Evening star., 1951-06-05
S137.7 Million
Dc. Supply Bill
is Reported Out
Record Figure Lower
By $2,736,775 Than
Asked by Truman
By Don S. Wurren

A record District supply bill for
the fiscal year beginning July /.
calling for outlays of $137, 7,776,375
was recommended to the House
today by it's Appropriations Com
mittee.
The total spending plan is
$2,736,775 below the budget re-
quests of the Commissioners and
President-a cut that had been
predicted in recent days. The bill
was drafted by the District SUBJ
committee headed by Representa-
tive Bates, Democrat, of Kentucky.
S3.2 Million Surplus Indicated.
The bill is balanced. In fact,
the report of the Bates subcom-
mittee estimates there will be a
met surplus at the end of the next
year of about $3.2 million after
Iearmarking $2,250,000 for antici-
Ipated contingencies.
One of these is an anticipated
budget request for 81 million for
District civil defense work.
The bill calls for a full $12
million Federal payment and the
hearings conducted by the Bates
subcommittee made a comprehen-
sive justification for such sum
as the Federal share of National
Capital costs.
A move to slice 10 per cent off
the Federal payment developed in
the Appropriations Committee
meeting this morning but was
defeated. The fight, however, will
be carried to the House, which is
scheduled to act on the bill
tomorrow.
Representative Andersen, Re-
publican, of Minnesota was re-
ported to have moved to cut $1.2
million from the $12 million pay
ment. Members said it was voted
down by 19 to 13.
Warn of Tax Increases.
! While the bill indicates there
will be modest surplus, District
officials have warned that the city
will face tax increases or a dras-
tic budget cut if Congress orders
an increase in the pay of Gov
ernment employees. Applied to
city government workers it is esti-
mated this will add between $4
to Sc million to next years costs.
Among highlights of the bill are:
l. A rejection of the request for
$275,000 to permit the District
Recreation Board to take over
control of the public golf links
from S. G. Leoffier. This is ex-
pected to provoke a contest in the
House from Representatives Riv-
ers, Democrat, of South Carolina.
and PoulSon, Republican, of Cali
Ifornia.
2. Approval of the full budget
request for $7,513,350 for the
school capital improvement pro-
gram.
3. A drastic reduction in the 81
additional teachers and super
Visors sought by school officials.
This was based on reports of de-
creased enrollments in numerous
white schools.
Would CentraliZe Athletics.
4. A grant of an additional $82,.
600 to convert the school athletic
program into centralized opera
ton.
5. Disapproval of requests for
adding about 200 men to the Met
ropolitan police force needed to
bring it up to full authorized
strength. The committee found
that the department has been un-
able to fill existing vacancies and
can see no reason to obligate funds
that probably could not be spent.
6. Grants of funds for Begin
ming of construction of a new in
dustrial home school on the Dis
trict'S 1000-acre Children's Center
tract near Laurel. Md, and a new
344-bed inflrmary at the home
for aged.
7. A grant of funds for an
proach roads and for continuing
Continued on Page A-9, Col. 21