Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-20
Funds Doubling
Nursing Staff
Asked inCounty
Hearings Open on
SIG Million Budget
For Prince Georges

Appealing for money to double
its nurse staff, the Prince
Georges public health depart
ment yesterday explained the
increase would still leave it at
half the total health authorities
recommend.
The plea came to the county's
first budget hearing for fiscal
1954-55.
Department requests totaled
around $13 million in county
funds, plus more than Sc million
from the State and Federal
governments.
DR.. Thomas S. Englar, county
health director. asked for $685.
079 in county money. That's $751;
521 more than the county COM
missioners allowed in the 1853
81 appropriation.
10 More Nurses.
He said the increase would
provide. among other items,
salaries for 10 more nurses. The
county has only 10 now.
DR.. Englar said public health
officials recommend one nurse
per 5000 population. That would
mean Prince Georges should
have at least 40 nurses, he said.
But the department could not
aSsimilate that many all at once,
he added.
prince Georges County's
population has been estimated
by other sources to be more
than 225,00OD
The biggest request at yes
terday'S hearing was for $3.50
million in county money for
schools. The current years ap-
preparation was $50 million.
S79S,S78 for Police.
The county police asked $685.
878, more than half again as
much as it got last year.
For highways, $1.86 million
was asked. a $3.50, 0OO-plus in
crease over the 1954-1955 outlay.
School Supt. William Schmidt
explained how new buildings.
built since the last appropria-
tons or planned for construction,
helped jack up school estimates.
The highway fund estimates
include $721 ,987 for new roads,
Sill ,805 for new equipment, and
$131 500 for culverts and the like.
Police Supt. Vincent Free said
his budget would provide for 20
new policemen, eight additional
scout cars and radios for the
cruisers.
The new county police sta
ton also contributed largely to
the increased budget requests. he
added.
"Fogie" System of Raises.
The chief said the budget
would give officers a "fogie" sys-
TEN like that of the armed forces,
with policemen receiving a 81
per cent raise for every three !
years in uniform.
He hopes to create captaincy
possible force has no captains
now-and that would mean pro-
motions down the line for some |
lieutenants, sergeants and cor
porals, he said.
The county firemen's associa-
ton asked $4,000 for companies.
the same as the f1re-f1ghters
received last year.
Firemen also requested $44.677
for the proposed Fire Prevention
Bureau. The figure would in
clude salaries for a fire marshal
and four inspectors, each of
whom would have a radio
equipped car.
Commissioner Edward j. Wa
ters made it plain the firemen
would have a rough time getting
that $44,677.
They have provided for every
thing except free cigarettes" he
said after the hearing in the
County Service Building in
HyattSville.
But a majority of the commits
sioners said they were pleasantly
surprised at the requests in gen.
eral. They expected higher
demands. the board members
said.
But that doesn't mean the
commissioners will grant the
requests. Elections are looming,
and efforts will be made to prune
spending so the board can pre-
sent voters with a tax cut,