Evening star., 1944-06-18

Subcommittee Order.
Full Inquiry Into
Fiscal Equity
BY q formal resolution, unani'
mously adopted, the Senate Approp.
riations Subcommittee in charge ol
the District supply bill yesterday
ordered q thorough study of fisca
relations between the Federal anc
municipal governments to determine
what would be the proper Fedora
share OF National Capital costs.
The action was taken at the sug-
gestion Of Senator Overton. Demo-
crat, of Louisiana, who has waged
a continuing battle for fiscal equality
for District taxpayers, as the sub
committee, headed by Senator O'Ma-
honey, Democrat, of wyoming ap-
proved increases raising the 1945
supply bill total to new all-time
record of approximately SIS, 600 900.
The O'Mahoney subcommittee not
only granted most of the supple
mental $4,000 requests made by the
Commissioners, approved by the
Budget Bureau after the House had
acted on the bill, but added some
items as q result of its own hearings.
The bin is to be considered by the
full Senate Appropriations Com
mittee tomorrow and is scheduled for
Senate action early this week. Be-
cause there will be many changes
from the House bill, 1t will go to
conference unless the House should
accept all changes found in the
Senate version.
The Federal payment study is to
be made by the OMahoney subcom-
mittee, and its findings and recon-
mendations are expected to be ready
for consideration before another
budget comes before the group next
year. Senator Overton said the
group considered an increase in
the $6,000.000 lump-sum payment
for the new fiscal year, begin
ming July l, but ordered a COM
prehensive inquiry for later use be-
cause so little time remained before
the end OF this fiscal year and be-
. cause y move to change the Federal
payment might be held to be subject
to legislative rather than oppropria-
tion action,
He again declared an increased
Federal payment was justified in
view of the increased burden be-
ing carried by the District tax
payers, partly due to free water
supplied to Federal establishments
Senator O'Mahoney said the sub
committee had inserted in the bill
an item of $61 900 to provide for
continuation of the ,housekeeper-
aide program and to Increase the
number of aides from 80 to so. The
subcommittee was impressed with
the arguments of Mrs. Harold N.
Marsh and other civic leaders that
this home service for needy fam
lilies was m economy program, since
It prevented many persons being
eiven hospital or institutional care
at greater expense to the District.
Written into the bill also is al
statutory provision fixing the salary
Of the superintendent of Gallinger
Hospital at So 900, or 81 500 above the
present entrance salary. Health
Ofiicer George c. Rutland had re-
ported the District had found it inn
possible to retain a qualified person
for the job at the present salary.
The Job has been vacant since early
this year when DR.. Edgar A. Bocock
resigned, later becoming the head
Of Doctors Hospital.
Needing the pleas of citizens
spokesman, the subcommittee in
cluded Sl0,i0O for continuation as a
separate unit of the psychiatric
service at Juvenile Court, while also
approving $24,320 for establishment
of 4 mental health unit with the
Health Department.
Funds were provided for purchase
of land near Gallaudet College as a
site for d new Receiving Home for
Children, and money also was ap-
proved for purchase of land near
National Training School for Girls
However, 1t was stipulated that the
Commissioners shall take no step
toward transferring the training
school to the Laurel site until the
Board OF Public Welfare had trans
mitted to Congress. through the
Commissioners, full report on its
proposed program for housing and
operation of this and other welfare
agencies.
Also approved were requests for
$4,000 to correct conditions on the
grounds of the Young Elementary
Brown Junior High and Phelps Vo-
cational Schools. and for additional
law clerks for the Municipal Court
of Appeals. One additional secre-
tary, instead of five, was granted
for the Municipal Court.
Senator O'Mahoney said the
group had approved requested in
creases for Gallinger Hospital anc
for the District tuberculosis Sana
torium at Glenn Dale, Md. includ-
ing a bus service to and from the
city and certain Maryland points
for employees of the hospital. The
Gallanger request included fund.
for extensive Improvements to tn,
hospitals psychiatric ward.
Disapproved by the subcommittee
were requests for public financing
OF the Metropolitan Police Bant
and for increasing the salary o
public members of the Board O
lining Adjustment.
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