Evening star., 1945-06-03
A View Of Washington
For Congress Members
Chairman Coffee's Description
of the Annual Budfet

OF the Annual Budget
the sS % e sPes
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With the exception of a relatively
negligible Federal payment, all of the
costs of operating the District govern
ment are betrayed out Of tax revenues
collected by the District government.
I am pleased to report that as of this
period the District is in an excellent
financial condition. Notwithstanding
the fact that the Federal payment OF
100000 is less than 10 per cent of the
total appropriations for the District, we
can report that since 1910 over $16,-
1000 has been paid on Indebtedness.
The District of Columbia government is
debt free and in addition we are sup
plementing the $5,000,0O0 capital reserve
fund of last year with another S. ,000,0
The amount of nearly $65 ,0O0O 900 is
being recommended in this bill
Only few years ago the Federal Bu-
reau of the Budget took full RESPONSE
OlliVy 1cl bllC lOCdl CoGlIIldGCS SSllU 10
Congress. District officials were called
before that bureau to defend and JUS
tify every item. That condition has
been changed and the responsibility is
now in local officials. The three Com
missioners and the budget officer give
full and complete hearing to every de-
partment head. These hearings last
Hot t1rro MI
public hearing is arranged for all citi-
zens interested in items appearing in
the proposed budget.
Notwithstanding all these opportuni-
ties to be heard and to settle differences
members Of the House must also be
called into some of the controversies re-
gardless of the manifold duties and re-
sponsibilities placed upon them during
wartime. Members of Congress are vital
ly interested in District affairs; they
realize that this is the Nations Capital
and city set apart for all our people.
They are willing to give of their time to
District problems, but it does appear to
me that the citizen groups should first
60 through regular channels and then
submit, with their complaints, adequate
and accurate statements. Our subcom-
mittee had before it many citizens. They
had at least a full day and many val
liable contributions were made, but you
might be interested in knowing that not
single individual pointed to a single
item that might be reduced a single cent.
I have observed over the years what
appears to be an unfortunate sequence
of events. Just before our hearings be-
gin considerable amount of agitation
takes place. A few years ago 1t was the
Police Department.; the following year
the Water Department.; in 1943 Gallinger
Hospital took the headlines; last year
Health Department and welfare, and
this year. welfare. I recall that last year
I. personally, with members of my COM
mittee, visited number of District in
stitutions. The headlines covered the
same items we have been reading about
recently, particularly the Industrial
Home School, the National Training
School for Girls, the Jail, and so forth.
Conditions were certainly unsatisfactory.
Manpower shortage was acute then, as
now. Buildings were in bad shape and
have been for years. The Industrial
Home School is on Navy Department
property and must be moved. Priorities
for new buildings were unattainable.
Even in the buildings considered essen
tial and for which priorities can be OBJ
tained the materials used are said to be
unsatisfactory. Many problems are ap-
parent and one of the first is a policy
matter which the citizens should first
determine. That has to do with larger
detention institutions as distinguished
from home care. This is very impor-
tant problem which calls for a consid-
cradle amount of thought.
We are not unwilling to appropriate
the taxpayers money, but We want to
be sure that we are not doing it in a
haphazard manner, because we have an
obligation not alone to the few who may
be most vocal but to the thousands upon
thousands of fine people who make this
their place of residence. These hare-ups
just before our hearings start no longer
impress me. Highly emotional, over
jealous professional witnesses, and pub
licity seekers no longer attract my
interest.
The population within the District is
in excess Of 925 900 and far in excess of
million in the Metropolitan Area. This
city furnished over 10000 of its sons and
daughters to the armed forces Two
thousand one hundred and six men were
called for service from the District gov
ernment and over 1900 positions remain
vacant. The war impact hit the city
hard but Notwithstanding it has thus
far come through with colors flying.
A quarter of a century ago the annual
budget of the District was approximately
s18,ooo,o0o. Today $7o,000,O0O is hardly
adequate.
Problems are becoming increasingly
complex. Less than so per cent of the
land area is now taxable, maintenance
and operation costs are getting danger
ously close to revenue availability. Un-
doubtedly the municipal authorities will
soon be speaking in terms of increased
taxation.
I cannot help but feel a great degree
of sympathy for the taxpaying Wash
ingtonian.
More than 100 years ago the COM
mittee appointed by the Common