Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-15
Georqetown Architecture Becomes Matter of Law nse
PIanfor 1917
InD.C. Job Fund
May Be Dropped
Reports Circulate
Ferguson Probably
Will Abandon Plan

w III 0D0h0Vu b0u
Reports circulated on Capitol
Hill yesterday that Senator Fergu-
son, Republican, of Michigan,
probably will abandon his plan to
apply a 10 per cent cut in person
mel funds to the District budget
bill for 1852.
Senator Ferguson has tackled
such a cut onto several pending
Federal Government appropriation
bills.
There was no confirmation of
his reported attitude on the Dis
trict bill, however, since the Sena-
tor was spending the week end in
Michigan.
However, he already has indi-
Gated his willingness to modify his
plan as to the District, so as to
exempt teachers. hospital attend
ants and probably other city work.
ers from the cut. His admins
trative assistant, William R. Reed,
said last night he does not know
how far the Senator will go in his
exemptions.
Broad Exemptions Seen.
Some others said they believe
the exemptions for the District
Government will be broad. They
pointed out that District officials
made a convincing argument
against any fiat 10 per cent job
fund cut City officials had said
it would wreck some services, hurt
others and perhaps cause greater
costs than prospective savings.
The District 1852 budget bill of
$137.7 million probably will be
marked up this week by the Dis
trict appropriations subcommittee.
headed by Senator Hill, Democrat,
of Alabama.
1t was to have been taken up
for action by the Senate early
this week, but there will be de-
lay until after the Senate takes
up the supply measure for the
Treasury and Post Office Depart
ments.
Instructions for '53 Budget.
Meanwhile. District department
heads, already have received in
Structions to submit their 1858
estimates to the Budget Office by
August 8.
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
this year is requiring a type of
estimate new to city officials. It
conforms with the performance"
method of budgeting followed by
Federal agencies.
A performance budget" stresses
the relationship between the ac-
tivities and services of government
agencies and their costS-Such as
f1re-fghtiffg and disease control
rather than the items of per-
sonnet and equipment needed.
Mr.. Fowler pointed out that the
new budget method requires a
work program for each agency.
indicating the kind and amount
of work which will be performed
with the funds requested.
Increases to Be Detailed.
The Fire Department, for in
stance, will set forth the number
of fire alarms to which it responds
and how much this costs. and how
much it costs to maintain appara-
tus, fire alarm equipment and fire
houses.
The estimates will detail in
creases in terms of those due to
higher costs, population or work
load, maintenance of standards
or expansion or new services.
Mr.. Fowler said the work pro-
gram should answer these ques-
tons:
What are we trying to do in
terms of end results-reduction OF
fire loss, improvement of streets,
more effective inspection service
How much of a job is it
more or less than last year, dur
ing the war period, or last prewa1
year, or whatever comparison in
times seems most pertinent to the
situation?
How Well Job is Done.
How well is the job being done
:. such as proportion of crime.
cleared by arrest, volume of fire
loss, or whatever index best meas
ures the extent to which the enc
result is being achieved?"
I'm time, this system will hell
to show up in clearer fashion
those departments which are in
clined to blow up their estimate
beyond reason" Mr.. Fowler said
No instructions to hold down
were issued, however. The bulge
officer said he believes each de
partment head should feel free II
ask the Commissioners for wha
he really believed he needed.
The performance budget" wa
defined in the Hoover Commission
report on the reorganization O
the executive branch of the Gov
eminent.