Evening star., 1945-08-12
D. {. Will Push
Coordination Of
Postwar Plans
Commissioners Set
PorIey This Week
On New Projects
BY BAINBRIDGE CRIST.

an unemployment problem, the Dis
trict Commissioners are planning to
discuss this week the problem of CO.
ordinating and speeding the plan
ming Of postwar projects by depart
ment heads, Commissioner Guy
Mason said yesterday.
Assistant Engineer Commissioner
Joseph D. Arthur, jr., said that while
plans are drawn or are being drawn
for projects totaling $39, 900 900, the
overall cost of postwar projects
could not be estimated. Mr.. Mason
said he agreed with Col. Arthur.
While the $3s.0Oo,ooO includes
projects for schools. Gallinger Mu-
nicipal Hospital. Board of Public
Welfare. libraries and highway prof.
ects. 1t does not include recreational
developments and the children's CEN
ter OF the Board of Public Welfare
at Laurel. The latter is estima ted
eventually to cost $4,000,O0O.
Budget Estimates Due.
Budget estimates for the fiscal
year l947, which starts July 1, 194s,
were due yesterday at the District
budget office. Acting Budget Officer
William G. Wilding said most care
full" consideration would have to be
given to demands for appropriations
and to estimated revenues.
With the passage of recent pay
legislation, such as the bills for Dis
trict teachers, flremen, policemen
and classified workers, Mr.. Wild
ing said that "in round figures" the
cost OF government this year would
be s70,000,000. Although this is
several million more than estimated
revenue, this viii be met by unex-
pended balances from the preceding
year.
Commissioner Guy Mason said
that $70.000,000 was the minimum
cost of the government next year.
Mr.. Wilding emphasized that ex-
penditures probably would exceed
the appropriated amount in l947
because sl0,00o,0O0 has been set
aside and is available for construc-
ton work when materials become
available. He said the only tax
rates which can be adjusted by the
Commissioners are on real estate
and personal property.
Question of Increased Taxes.
The question of increasing taxes
in l947 is one of the problems that
will be faced by the Commissioners
in drawing up the 1947 budget to
be submitted to the Budget Bureau
later In the year. A committee,
headed by Corporation Counsel
Richmond B. Keech, was set up
earlier this year to study the tax
structure and the possibility of
raising slo,0oo,o0o additional rev.
enue.
Col. Arthur said he expected it
would be "at least six months
before manpower and materials be-
came available for general con-
structlon work. He said some ap-
preparations for schools made sew
eral years ago still were available
because of inability to secure ma
terials. The only schools that could
be built were those in neighborhoods
that had none and had grown be-
cause of war housing developments.
Col. Arthur also predicted that
certain features of construction dur
ing the war, such as plumbing fix
lures, would have to be replaced be-
fore the normal time because they
were below peace standards. Such
replacements on wartime projects
will not be made, however, he added,
until they are necessary.
Can Rehire 2,106 Employees.
Meanwhile. District Personnel
Officer H. A. McAllister said yes
terday VI day would find the mu-
nicipal government in a position to
take back 2,l06 employees now on
war leave without displacing present
personnel
There is room for ALL" he COM
mented.
Already 1876 veterans have re-
turned to their former jobs. The
Police Department has some $50
vacancies and the Fire Department
has 100. Gallinger Municipal Hos
pital has more than 200 vacancies
on its payroll of 1,096.
DR.. Alvin R. Sweeney, superin-
tendent of Gallinger. yesterday pre-
dicted the ending of hostilities
would aid his hard-pressed institu-
ton, which has been forced to close
part OF tuberculosis ward because
Of the lack of nurses. Last summer,
Glenn Dale Sanatorium was forced
to close some Of its wards because
OF the personnel shortage.