Evening star., 1946-10-17

|
AT BUDGET HEARING-Mrs.
Association, is shown testifying
missioners John Russell Youn
Commissioner.
evaluated, and new sources OF rev.
enue agreed upon," he said.
| Mr.. Armstrong warned the Com
missioners against submitting to
Congress a budget balanced by pro-
posed new taxes even though the
tax plan called for an increased Fed
eral payment.
There will be grave danger" he
explained, that Congress will pare
down the budget by the amount of
the proposed increase in the Fed
eral payment, while, nevertheless,
enacting into law all or sub
stantial part of the proposed new
taxes"
Should this occur. he continued,
the financial difficulties of the Dis
trict government would remain un-
solved land the precedent will be set
for still higher taxes in the future,
with no increased Federal payment" +"
Criticizes Congress Action.
The Federation spokesman was
sharply critical of the manner in
which Congress picks the budget to
pieces and puts it together again
according to its own ideas" Main
changes made by Congress annually,
he asserted, are in the items for new
construction and he added:
I'm practice, the inclusion in the
budget of particular items of cap
ital Improvements depends very
largely upon the influence that may.
be exerted by interested individuals
or pressure groups upon key men,
berss of the congressional subcom-
mittees concerned This is not good
administration and otter results in
an unfair balancing of relative
needs.
Mr. Armstrong. as first witness,
charged that Congress neither has
the knowledge, the time nor facil-
tiles to acquire the knowledge to
make proper "evaluation OF the
relative merits" of the new con-
Struction items.
Young Cites Financial Problems.
Commissioner John Russell Young
opened the annual hearing with the
statement that the Commissioners
this year are faced with a serious
financial problem" He said in
creases of nearly $4,000. 900 will be
needed for certain must items, in
cluding pay increases for employees
and additional amounts for actiyi-
ties not within the administrative
control of the Commissioners. "sss9
He pointed out that the xeneral
fund itemsrequested by the depafo-
ment heads sare $1,000. 900 in ex-
cess of expected tax income.
Merely to continue to render the
same public services in the 1948
fiscal year as in the current fiscal
year of l947," he told the witnesses,
and to provide for capital outlay
expenditures the same amount as for
this year, namely, $1,000, 900, would
require appropriations from the
general fund of S74,l9l ,487. This is
about So .000, 900 more than the esti-
mated revenue availability for 1948. y
Taxpayers Back Trade Beard.
The Washington Taxpayers Asso-
! citation through Rufus S. Lusk
president, joined the Board of Trade
in urging a $75,000,0 900 limit to gen
eral fund.- expenses.
1T may be painful. he told the
| Commissioners, but it can be done
! if blue pencil is used with courage
and vigor."
| Mr.. Lusk said that for IA years hi.
association has called for economy
in District government. In making
up the 1948 budget, he urged the fol-
lowing points:
| /. No new projects should be ap-
proved.
2. No new employees should be
hired except those made necessary
by the 40-hour week.
3. The deficit should be held to q
minimum.
4. Every department head should
- f0
searching effort to cut expenses In
his department.
S. The deficit should be accom-
panied by a money-raising plan.
s. The final budget should not in
volve a rise in real and personal
property tax rates.
Urges Photostat Purchase.
AS a sample of departmental
\ economy, Mr.. Lusk said expenses OF
the recorder Of deeds could be cut
at least in two and probably more
by spending $4,000 for photostat
machinery.
Speaking for the Federation OF
Civic Associations, the Rev. James
L. Pin urged expenditures to i'm
prove conditions in the colored pub
| lie schools. He pointed to double
shifts for pupils now being main
tanned in several of the colored
schools as an important situation
that needs correction.
After hearing the testimony of the
civic spokesmen. the Commissioners
will ."mark up the departmental re-
quests for submission to the Bureau
of the Budget. After determining
an overall total of items they deem
essential they are expected to OBJ
tain from Corporation Counsel Ver-
non E. West ey-raising plan,
in legislative form, to cover any
deficit.
A special revenue committee head
ed by Mr.. West already has pro-
posed a point program of new
taxes to raise SIT, 100000 for the
general fund 1t also has suggested