Evening star., 1953-05-06

Inc UlSCrlcC cOulQ meet more
of its great backlog of needs
if Congress granted a higher,
more equitable Federal payment,
citizen spokesmen are telling the
House subcommittee handling
the 1854 city budget.
Leading witnesses at last
nights first open hearing before
the wilson Subcommittee
stressed the Federal payment is
sue. One of them, Mrs. Edward
B. Morris. secretary to the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations,
said this group is sending to
every member of Congress data
on the Johnston bill calling for
a Is per cent Federal share.
The Federal payment now
amounts to less than 9 per cent
of the general fund:
Representative Wilson. Repub-
lican. of Indiana, chairman of
the House subcommittee. praised
citizen spokesmen for the orderly
way in which they had presented
their case last night.
Lester HI. Steinem, chairman
of the Fiscal Relations and Tax
alton Committee of the fedora
tion, asking for approval of the
full budget of $148 million as
submitted by the Commissioners,
said:
"Superimposed upon the nor
NAL financial burdens of great
cities. the National Capital must
shelter, feed, provide medical
services and care for unfortu-
mates. either mentally unbalanced
or plain crackpots, who drift into
the Federal City from all points. y
He said these people are not
truly residents of the District
and added there are other extra
costs Congress wrongfully i'm
poses on the taxpayers of the
District"
He argued that it is ridiculous
that the District should pay for
the license plates and mechan-
ical inspection of more than
5000 Federal and foreign vehicles.
and contended, too, that the
Zoo. focal point of visiting thou
sands, is not properly a District
charge.
Mrs. Walter N. TObriner,
speaking for the District League
Of Women Voters, pleaded for
more funds for public assistance.
She protested that grants to the
needy now are based on a three
year-old cost-of-living index and
on standards for low-income
families of the South.
She also supported budget
proposals for $3.7 million for
the Children's Center at Laurel,
81 million to be available in the
coming year to get ahead with
this overdue project.
Mrs. Tobriner also pleaded
for more money for tuberculosis
case findings and early treat
ment, declaring, THE facts
about tuberculosis in the Dis
trict are shocking" She called
also for more funds for school
and recreation needs.
Mrs. Jack ]. Gottsegen, for
the Washington section of the
National Council of Jewish
Women. supported plans for
the Children's Center, for higher
rates for foster homes for Dis
trict wards, and for more lib
eral treatment for persons on
public assistance.
Mrs. Gottsegen and others
protested the inability of the
District to borrow money fol
capital Improvements, but
Chairman Wilson said this is q
legislative matter beyond the
jurisdiction of its appropriation.
subcommittee. The District!
proposed eight-year $335 mil.
lion public works plan is to b,
considered soon by the Housl
and Senate District Commit
tees.
Edward D. Hollander, for tn,
Washington Chapter of Ameri
cans for Democratic Action, le'
'iewing problems Of many city
services. supported the program
for the Laurel Children's Center
In addition. he urged approva
Of plans for development of {
classification center there ant
for four additional dormitorie,
and other expansion at the Dis.
trict Training School. The in
Stitution now can handle onl!
some of the citv'S feeble -n1indef