Evening star., 1949-04-08
District Heads
Again fol Urge
Bigger Budget
Burrett to Be First
To Appear Before
Senote Subcommitte,

actment of the s1S,O00,000 city
revenue bill, today resumed testi-
mony before a Senate Appropria-
tions subcommittee to ask SUBJ
stantial increases in the House
passed 99,000,0 900 supply bill for
the next fiscal year.
Maj. Robert j. Barrett, super
intendent of police, was to be the
first witness. He will be followed
by officials of the Fire Depart
ment and other branches Of the
District Government.
Senator Hill, Democrat. Of Ala
bama, subcommittee chairman,
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 long hear
ing yesterday.
Fowler Cites Need of Revenue.
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
pending revenue bill is enacted
or there Is a great increase in
the Federal payment to the city
The revenue measure, passed
by the House and amended by
the Senate District Committee
has been ordered placed on the
Senate calendar. 1t would pro-
vide nearly $18,O00.o00 to meet
pay raises and prevent a deficit
at the end of the next fiscal
year.
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 $15.345.000 from the
sales and use tax.
Urges Early Passage.
Urging it's early enactment, Mr..
Fowler warned that for every
month of delay after May l. the
city would lose 1929. 900.
During the hearing several
Senators with friendly questions
drew from District witnesses.
strong testimony to support the
vital needs of the District govern
ment.
District Commissioner j. Rus
sell Young explained the District
budget of s103.321,427 had oeen
cut by the House more than
s4,000,000 to what the commits
sioners have considered an aus
sterity" condition of around $99,-
o0o, ,o00.I 2 .E sf .5'. t'f-'N. .7f5
With prospects of new taxes
from the revenue bill, however,
and revised estimates of regular
expected revenues. he asked the
Senate subcommittee to restore
more than $3,000,000 of the funds
cut out by the House, and to aod
$557 300 in new money.
Referring to the city's general
fund, Mr.. Young asked restora-
ton of $3,200.742, and new sums
of $546,300. These two changes,
he explained would bring the gen.
eral fund up to $87,118,512, which
would be $6O9.115 below the gen.
eral fund budget estimates sent
to Congress.
Bill, Totals S9S,923,621.
The supply bill as it came to
the Senate from the House stands
al $98, 1923, ,621, including three cat
esories-the general fund, high
way fund and water fund.
Explaining that the prospective
d@ficit for the coming fiscal year
Originally stood at $8,077 ,627,
Commissioner Young said the
Budget Bureau had estimated a
revenue increase of 100000.
If the restorations and amend
ments requested were to be added
to the budget by the Senate, he
explained, the deficit would be
reduced to $7,168.112. But pay
increases for city workers. for both
the present and the coming fiscal
year. he predicted. would raise the
prospective deficit to $17,837, ,915.
With latest estimates of the new
city revenue bill expected to run
over $4,000, 900. the Commission
err predicted the deficit could be
eliminated, and a small surplus of
about $4,000 left at the end OF
the fiscal year.
School Plight Described.
Plight of the public school sys-
tenn was depicted by several wit
nesses. Funds were asked for
some specific projects. more
teachers, supplies and future
planning.
Much emphasis was laid on the
request for the Spingarn High
sfhool for Negro pupils in North
east Washington, and an addl-
tibn to the Powell School Build
irig for use of the Bell Vocational
school students now housed
there.
lStrong appeal for enactment
of the revenue bill. including the
2 per cent sales tax. was voiced
by Senator Hunt. Democrat, OF
wyoming. He said the budget
now was at rock bottom" and
the city deserved more services
and capital improvements.
Favors Home Rule Bill.
IIf the revenue bill and the
home rule bill for Washington
with its increased Federal pay
ment towards city costs, were to
become law, he predicted that
the District would have its fiscal
dilemma solved for years to
cdne.
The National Capital then
could become. he sad, what We
wAnt it to be, the most beautiful
city in all the world. of which
lie ,,ou, tha roy,;fol