Evening star., 1945-05-25
SideIights on the Budqet

The tollowing sidelights on the
District budget for the fiscal
year 1916 Were taken from the
testimony OF District officials
during recent hearings before the
subcommittee on District appro-
priations of the House Appro-
priations Committee:
Some of the inmates of the Dis
trict Training School at Laurel, Md.
for feeble minded persons have gone
AWOL and obtained positions that
pay more than some of the per-
sonnel receive at the institution. DR.
James Lewald, superintendent, told
the committee.
When Poundmaster Frank Marks
was asked by Chairman Coffee if
he thought we really had rabies
in the city. he replied:
We'll. I think dog is just like
anything else. We have people that
get mad and get mean and ugly"
Mr.. Marks estimated there were
10000 to $4,000 dogs untaxed and
unlicensed and was then asked by
Chairman Coffee if he could esti-
mate the number of cats In the
District.
THAT would be a tedious job, I
think" replied Mr.. Marks.
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
told the committee there were 2,106
municipal employees in the armed
services, including 1874 firemen. $40
policemen and 1872 from other de-
partments. He said Ill men have
left the service and returned to
their jobs.
Frank R. Jelleff. chairman of the
Parole Board. told the appropria-
tions group that about 400 prisoners
have been released for the Army, OF
which only seven were dishonorably
discharged.
Many of the men, Mr.. Jelleff said
have been wounded or killed, and
a number hold noncommissioned
ranks. One man was promoted to
first lieutenant in the Army Ali
Forces and is the holder of the Air
Medal with IA Oak Leaf Clusters.
Col. Edward j. Kelly, superinten-
dent Of police, informed the appro-
priations subcommittee that in the
early part of the war $50 to 300 DO
licemen were assigned to the White
House and other strategic locations
for the Federal Government, but
that now only seven men have
White House assignments. The
number of men at the White House
and embassies is now 10.
The Police Band came in for COM
pliments during the budget hear
ings from Chairman Coffee, Com
missioner John Russell Young and
Col. Kelly, who described it as "a
great morale builder" Chairman
Coffee said he saw no conflict be-
tween the band and the American
Federation Of Labor, which has op-
posed support of the band from Dis
trict funds. The chairman said he
hoped legislation to support the
band, which died last year, would
be passed.
Fire Chief Stephen T. Porter was
so optimistic about his men in the
armed services returning shortly that
he asked the Appropriations Sub
committee to provide funds for the
full authorized strength of $40 men.
He said there were 161 vacancies at
present, of which 1913 are because of
military leaves.
The cost of answering a fire alarm
in the District is $3.50, Chief Porter
told the committee, although many
years ago it was only $50. The fire
loss in the District is now SO cents
per capita, which compares favorably
with the $3.50 per capita loss which
the National Board of Fire Under
writer's considers "very low," Chief
Porter said.
Budget Officer Fowler, who is
chairman of the District agency,
told the committee that the District
had l 1855 men in PA draft classifica-
ton and 81 in 2-B. The largest
group of PA deferments were SO in
public schools, 678 in the Police De-
partment,,. 321 in the Fire Depart
ment, 49 in District hospitals, Al in
the refuse division. Almost half of
the 2-B men, %, were in the Police
Although the District has no vote
on Representatives in Congress,
Chairman Coffee assured District Of
f1cials that the city had good repre-
sentation In Congress" and praised
the interest shown by Representative