Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-23
Senate Group
Poised 10 Act
On D. Budget
Extra Funds Asked
After House Cuts
Stund Good Chunce

St0nd GOOD Chunce
Within a day or so, members
of the DirkSen subcommittee of
the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee will begin to mark up the
ecord-breaking $170.7 million
supply bill for the District for
the fiscal year beginning July /.
If all goes well, District Of
f1cials will win Senate committee
approval of most of the extra
funds they have asked be added
to the funds granted by the
House.
The House approved some
thing more than $168 million lop-
ping more than 81 million from
the city's spending program. The
Commissioners had asked for an
outlay of $172.4 million.
More than 40 citizen witnesses
voiced their views at open hear
ingS yesterday before the District
Subcommittee.
Quiet Advocates.
AS one observer put it:
ut was a good demonstration
Of democracy. Every one had
his say. No one got hurt"
In fact. the citizens views were
on the quiet side, since the House,
by substantial roll call vote, re-
Gently settled the question of
the size of the Federal payment
under the new public works pro-
gram, granting the full amount.
The new revenue bill, raising
city taxes by about SIS million,
also raised the Federal payment
from $11 million to $40 million.
How to make the best use of
any surplus in District funds
caused new conferences. These
were concerned mostly with
restoration of House cuts in
funds for school, health, welfare
and recreation items.
HOmemaker Fund Deleted.
The House, in its first action
on the District supply bill, re-
jected a $4,000 request for re-
establishment of the home
makers service, but doubled a
$500 grant to the Visiting
Nurse Association.
Testimony before the Dirksen
subcommittee of the Senate
Appropriations Committee yes
terday stressed that there has
been some serious "misunder-
standing" about the problem.
Several witnesses said city
money would be saved in the
long run, if funds were spent
for housekeepers for sick
mothers. instead of waiting until
mothers and children landed on
the relief rolls.
A brief outline of the purpose
and use of a "homemaker" was
given yesterday by Mrs. Smith
Hempstone, vice chairman of
the Citizens Advisory Commit
tee on the Emergency Home
makers Service of the Depart
ment of Public Health.
Preserved Family Life.
Mrs. Hempstone recalled that
the homemaker service was first
used here by health and well
fare agencies to preserve family
life in the 1920s.
She was supported by Mrs.
Dean K. Brundage, former di-
rector of the homemaker service,
now retired, who spoke as a
member of an advisory COM
mittee.
Mrs. Neville Miller, first vice
president of the Visiting Nurse
Association, said "the two serv-
ices are in no wise alike" and
that there was no overlap.
Among those urging restora-
ton of $30,240 cut by the House
from the appropriation for pub
lie assistance was Alexander B.
Halves, vice chairman of the
Family and Child Welfare Sec
ton of United Community
Services of Washington.
Would Restore City.
Mrs. Leah Lachenbruch, in a
statement for the District Chap
ter of the American Association
of Social Workers, asked that
the House cut be restored and
that grants be brought up to
100 per cent of minimum needs.
Milton C. Denbo, speaking for
the District Mental Health Asso-
citation, expressed concern over
deletionS of funds for psychiatric
services.
Francis j.. Ortman of Rob-
ertS & McInnis, attorneys for the
Master Plumbers Association,
Inc, of the District, asked
amendment Of the appropria-
tons bill to provide two inveS-
tigators. a secretary and minor
equipment for the Department
of Occupations and Professions
required to enforce licensing
provisions for the plumbing in
dustry.
Flood Control Asked.
Howard D. Woodson, chair
man of the Public Works Com
mittee of the Northeast Bound
airy Civic Association, asked for
flood control construction in his
section, streets and schools.