
velopment and Representative Ste
fan of Nebraska, ranking minority
member of the group, has asked for
detailed listing of the Commis-
sioners' postwar plans, including
those for Gallinger Hospital.
In this connection, Chairman
Coffee yesterday voiced ready
agreement to the request of Chair
man D'Alesandre of the House Leg
islative Subcommittee investigating
the District welfare system, that
there be a brass tacks" conference
between the two congressional
groups to plan solutions to the well
fare agency problems. Conditions
IN some OF the institutions, notably
the Industrial Home School for
White Children, have been termed
horrible" by members Of Congress
and agency officials.
Conmends D'Alesandro.
Il will be very happy to arrange
an informal joint meeting of the
DAlesandro subcommittee with the
appropriations subcommittee" said
Mr.. Coffee, land I wish to COM
mend Mr.. D'Alesandro for hsi zeal
IN seeking action to improve these
deplorable conditions"
Mr.. D'Alesandro had said he did
not want to take action on the bill
to transfer the administrative DOW
ers OF the Board of Public Welfare
to the Commissioners until some
effort had been made to chart i'm
provements for the welfare agen-
cies. in view of the testimony of
the physical deficiencies of the
agency's housing. This subject. he
said, was a question of appropria-
tions rather than legislation.
Mr.. Coffee's group has been ad-
vised that, due to war bans on
"nonessential' construction work
and the wartime increase in WASH
ington, tax payments this fiscal
year will end with a surplus of well
over 100000. This, District off,
cialS say, is the expected result of
the bans on most all capital i'm
provements in the past three years.
Band Appropriation Asked.
Among the first witnesses at the
Coffee hearings are to be Commits
S~O~ASAS oUAA6 d1lo NdSOll dIlO
Budget Off1cer Fowler. Then will
follow the executives Of the long
list Of departments and services and
spokesmen for civic groups.
Meanwhile, the Commissioners
have proposed an addition of 1890
to the District budget for next year
to provide regular financing for the
Metropolitan Police Band, organized
under private donations a year ago
A $4,000 annual salary would be
paid the bands director, 1t. Charles
Benter, former director of the Navy
Band. Another item is $2,4O0 for
the pay Of custodian, and 1.5OO
Tor supplies, including purchase of
music. musical instruments, postage
and provision of transportation for
band members going to and from
performances.