Evening star., 1952-08-05
Officials Ready
To Start Cutting
District Budget
Revised Estimates
Will Be Studied by
Advisory Council

Commissioner r. Joseph Dono
hue said today the proposed Dis
trict budget for the next fisca
year will be submitted to the Citi
zens' Advisory Council for con
sideration. after the city head
have cut it down.
Representatives Of more thar
so organizations turned out yes.
terday for the all-day public hear.
ing on the budget.
After hearing the views of ths
citizens, the three Commissioner!
prepared to get to work cutting
the proposals.
$181 Million Requested.
The cut is inevitable. The de.
partment heads have requested
funds totaling $181 million. Thai
is some $40 million over antici.
pated revenues. Congress appro.
priated around $135 million fol
the District for the current fisca
year.
Once the cuts have been made
by the Commissioners, Mr.. Dono-
hue said, the Advisory Council
win look them over. The budget
then goes to the Budget Bureau
and the President, who eventually
submits the requests to Congress
The citizens appearing yester-
day testified on almost every
phase of the proposed budget
But schools, health, welfare and
sewer problems seemed to be the
things most concerning residents,
A number of leading civic
groups blamed the Districts f.
nancial plight on the refusal OF
Congress to pay the Federal Gov
ernment'S fair share of the city
costs. These groups included the
Board of Trade, the Federation
of Citizens Associations and the
Federation of Civic Associations
Summary of Views.
A summary of the views of cit
izens who appeared at the after
noon session of the hearing yes
terday follows:
w. F. Yearwood. Anacostia
Citizens Association: A new Ii.
brary is needed in Anacostia as
the present temporary one in q
store is too small. This has been
requested each year since 1947
with no results.
Mrs. Robert K. Richards, Cleve.
land Park Recreation Council: The
Macomb Playground needs a shell
ter house and ground improve
ments. These improvements tc
recreation in the area are needed
badly.
Giles e. Dawson, Connecticut
Avenue Citizens Association, Con-
necticut Avenue BusinesSmen's
Association. the Uptown Lions
Club and the Eaton School PTA:
Although the Cleveland Park
Branch Library is almost a reality
since money was appropriated by
Congress to build it this year, still
lacking are the community facili-
ties which should go with the
building. A wing should be added
to the still unstarted building fol
this purpose.
More for Child Welfare.
Charles T. Penn. Family anc
Child Services, United Community
Services: The Welfare Department
should be allowed more money fol
it's family and child welfare work
Shortage of public funds puts 9
strain on the private charities.
William S. Harps, Washington
Council Of the American Council
Of Human Rights: The segregated
school system should be abolished
to save the taxpayers money.
Ernest Thomas, Michigan Park
Citizens Association: The Michi-
gan Park area needs additional
sewer facilities Immediately.
James F. O'Donnell, Palisades
Citizens Associations: Expansion
of the recreation facilities at the
Palisades Park are needed to serve
the community adequately.
1t. Comdr. George Dixon, Health
School PTA: The Health School,
addition requested by the Schoo
Board at $399, 900 should be ap.
proved. The school also needs ad.
ditional staff.
Monroe Oppenheimer, United
Cerebral Palsy Association, anG
Mrs. F. r. Hader, Washington
Musclar Dystrophy: Both sup
ported the case of the Health
School PTA.
Pay for Federal Activities.
Karl K. Cover, North Washing.
ton Council of Citizens Associa.
tions: The District should not be
required to pay for things which
are the obligation of the Fedora
Government. These items include
the Zoo. the National Capital Parl
and Planning Commission, the
Park Police and nonresident pa.
tients at st. Elizabeths Hospital
The personnel property ia,
should be abolished. Money spent
for public assistance is too higf
and should not be increased abov,
that now being spent.
Coolidge High School should b,
given stadium, since there is nj
decent stadium for white higl
schools in the city since Centra
High was transferred to Coloret
students. The Emory Recreation
Center should be developed.
Arthur B. Cochel, Columbi
Park Community Club: Money t
finish up the Piney Branch sewe
project should be approved thi
year. Also. funds to expand tn
sewerage treatment plants shoul
be obtained to prevent further pol
luton Of the Anacostia and Po
tomac Rivers.