Evening star., 1946-09-23
DistrictChiefs
Explain Budget
0f$135,000,000
Commissioners Hear
Department Heads
Prior to Hearings
By Henry A. Muslin

The District Commissioners
today began hearing oral testi-
mony from the city's department
heads to supplement written re-
quests for the all-time record
$135, 1888, 1875 they have asked to
finance city services and con-
struction during the fiscal year
beginning next July /.
The city heads, together with
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler,
expect to devote about 10 days study
to the requests before calling in the
public to testify on the budget esti-
mates. After the Commissioners
have trimmed down the requests
they will be forwarded to Congress
for further action.
Heads of administrative and regu-
latory departments were the first to
appear today, including Corporation
Counsel Vernon West and Lawrence
Koenigsberger of the Board of Tax
Appeals.
Revenue executives were sched-
uled to appear later in the day.
Before the hearings started, the
District Highway Department sub
mitted its budget estimate calling
for expenditure of $7,189149 for the
next fiscal year, an increase of
$l,044, 149 over the current year.
In the budget estimate Highway
Director H. c. Whitehurst asked
for $4,000 to fight snow drifts, or
SIS 900 more than was allotted for
this purpose during the present
fiscal year. A new $4,000 blower
loader and four tractor leaders at
$3,750 each would account for two
thirds of the increase asked for
the work.
Expansion Planned.
Mr.. Whitehurst said it was de-
sired to go ahead with the planned
expansion of the Districts snow
fleet" begun in 1941 but held up
in 1943 because of wartime procure
ment difficulties. He said the pro-
posed blower loader, described as
"Sno-Go," would do the work
of 100 men, while the mechanical
leaders would combine to replace
"a manual laborers.
The overall request calls for
operating expenses, outlay of 81 ,904,-
149, of which s45, 1865 would be used
to hire additional employees, includ-
ing five assistant engineers, six
transitmen and six rodmen. The
department requested $1,450,000 for
the maintenance of streets and
bridges.
For capital outlay. S5,285, 900 was
asked. to be distributed this way:
To match Federal Aid Funds to
continue a three-year program of
highway and bridge construction
and elimination of railroad crossing
hazards, $2,125,000.
Paving Budget Doubled. |
For paving. repaving and resur- .
facing, S400 900, ouble the current
appropriation for such purposes. /
For grading, $4,000.
For curbs, cutters and shoulders,
$3.50, 900, double the present outlay.
For resurfacing, 100000, an in
crease OF 100000 over current allo-
cations.
For changing drainage structures,
$l50,000, one-third more than was
granted for this fiscal year.
For channelization of traffic, $780,
600. double the present outlay
For improving unpaved streets,
sloo, 900.
$4,000 for Condemnation.
For condemnation work, $4,000
For assessments and permits,
100000, an increase of $4,000 over
funds now available.
For completion of the South Capt.
tol Street Bridge over the Anacostia
River, 81 AGO 900, which would round
out the authorized appropriation
of s4,500.000 for the entire project
For construction of d warehouse
for supplies at Second and Bryant
streets NV, $4,000. Plans of the
City Refuse Division to build a new
incinerator and garage at Mt. Oil
vet road and West Virginia avenue
NE, where the Highway Depart
ment now stores much of its equip
ment, would necessitate the move.
For its Trees and Parkings Divi-
sion, the department asked s225 900,
an increase of S62,100 over the cur
rent appropriation.
Hire of an additional u per diem
employees at cost of $22420 to
assist in caring for the citys 12S,-
900 shade trees was sought.