Evening star., 1949-04-08
Police, Health
Officers Seek
More Funds
District Spokesman
Ask Increases Bused
On Proposed Tax Bill

appearing before a Senate appro-
priations subcommittee to urge
increases in appropriations for the
next fiscal year which would be
covered by the proposed $4,000
600 tax bill.
Folice Supt. Robert j. Barrett
appealed to the subcommittee
headed by Senator Hill. Democrat.
of Alabama, to add s146,145 to
the House total for the police de-
partment, to raise the sum to
S6,480,000. He was followed by
Health Officer George c. Ruhland,
who asked restoration of numer-
Gus items left out Of the fund bill.
for. economy reasons. by the
House.
Maj. Barrett asked additional
funds to permit an increase of ID
in the police force. including seven
clerks; replacement Of the now
outmoded radio system. and re-
placement Of worn-out automo-
pllGS dllu OtOICyClCo.
He said the Federal Communi-
cations Commission has instructed
the District to replace the old
mobile transrnitters with fire.
quency modulation equipment by
June 80 of next year. Anticipat-
ing such conversion, Maj. Barrett
said, the department for several
years has neglected to replace
old equipment. AS a result. he
added, the old equipment has
reafhed an age where its main
tenAnce will cost more. than its
replacement.
Conversion Sought.
Il he department is asking $780,
900 for converting half OF the
equipment next year. and the re-
mainder in the following year.
Senator Saltonstall, Republican,
of Massachusetts,, suggested it
might be well to do all of the radio
replacement in the coming year,
but Mai. Barrett doubted whether
the work would be done that fast.
Arthur r. Pilkerton. district
auditor, submitted figures to show
the District is faced with a deficit
of $154,000 for pensions and re-
lief of retired policemen and fire
men. He said the House had al
lowed only $2,500.000 for the next
fiscal year, although records show
the cost for the current year will
run $2,654.o00.
Mr.. Pilkerton noted also that
II Congress grants the $3.50 pay
raise to District employees, the
question will come before Con-
gress as to increasing the pensions
for retired policemen and firemen.
Chairman Hill said this might
run the police and fire retirement
costs to more than $3,000,000.
DR.. Ruhland. asking for the res.
toration of numerous items in the
departments administration, told
the committee that for lack of
funds to hire nurses and attend
ants, the cancer detection pro-
gram would have to be curtailed.
Since the District cannot afford
to hire the nurses, the program
would become only one of cancer
registration.
Pay Raises Discussed.
Senator Hill hoped to finish
hearings today.
Prospects of pay raises for city
workers, improvements in District
schools and restoration of many
services cut out by the House
were discussed during a long hear
ing yesterday.
But warning came from Dis
trict Budget Officer Walter L.
Fowler that pay raises. or resto-
ration of eliminated items could
not become effective unless the
peAding revenue bill Is enacted
or there is a great increase in
tha Federal payment to the city.
The revenue measure, passed
BY the House and amended by
thd Senate District Committee
hal been ordered placed on the
Senate calendar.
Mr.. Fowler submitted to the
committee figures showing that
the combination revenue bill as
approved by the Senate commit
tee would raise $17,756.250 a year
including $15.345,00O from the
sales and use tax.
Urges Early Passage.
Urging its early enactment, Mr.
Fowler warned that for every
month of delay after May /. the
city would lose $1.289.000.
district Commissioner j. Rus
sell Young explained the District
budget of s103.32i ,427 had Deer
cut by the House more thar
$4,000 900 to what the commits
sioners have considered an "aus.
sterity" condition of around $685.
100000.
The supply bill as it came tt
the Senate from the House stand.
at IS98, 1923 ,621, including three cat.
egories-the general fund, high.
way fund and water fund.
Plight of the public school sys'
ten was depicted by several wit
nesses. Funds were asked fol
some specific projects, more
te&chers, supplies and future
planning.
Emphasis on Spingarn.
Much emphasis was laid on thu
REQUEST for the Spingarn High
School for Negro pupils in North.
east Washington, and an addi'
tion to the Powell School Build.
ing for use of the Bell Vocationa
School students now housed
there.
Strong appeal for enactment
of the revenue. bill. including tn,
2 per cent sales tax. was voicee
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