Evening star., 1952-04-16
Less Drastic Cut
Seen for Budget
|nSubcoIrlmittee
Senate Unit Lends
Some Hope Of D. c.
Fund Liberalization
By Don S. Worren

be reported before the end of
this month by the Hill Subcom-
mittee Of the Senate.
If present indications are up
held, it will call for restoration of
a full $12 million Federal pay
ment and for reinstatement of
much Of the $50 million the House
cut from the city spending pro-
gram.
There was no official pro-
nouncement. Senator Hill. Demo-
crat, of Alabama withheld any
kind Of prediction. except that
the Senate bill would carry funds
for planning the new Training
School for Girls at the Children's
Center at Laurel, Md.
But he and another subcom-
mittee member. Senator Hunt,
Democrat, of Wyoming. already
had promised to fight for a full
Federal payment. Witnesses
documenting the justice Of this
cause were given a full hearing.
Likewise, members of the Senate
unit turned q sympathetic ear
to the pleas Of District officials
and citizens for restoring most
Of the spending cuts ordered by
the House.
81 Witnesses.
Yesterday no fewer than 81
citizen witnesses outlined argu-
ments for a bigger Federal pay
ment or for more liberal appro-
priations for many services. These
included schools, welfare, health,
police protection, funds for preserv-
ing the Veterans Service program,
funds or no reduction in super
vised play centers, for more traffic
lights and more downtown auto
mobile parking.
Some days will be required to
print the transcript Of the hear
ings. The bill is expected to be
marked up before the end of the
month, officials said.
Nearly all of yesterdays citizen
witnesses demanded restoration of
the 20 per cent. $2.4 million cut
in the Federal payment ordered
recently by the House. Some de-
manded much higher payments.
Some urged also that Govern
ment loans are needed to bring
school and welfare housing up to
modern needs. Such discussion
was highlighted by Alexander B.
Hawes for the United Community
Services. who said the District
needed firm building program. !"
Loan Plan Suggested.
This brought from Chairman
Hill the comment that a COM
panion need was a planned means
of financing such a program. Mr..
Halves suggested q loan plan SIM
liar to that under the Capper-
Cramton Act for purchase Of
parks and Fairgrounds.
Mrs. Charlotte Price, speaking
for the Washington Chapter of
Americans for Democracy, urged
the Senate to restore $475,00 to
the budget the House denied for
the Health Department, Gallinger
Hospital and the Glenn Dale San
atorium.
For the Washington Council of
Jewish Women, Mrs. Jack j.
Gottsegen requested more funds
to relieve the pathetic situation
in schools and welfare, and asked
for a, higher Federal payment to
make it possible.
Mrs. Ernest w. Howard, for
the Columbia Heights Citizens
Association and the Northwest
Council, called for restoration of
the $4,000 the House cut from
the police budget. She said 1t
would be most inconsistent for
Congress to spend money to in
vestigate the police and then to
deny the Police Department money
needed to build a force of the
fright kind of men,"
Veteran Urges Funds.
A Marine veteran of World War
II, John Kearney, told of per-
Sonal experience in a plea for
restoration of funds, cut by the
House. for the Veterans Center
Severely injured in a plane
crackup in 1945, he filed a diSa-
bility claim the next year, but
made no progress until after he
was given aid in 1948. by the Dis
trict Veterans Center, he said
His case finally was processed in
1850.
Chairman Hill said he thought
there should be no worry over
continuation Of the center's serv-
ices.
Half a dozen organizations gave
solid backing to the petition of
the Commissioners that the budget
for the Motor Vehicle Parking
Agency, cut by $4,000 by the
House, be restored to the requested
$127, 900.
In the interest Of providing
downtown parking and thereby
preserving the values of downtown
business properties, the full budget
request was supported by spokes-
men for the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association. the
American Automobile Association
Keystone Automobile Club. the
Washington Automotive Associa.
ton and the Retail Gas Dealers
Association.
Washington I. Cleveland. fol
the AAA and other groups. said
the parking situation has become
critical and that decentralization
moves are increasing. He noted
that the District was pushing Q
multi i-million- dollar program 70,
new traffic arteries but warned
this would only add to congestion
and confusion downtown unless
concurrently the District provided
more terminal parking facilities
100000 From Fees.
The Motor Vehicle Parking
Agency soon will have 100000
from parking meter fees. to use
for parking facilities, he said, anc
now has plans for $1,000 addi-