Evening star., 1946-02-19
D. {. Unit 0Ks
48-Hour Week
For Firemen
Proposal Awoits
Fiscal Study by
Commissioners
By Don S. Worren

AoAAAo Aoi OIL 1liCl Cast IL
the Federal payment toward tn,
District government, plus prob
able increased taxes, were sound.
ed today before the Hebert Sub
committee of the House Distric
Committee when it reported
favorably on plan to place Dis.
'trict firemen on a 49, houl
week.
The favorable report was ordered
after less than two hours consider.
alton, but the subcommittee heades
by Representative Hebert, Democrat
OF Louisiana recommended that &C.
tlon be delayed by the full commit.
tee until report is received from
the Commissioners on possible ad.
litional city revenues.
This recommendation was at.
tached because the question of re.
ducing the flremen's average work
week from ~ hours to 48 hours col.
llded with an impending municipal
deficit. 1t was estimated the EN-.
ployment of some 432 additional
flremen. to make the third platoon
system possible, would entail an i'm
mediate additional annual cost
OF more than 81 1876 900, and by the
end of five years that the cost would
go to $1,500,000 a year.
Finance Discussed.
The lively session then turned into
a round-table discussion on District
finance and the responsibility OF
Congress toward meeting mounting
District costs. Proposals were made
by committee members that the
fiscal issue be placed squarely before
the House.
Aroused over the dark financial
picture drawn by Commissioner
John Russell Young, Representative
Combs, Democrat, of Texas declared
during the fiscal debate: What WE
have come to is that Congress has
got to rediscover the responsibility
OF the United States toward the
costs of the development and main
tenance of its National Capital"
Declaring that the present $6,000,-
900 Federal payment is too low, the
Texan called for a restudy and a
new approach to the Districts
financial problems.
McDOnough Supports Stand.
He was joined by Representative
McDonough, Republican, of Cali
fornia, who declared that the Nation
has pride in its National Capital
and that the responsibility for
proper financial arrangements rests
with Congress"
Mr.. McDonough added that on
the question of the Federal pay
ment he believed Congress has not
represented the attitude of the
people of the country toward the
District.
Mr.. Combs replied that the Dis
trict Committee has legislative re-
sponsibility of initiating legislation
to correct the situation.
Commissioner Young expressed
delight at the attitude of the Dis
trict committeeman on the fiscal
problem and reported that a COM
mittee of District officials and citi-
zens now is at work on methods oi
raising additional revenue, includ-
ing the hope for much larger Fed
eral payment. He and Chairman
Hebert recommended study of the
comprehensive financial report or
the District recently placed before
the House by Representative Ste
phan, Republican, of Nebraska
ranking minority member of the
House subcommittee which writes
the annual District supply bill.
Hebert Pessimistic.
Chairman Hebert, who has re-
peatedly demanded an increase ir
the Federal payment through adop-
tion of a fixed formula. took a some
what pessimistic attitude because
of what he called the sorry record
Of the House in past actions on this
point.
Mr.. Young said there is much
more hope" for fiscal equity thi:
year, and it was here that Repre-.
sentative Combs urged that the fire.
mems shorter hour week bill bt
used as vehicle to call for decisive
House action on the financing.
There was reference in the dis
cussion to the Federal payment
formula advocated some years age
by Senator Overton, Democrat, OF
Louisiana, which the Senate adopt
ed by an overwhelming majority
but which was shelved by the House
and the similar formula now being
advocated by Senator O'Mahoney
Democrat, of Wyoming.
Sales Tax Favored.
AS to possible additional tax rev.
enues, both members of the COM
mittee and spokesmen for the fire.
mems bill advocated adoption of a
sales tax, exempting necessities
which Mr.. Young estimated might
bring in as much as $5 100000 addi-
tional annually.
Commissioner Young and Corpo-
ration Counsel Vernon West esti-
mated that in future fiscal years
the District government would need
at least 100000 additional rev.
enue to meet obvious demands, and
that this extra cost might 60 to
$4,000, 900.
Mr.. Young said he was fully ir
favor of the shorter work week bill
and wished he could indorse il
without qualifications, but he notee
the Presidents budget message or
the District for the next fiscal veal
contained warnings that additiona
costs above the proposed $81 500 ,00(
for 1947 would create a deficit sinct
the proposals would exhaust all Dis.
trict resources except some 5000 ,00(
of the postwar capital investment
fund.
For this reason he urged thai
the firemen's legislation be withheld
until additional revenues, including
an increased Federal payment, were
In sight.
Among those who championee
the 48-hour week for f1remen were
Capt. Joseph W. Conroy, president
of the District Firemen's Associa-
ton; James w. Cannon, genera
counsel of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars; j. H. Lieb, legislative direc.
tor of the Amvets; Fire Chic.
Stephen T. Porter, and George
Richardson Secreta ry-trea s1trer m