Evening star., 1947-03-21

For Wafer Il Uses in
Pools, Mason Says
The charge that Government Serv-
ices, Inc, has not paid and refuses
to pay the District for water used ir
certain of its facilities was made
today by Commissioner Guy Mason
This charge followed his testimony
before a Senate-House subcommit-
tee on District revenues yesterday
that, although GSI may lose money
on some of its activities, 1t makes ul
for such losses with profits from
other concessions such as the sia
swimming pools it operates or
grounds paid for by the District
government.
Commissioner Mason added today
that GSI pays nothing for the water
used to fill and refill these pools.
The Commissioner said further
that GSI, although billed, has re.
fused to pay $1,000 for water useo
during the past three years in its
District Armory Cafeteria on the
ground that it is Government
agency.
School Costs to Be Studied.
This situation, he contended, fur
ther supports proposals before the
subcommittee yesterday that the
District take over outdoor activities
such as swimming pools and park
facilities, now operated by GSI.
The proposal, made by Recrea-
ton Superintendent Milo Christian
sen and Endorsed by Mr.. Mason, re-
suited in a request that Mr.. Christ
Jansen prepare legislation for sub
mission to the subcommittee to
transfer park facilities to the Dis
trict Recreation Board.
Meanwhile, the joint subcommit-
tee planned a close study of Dis
trict school costs and the educa-
tional services given some $500 pu-
pills who come from other States
when hearings are resumed next
week.
Senator Cain and Representative
Bates, chairmen of the Senate and
House District fiscal subcommittee,
today scheduled superintendent
Hobart M. Corning for at least a
full-day discussion of school depart
ment expenditures which account
for more than 20 per cent of Dis
trict budget outlays.
Superintendent Corning will take
the stand Wednesday. Heads OF
the District Engineers office
Library, Purchasing Department
and Rent Control Administration
will be questioned Tuesday on rea-
sons for increased spending in recent
years, Senator Cain announced.
Probers Seek More Data.
Members of the joint subcommit-
tee examining the Districts pro-
posed $19,000,000 tax program fol
not only in knowing whether schoo
costs are justified. They also want
to learn what extent the District
school system serves the Fedora
Government. directly or indirectly
without reimbursement.
Representative Bates said he will
ask school officials about reports
that considerable number of pu-
pills who live in nearby Virginia
and Maryland attend District pub
lie schools. He added he hopes tt
obtain authoritative information or
those whose families come from
every part of the United States
and live in the District for COM
paratively short periods
. Material he has compiled indi.
Gates the District school system
contributes the equivalent of $780,
900 year to the Federal Government
CT other States by accepting those
pupils without compensation, Mr.
Bates said.
Third Session of Hearings.
Yesterdays session was the thire
since the joint subcommittee startee
open hearings last Tuesday on reve.
hue aspects of the Districts esti.
mated budget of $95 100000. Wit,
neSeSes in addition to Mr.. Christian
sen included Alcoholic Beverag.
Control Board Chairman Alan w
Payne and Director Donald Glen.
mer of the Department of Correc.
! tions.
Following the meeting, Represent
ative Bates land CommissioneI
Mason had an informal discussion
of general budgetary problems. Mr.
Bates declared the District bulge
should be sent separately and di'
rectly to Congress instead of as 8
part of the Federal budget and sub
ject to Federal Budget Bureau ap.
proval.
That has always been my view,
Mr.. Mason said.
MI. Bates explained the mair
purposes of such a procedure woulc
be to speed congressional action anc
to focus congressional as we'll az
public attention on the Importance
of the District budget each year.