Evening star., 1947-10-09

also to do the absolute minimum of
capital improvements"
Armstrong Testifies.
The views expressed for the Board
Of Trade by Gen. McCoach were
generally echoed in behalf of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
by Kenneth p Armstrong, treasurer
of that organizatio
Mr.. Armstrong also urged that
heads of District departments should
discuss budget estimates with "a
representative body of citizens
organization before submitting
them to the commissioners.
THE Commissioners should urge
upon Congress the right of the NUM-
cipal government to make up it's
own budget, subject only to review
by Congress of overall limits of ex-
penditure and the amount of the
Federal payment" Mr.. Armstrong
said.
Referring to the excessive" esti-
mates. Gen. McCoach said in his
testimony that he doubted that,
under present circumstances, public
hearings on the budget serve any
useful purpose.
To correct the situation, he urged
the Commissioners to postpone pub
lie hearings in the future until not
only full estimates of expected rev.
enue are available, but also the
views of the Commissioners on the
real- needs and information on new
taxes necessary to supply them.
General Fund Items Estimated.
Under present tax laws and rates,
the District should have about SIT,
100000 IN funds chargeable to the
general fund in 1949, Gen. McCoach
estimated.
In the current 1948) fiscal wear.
he said, appropriations for operating
expenses alone are about ST. 500 600.
Rising costs would push that figure
even higher next year, he predicted.
With regard to capital improve
ments. Gen. McCoach pointed out
that about s17,0Oo,0OO for improve
ments would be available in 1883
from prior appropriations. He added
194e appropriations for highway and
water items must be added to this
figure, concluding:
With the present scarcity of labor
and materials, we believe this ap-
proximates the maximum that can
be expended economically. But
aside from the question of ability
to eXpend the funds, y Is this
the time to undertake too large a
construction program? We think
not"
The Washington Taxpayers As
sociation, through Charles j. Bauer,
put into the record a plea for econ
omy on behalf of the taxpayer.
Speaking for Rufus S. Lusk, the
association president, he pointed to
higher taxes and called on the COM
missioners OF use "a blue pencil in
reducing the budget.
Restriction Suggested.
Speaking also for the Building
Owners and Managers Association,
Mr. Bauer asked the commissioners
that in the future budget requests
from the department heads should
be restricted by the commissioners
to not more than 20 per cent above
the previous years appropriation.
Mrs Ralph H. DWan for the D. c.
League of Women Voters stressed
the need for departments of Educa-
ton, Health and Welfare and asked
especially for granting the budget
of the Department of Public We'll
fare. She recommended that the
distribution of liquor by the District
Government as possible large
source of revenue should be looked
into. Her organization, she said.
is opposed to the sales tax, until all
other means of obtaining revenues
have been exhausted.
Miss Eta Taggart, Of the Wash
1ngtonians, proposed that a lottery
under strict Government control
be established for raising public
funds.
Larger Federal Payment Urged.
Speaking for the Federation OF
Civic Associations, John A. Upshur
urged that a capital improvement
program for the District be limited
to imperative needs" He insisted
that the Federal Government should
share more in the cost of running
the District, and that sound tax
program should be shared by all
residents who are able to pay"
Municipal government departments