Evening star., 1950-02-10
Water Rate Increase
Held Possible 10 Paw
For Expanded System
By Don S. Worren

By Don S. Warren
Worry over money to pay for a
huge program to expand the Dis
trict's water supply system is the
one big cloud shadowing. city fl
nances today, Budget Officer Wal
ter l.. Fowler has advised Con-
gress.
Except for that issue, still un-
settled, he could see no "imme-
diate" prospect of any further in
crease in taxes.
This was one of the highlights
of testimony by city officials at the
recent executive hearings before
the Bates Subcommittee of the
House Appropriations Committee
the first half of which was pub
lished today.
There are few other problems,
Mr.. Fowler explained, such as the
cost of a District civilian defense
program, if it should be ordered,
or another round of Government
pay raises. not now contemplated,
but which. he said, would be ruin
ous.D He also cited responsibility
for the Sesquicentennial program,
which city, officials promptly re-
jected.
Loan Is Sought.
The multi miliion-dollar water
supply development program was
described as definite irnmedi-
ate worry. City officials now are
proposing legislation to authorize
a big Treasury loan to finance this
work. This is under study by the
joint fiscal subcommittee of the
House and Senate District Com
mittees.
In the absence of such financing
Mr.. Fowler said, it might be nee
essary to increase water rents.
Aside from that possibility. how
ever, he said it was hoped there
would be no cause for any more
tax boosts ''for several years"
In this connection, Commis-
sioner John Russell Young raised
the question of civilian defense
work and suggested this might
have to be covered in a supple
mental appropriation request.
Church Scores Sesqui.
A prediction that the Sesoui-
centennial celebration would prove
Ia failure came from Representa-
tive Church, Republican, of Illi-
nois, member of the Bates Sub
committee.
Mr.. Church said he had voted
against the s3,ooO,Oo6 appropria-
ton for the celebration, which
Congress finally granted last year
and added that hoped this would
be repealed.
Mr.. Church said he thought
there would be grave doubts
about the continued legality of the
So. 100000 appropriation, shoulc
the Freedom Fair be postponed
from 1850 to 1851, as now recon.
mended by the executive commit
tee OF the Sesquicentennial Com
mission.
The budget, as submitted tt
Congress by the President, thu
Budget Bureau and the Commits.
sioners early in January, called
for an outlay in the fiscal year
beginning July, Of about $l19,.
zoe, 900.
There were reports recently
after the executive hearings BY
the Bates Subcommittee, that II
was recommending a cutback o1
at least $4,000, 900. Some reports
of economy cuts went even higher
A dim view of the possible eff.
fects OF the home rule bill, passed
by the Senate and now bottled ur
in the House District Committee
was expressed by Budget Officer
Fowler, responding to questions
from Representative Yates, Demo-
crat, of Illinois.
Sees Increase in Jobs.
Mr.. Fowler. an opponent of an
elected city government here, said
he thought adoption of the lome
rule bill would have every ma
terial' effect on city finances. For
one thing, he said, there Nouid
be considerably more" positions
in the city service.
The immediate costs of the
change-over, Mr.. Fowler said
would not be "insurmountable, 9
but he added he did not know
what the costs would be in the
following three or four years.
t'We are debt-free now, but not
for long," he added.
Several moves were made to i'm
prove the efficiency of the Dis
|trict's tax collection machinery.
One was a call for the purchase
of more mechanical equipment
and another. Mr.. Fowler's request
for two additional budget examin-
ers to do field work.