Evening star., 1949-05-09
BY Don S. Worren


nibus $4,000. 900 revenue bill,
including a per cent retail sales
tax, opened today in the Senate
with Senator Hunt. Democrat, OF
Wyoming. calling present revenues
totally inadequate" even to meet
minimum budget.
AS lead-off supporter Of the big
bill. Senator Hunt listed a pay
raise for $4,000 city workers and
inadequate funds for school and
welfare services as among major
reasons why the city must have
more revenue.
Senate action on the bill can
not come quickly because the SEN
ate leadership has agreed that the
bill will be laid side temporarily
by mid-afternoon to permit actor,
on an appropriation bill.
This is the supply measure for
the Treasury and Post ONCE De-
partments. which was reported
to the Senate by its Appropria-
tions Committee April 20.
Vote Possible Tomorrow.
The decision to take up the
Treasury-Post ONCE bill was
understood to have been reached
because the prospects were that
a final vote on the city tax mea-
sure was not to be expected until
at least tomorrow night. and may
be later. This would depend upon
how many Senator'S wanted to
talk. and for how long.
Senator Hunt said that while
the highway and water funds of
the District are sufficient to cover
the needs, the general fund for all
other city expenditures is far short.
Even with passage of the pending
bill with its sales tax, he said. a
surplus OF only $33.o85 was ex-
pected at the end of the next fiscal
year.
He brought out that while Fed
eral classified employees won a $3.50
pay raise as Of last July !. this
has not been granted to the city's
$4,000 employees because there was
insufficient revenue to meet the
cost. The sales tax has been ad-
vanced as needed to supply the
money for such a raise.
"It seems to be generally recog-
nized," Senator Hunt said, that
Congress has q moral obligation
to grant this pay raise"
Says Budget Is Not Padded.
II the pay raise Is made retro
active to last July /. the cost to
the District would be about $l0.-
100000
Speaking OF the $103, 400. 900
budget proposed by the Com
missioners for the year beginning
July l, Senator Hunt said this
lin no sense of the word is a
padded budget. Just the opposite
is true"
Outlining some Of the most
urgent needs of the school sys-
tenn. Senator Hunt referred to the
Strayer report on the District
schools and cited particularly Its
section on the need Of construc-
ton Of new buildings.
THE failure to provide such
needed construction" said Senator
Hunt. places handicaps on school
children that will be felt by them
throughout their lives"
Cites School Crowding.
Among other school shortage
problems. he listed the triple re-
lay" class plan at the Cardozo
High School.
i was surprised and amazed to
find as many as As children in q
single, classroom" Senator Hunt
added. He also made a point that
District school teachers are not
granted sick leave on pay but must
employ and pay for their substi-
tutes.
The Federal aid 10 education
bill passed recently by the Senate,
Senator Hunt said. would make
the District eligible to an annual
grant Of $3.50 900. This will help,
ne said. but would not bring the
Districts school system up to the
standard which should be main
tanned in the National Capital"
Opponents OF the sales tax pro-
vision of the bill have served
notice Of Q fight. Senator john
son, Democrat. Of South Carolina
plans to offer several amendments
He favors . big increase In the
Federal payment towards District
costs. q stronger income tax. and
higher liouor taxes.
Estimates Of Senate time avail
able to the District on its most
important legislation varied from
two days ito q week. The Senate
is far behind It's schedule with
major national and international
legislation backed up waiting for
action.
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