Evening star., 1954-05-19
Congress Gets
S172.4 Million
District Budget
Works Construction
Funds Put tAmount
At AIl-Time High
By John w. Stepp

President Eisenhower today
approved and sent to Congress
amendments that raise the Dis
trict budget estimates for fiscal
1855 to an all-time high of $l72.4
million.
The huge figure is chiefly at
tributable to the inclusion Of
1855 million in public works con-
struction. Scheduling of these
expenditures was made possible
by the enactment yesterday of
Public Law 364-the Districts
so-called public works law.
Hearings conducted by the
House District Appropriations
subcommittee began this morning
with the Commissioners and the
city's top financial officials OPEN
ing the testimony in executive
session.
The amended estimates are
about $31 million higher than
the original estimates given
Congress last January. The in
itial amount was lower because
the District had been able to
include. only a limited sum for
capital outlay,
Many Construction Items.
With the enactment of a works
bill yesterday. the Commission.
ers scheduled many construc-
tion items. as we'll as additional
operating costs Their position
is that the SAB million annual
tax increase effected by the pub
lie works law and the laws au-
thorization of a SO million higher
Federal payment ana ST mil
lion more per year in Federal
loans, can pay for the proposed
$305 million 10-year works pro-
gram and higher operating costs
for a while at least.
1t is for Congress to decide
whether to raise the Federal
payment to $40 million and to
grant the loan request and per-
NIT the District to proceed with
its contemplated building pro-
gram. The legislators, more
over. must approve these provi-
sions and every public works
item each year of the proposed
10-year duration.
The revised figures show a
total Of $418 million under the
heading of capital outlay, and
$130.6 million for operating ex-
penseS.
January Capital Outlay.
The January estimates for
capital outlay came to $l3.l mil
lion, to be spent exclusively for
highway. sanitary engineering
and Washington Aqueduct prof.
ects. No money was available
for general construction items
such as schools. welfare, correc-
tlonS and health institutions.
Strengthened by enactment of
the works bill, the Commission
ers have now added $l6.l mil
lion for general construction,
$5.l million for highways, SCI
Tor sanitary engineering and $l.3
million for miscellaneous costs
such as debt servicing and So
called minor capital outlays for
equipment and building renova-
ton.
OF the amount requested for
capital outlay. So million would
not be authorized to be spent
until fiscal 1856.
Major CategOries.
Divided into major categories
the budget amendments that
would start the works construc-
ton program rolling shape up
! this way:
Schools-New building, addi-
tions, specifications or site ac-
quisition for 10 structures; ST.
213,11O.
Libraries - Specifications or
construction of two branches,
$336,35
Health-Two new buildings
and other Improvements at Dis
trict General Hospital, SIS, $50, 900.
Observation-Disclosures, con-
struction or furnishings for
buildings at Children's Center,
Laurel. and an addition to Dis
trict Receiving Home. 81 ,675, 900.
Metropolitan Police - Specifi-
cations for a new Women's Bu-
reau, $35. 900.
Recreation Il Land improve.
ments and structures, $4OO 900.
Corrections-Specifications and
construction. including plans for
a Youth Corrections Center,
$469 900.
Stormwater sewers-Construc-
ton. $3.336,000.
Highways-M ajor improve
ments and rights-of-way. So
393, 900.
Water system - Water lines,
reservoir. dam and building con-
struction, S5,315,000.
Sanitary sewers-Sewer lines
and construction at treatment
plants, $2,790,000.