Evening star., 1950-05-19

uldI keIS ana on the GSn Wnar1 At
a substantial increase in rent
| Veterans Service Study Asked.
The committee also called for a
study Of the work being done by
the Veterans Services Agency of
the District Government. with
particular emphasis on its value to
the citizens of the District and on
the necessity for the continuation
Of the agency"
It said 1t knew of excellent
work" being done by the agency
but was led to believe from testi-
mony that this service had been
extended ito fields beyond the
original intent of the Commits
isioners and Congress" While
awaiting results Of such a study,
1T granted an appropriation Of
$ll3,650 for the agency. This was
$3.50 below the budget estimated
and s4,050 below the 1850 fiscal
year appropriation.
The committee granted some in
creases requested for the courts
of the District, but voiced con-
Germ over the high and steadily
increasing costs" of the courts.
1t said it could find no apparent
reason for the requested in
creases. and directed the Com
missioners and the chief judges
of the Municipal Court of Appeals.
the Municipal Court and the
Juvenile Court to make a study of
court costs.
Specifically. it directed that a
study be made Of the feasibility
of the unif1cation of some" of
the law Libraries now existing in
the courts. 1t added that the
committee expected" savings to
be reflected thereby in the budget
estimates for the fiscal year 1852.
Welfare Review Sought.
At another point the committee
protested that in the administra-
tion of the city's welfare program
the public welfare director had
to administer the program under
three separate laws. 1t called for
Sinplif1cation of this set-up.
along with a complete review of
the welfare division so that only
one assistant director of welfare
would be required.
1t also called for a study of the
work load on the welfare staff, as
it pertains to the problems of chill
dren, suggesting that one official
might be charged with the over
all supervision of this highly i'm
portant work"
Under another suggestion of the
committee, the District would be
charged with $4,000 of the costs
OF the operation of the Office of
Vocational Rehabilitation. At
present, it said. the District Is the
only jurisdiction whose office is
operated by the personnel of the
Federal Security Agency. In the
past. it said. the District has
borne only a small part of the
total cost.
In keeping with this plan to
transfer such a cost to the Dis
trict, the committee also has rec
commended a reduction in a Fed,
eral appropriation for this work
by 100000, believing that the
District should bear its fair share
Of the cost" of this rehabilitation
program.
Bridge Painting Mentioned.
Even the problem Of a system
attic program for the painting Of
bridge structures drew the at
tention of the Bates committee
1t said, and the full Appropri-
ationS Committee agreed, that
such a program cafiasbe accom-
plished more economieally by the
use of contractors than by using
the Highway Departments forces
and the departments purchasing
OF necessary equipment and sup
plies.
The committee also made a
heavy slash in requested funds for
snow removal equipment and per-
sonnel and directed the Commits
sioners to combine into one ac-
count the snow removal costs now
charged to several of the engineer
divisions, including highway. water
and sewer agencies.
The House committee also d.