Evening star., 1950-03-09
Fowler Reviews
D. {. Finances
For Senate Unit
Water Supply Funds
Are Biggest Problem,
He Says at Hearing
By Don S. Worren

District Budget Officer Walter
L. Fowler today outlined the city's
financial problems as Senate
hearings opened on the Districts
S119.200.000 spending program for
the year beginning July l.
In the course of the hearings
District officials are expected to
ask the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee for funds to start
the projected East Capitol bridge
across the Anacostia and to estab-
lish a new civilian defense organ
ization.
At the outset of today's hear
ings the testimony was similar to
that given earlier in the year to
the House Appropriations Sub
committee, which has not yet pub
licly disclosed what cuts it plans
in the District budget.
The biggest problem to be
solved, Mr.. Fowler told the Senate
group, is the financing for great
expansion of the city'S water sup
ply system. He said it would be
necessary for the District to bor-
row many millions" in order to
make these capital improvements
Source Is Adequate.
Proposed legislation to permit
the District to borrow funds from
the Treasury for this purpose now
is under study at the Budget Bu-
reau and by members of the
House and Senate District Com
mitteeS.
Mr.. Fowler said the District
reached potentially dangerous
situation" last summer when
heavy water usage, combined with
hot weather, to lower supplies in
the reservoirs.
When Appropriations Subcom-
mittee Chairman Hill and Senator
Hunt, Democrat, of Wyoming
asked for further details, Mr.
Fowler explained that the Dis
trict has an ample source of water
in the Potomac, but that costly
projects were needed to increase
the intake of water and to expand
the reservoirs, filtration and dis
tribution systems.
Mr.. Fowler showed the pending
budget called for an outlay of
$11,645, 900 for new construction,
including more than 81 million for
schools, $538000 for starting a
children's welfare center at Laurel,
Md, and for improvements at the
Home for the Aged and 1nf1rm.
Senator Hunt asked if this pro-
gram would bring schools up to
proper standards. Mr.. Fowler said
school officials say it will be pos
sible by next fall to put all school
classes back on full-time instruc-
ton.
Taxes Seen Adequate.
The budget officer said it was
the hope of the Commissioners
they would not have to ask for
any additional or increased taxes
for some years to come. ''If we
are left alone for a couple of years
and there is no new legislation
placing additional burdens on the
CITY," he said, I'VE will be all
right"
The budget, he explained, calls
for Sal additional employees,
whereas the department heads
had asked for 1.781. OF the extra
employees recommended, 146 are
needed to put the Fire Depart
ment on a 60-hour week, he eX-
planned. Two of the new en-
ployes would be budget examiners
to carry out departmental man
agement and efficiency studies, in
keeping with the Federal Govern
ment program relating to the
Hoover Commission report.
Corporation Counsel Vernon E
West made a plea for an increase
in his staff, which he said was
more swamped with work" now
than at any time in the last &c
years.
The Commissioners are expected
to ask for 100000 for civilian de-
fense work during the next f1sca
year to provide for a full-time
director and small staff.
Quick Action Sought.
In deficiency bill, they also will
ask for much smaller sum 81
this work can be started at once
Money sought by the city head!
for the East Capitol street spar
has been stricken from the bulge
in the House, it is reliably re.
ported, because of the agency fighr
over the location of the bridge.
One District officials said last
night. however. that when thi.
item is reached in the Senate
study of the bill, city officials viii
ask for its approval.
A legislative bill indorsing the
East Capitol street site as against
the Massachusetts, avenue plan
backed by the National Capita,
Park and Planning Commission
now is under study by the House
District Committee.
S6 Million Cut Reported.
There have been reports thai
the Bates Subcommittee of tht
House Appropriations COMMITTEES
has recommended a cut in tht
city's 1851 budget of about 81
million, including money for the
bridge.
The District bill this year wa.
to have become a part of al
omnibus bill covering all Govern.
ment departments. But recently
Chairman Cannon of the House
Appropriations Committee said HI
planned to sever the city bill from
that of the national agencies ane
to treat 1t separately.
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