Evening star., 1947-06-12
Spending ofD.C.
Funds Probed
By House Group
Horon Offers Bill
Calling for z Pct.
Tux on Sales

A complete inquiry into the
system under which District
funds are being spent was an
nounced today by the House shb-
committee writing the 1948 city
supply bill.
Representative Horan. Republican.
Of Washington. chairman of the
District Subcommittee Of the House
Appropriations Committee, said the
study is being made as an outgrowth
of the committees inquiry into ex-
penditure of welfare money.
Meantime, Mr.. Horan introduced
in the House a sales tax for the
District calling for per cent levy
across the board"
Senate to Get Similar Bill.
This bill, he said, is identical with
the amendment he attempted un-
successfully to insert into the Dis
trict omnibus bill which has passed
the House and is now before Sem
ate District Fiscal Subcommittee
Mr.. Horan said Senator Dworshak,
Republican, of Idaho had promised
to introduce a similar bill In the
Senate
The appropriations subcommittee.
Chairman Horan emphasized, will :
look into the disburSing practices of
the whole District government in
the new study. 1t may result into q
check of the audit and budget con-
troll of District funds.
This announcement was made by
Mr. Horan after morning session
of the committee attended by the
three District Commissioners, the
District budget officer and repre-
sentatives of the Welfare Board.
Welfare Data Studied.
The Horan Subcommittee has
taken many pages of testimony re-
garding the full welfare load being
borne by District taxpayers, adding
the work of various private agencies
to District and Federal welfare and
relief outlays, the costs of Unem-
ployment Compensation and the
unemployed" lodged in District
penal institutions. ..
Asked what guide such figures
gave as to the size of the pending
welfare budget, he said this ques-
ton would be examined during the
analysis of the welfare budget re-
quests at today's session.
Discussions with private welfare
leaders, he said, has convinced him
there is need for establishing
city-wide advisory council on public
assistance that would have more
freedom than that OF the Council
of Social Agencies.
Receiving Home Work Approved.
Chairman Horan yesterday au-
thorized District officials to proceed
with the construction of the long
projected new Receiving Home for
Children.
Mrs. Koran, after discussing the
question during the previous "a
hours, announced last night he had
withdrawn his request that ground
breaking for the new home be de-
layed.
At first he had questioned wheth-
er the new $685., 900 building project
was essential, if nondelinquent Dis
trict wards could be housed in fos-
ter homes. Yesterday, he modified
his objections, suggesting some re-
vision of plans to cut down the size
of the new home; but by last night
he had withdrawn his objections.
although he is not entirely salts
fed the project is required.
Gets Reaction of Others.
Seeking to save District funds and
to bring about an improvement in
the welfare setup, he had suggested
an expansion of the foster home
care service to replace the need for
the new home. He asked for
the reaction of spokesmen for
public and private groups and said
withdrawal of his objections was
based on their arguments it would
be well to proceed with the plans
now in hand.
"The cost of provision of the new
Receiving Home seems to me to be
rather huge" he said, "but maybe
it is unavoidable. I still think it
might be possible to avoid this, but
the groups I have consulted recon-
mend that the project be carried
through. have given my sanction
to that"
He has indicated, however, he will
recommend larger appropriations
for the foster home care program.
to permit more Of the Districts
child wards to be given foster care
instead of being placed in the
Receiving Home.
H-Hour Week Urged.
At the conclusion of yesterday
afternoons executive hearings, Mr..
Koran renewed his earlier proposal
that the 40-hour work week, at
least for some District divisions.
be increased to a hours.
7 think we neeo some corrective
legislation" he said.
The 40-hour week, he commented
was adopted with the thought II
would help in spreading employ
ment. Yet it is a known fact, hn
added, that there are plenty" cf
Government workers who are hold-
ing outside jobs as well as their
Government posts. 1t is made pos
sioie, ne said, by the 4o-hour week.
Macarthur at Tokyo Fete
TOKYO, June IL fR-Gen. Mac
arthur made one Of his infreouent