Evening star., 1945-01-09
83-BiIIion Spending
Outlined in Budget;
70 Billions for War
Nearly 70 Millions
Asked for District
By President
BY DON S. WARREN.

"A OloGl iCG UuuSCt 1OI 40TU WlllCIl
will about parallel this years
appropriations Of nearly $70,000,-
900 when a contemplated $780,
600 is added for continuing the
wartime pay bonuses for munici-
pal employees, was forwarded to
Congress today by President
Roosevelt.
The estimates for the next fiscal
year, totaling s65.9l5,4S0 without
provision yet made for carrying on
the overtime and extra pay, again
reflect wartime conditions in many
respects, but are frightened by in
clusion of funds for expansion Of
school, library and Gallinger Hos
pital facilities.
A requested capital improvement
fund of $1,82l 300 for the schools
system, over three times the size
of that for this year, would provide
for seven school construction pro-
jects including two new Junior highs
and continuing work on the Bell
Vocational High; money for plans
for ii other schools and an addi-
tional s317.l00 for sites.
Construction at Gallinger.
For construction of a new pedia-
rrics building at Gallinger Hospital,
the budget carries $500, 700, and for
a new laboratory building, $l91 900.
Funds for plans for these improve
ments were contained in the sup
Elemental appropriations made late
in the past Congress.
Funds are sought also for COM
pletion of the first unit of the new
central library building, now occu-
pied by war agency workers, and
for drafting of plans for the later
construction of five new branch IL
braries and the remodeling of two
existing branches, to represent
start on the suggested six-year s6,-
100000 library expansion program.
Other capital improvements pro-
posed in the budget are extension
of the water mains, principally in
Southeast Washington, to cost more
than 100000, and rehabilitation
of the Mcmillan Reservoir filter
plant
Funds for permanent improve
ments in the new budget total Se,-
l69,70o. as compared with s5,671 ,372,
not including amounts invested for
postwar use. For 1916 the capital
outlay figures are IS, 107, 700 for gen.
eral fund projects, s2,650, 900 for
highways and $1,412, 900 for water
projects. Comparable figures for
this year were So, ,196, ,372 for the gen.
eral fund, s1,825, 600 for highways
and $3.50, 600 for water services.
No Tax Rise Needed.
The budget is predicated on con-
tinuation OF Federal payment Of
st, 100000 and of the existing tax
rates. 1t was estimated there would
be left at the end of the next fiscal
year a surplus of about 81 100 900.
as against a surplus of more than
IS 600, 900 carried from 1914 fiscal
year into the current year.
Because war conditions still block
most all capital improvement pro-
grams, the budget proposes to set
aside another s5,000,000 in the post
war investment fund, where this
year an initial $4,000, 900 was invest
ed in Government securities.
| Another fiscal provision in the
budget plan would retire the re-
mainder of the Districts current
debt by apropriating s122 900 to re-
pay the United States for advances
under the Capper -Cramton Act for
purchases of park and playground
sites, and 1894 900 for defense loans
from the Federal Works Admins
tration for highway and water prof.
ects.
s25,O00, 900 Conserved.
In this connection, Budget Officer
Walter L. Fowler explained that the
District has conserved about S25,-
100000 against postwar demands by
investing some $4,000, 900 in amor
tization Of debt and creation of a
postwar investment fund of $40, ,0O0,-
900 If this budget is approved.
But he took the opportunity to
warn that the story of unexpended
balances would come to an end after
the war and that the rising costs OF
mere maintenance and operation OF
the District government is getting
close to the total of current tax
revenues" of the city. This was in
anticipation of huge demands fol
capital outlay he feels sure will
] come once war restrictions are lifted
on materials and labor.
He related to this the calcula.
tions of his office that provisions ir
the budget call for employment Of
800 additional workers, at an in.
creased annual cost of $537, 900. Thi.
many extra workers were approved
by the Commissioners and the Fed
eral Budget Bureau out of a total Of
88S requested by District depart.
ments in their original estimates
which would have cost $l,575, ,00(
] annually.
Within Current Revenues.
/ The Presidents budget message
states. 1T will be noted that the
1896 general fund expenditure pro.
gram, excluding overtime pay, debt
service, public works reserves anc
capital outlays, is within current
Continued on Page All, Column i
/ New Oversees Edition
/ VIII Be Out Tomorrow