Evening star., 1955-01-18
District 10 GET
Help With lis
Budget Deficit
Subcommittee Heud
Believes $500, 900
Can Be Absorbed
By Don S. Worsen

~ ION J. warren
Representative Lewis c. RAJ
baut. Democrat. of Michigan. 3
veteran in the House who has
been named chairman Of the
Appropriations subcommittee
that win handle the Districts
$l75.Is4.00o budget. today prone
ised to find some reasonable and
workable solution to the city's
new financial headache.
The bill. laid before Congress
yesterday BY President Eisen-
hover. indicates q deficit Of
$3.50. 900 in the general fund, and
Mr.. Rabaut agreed with city Of
flcials that q deficit Of that sizo
undoubtedly could be absorbed.
He was reached by telephone at
his home in Crosse Point Park.
Mich.
Mr.. Rabaut said something
else viii have to be done. how
ever, about an added cost OF
perhaps 81 million which would
be laid on the District to cover
cost Of a new round Of city pay
raises, to follow one expected to
be granted Federal employees.
District Commissioner Samuel
Spencer already had announced
city officials have started q new
search for more economies or
more taxes to cover the pay
raise question. because such Q
cost as that could not be ABB
sorbed.
Fasors Pay Raise.
Mr.. Rabaut, without passing
Judgment yet on any detail Of
the District budget, said he
favors q Federal pay raise. He
added that, If the Federal
workers get one. District en-
ployes also are entitled TO .
raise.
"You can't treat the District
as a stepchild." he added.
More specifically. Mr.. Rabaut
said that. II the extra costs arise
by reason Of pay raise legislation
for the District. then something
viii have TO be done--the money
will have to come from sonne-
where"
I'VE will use all Of our ex.
perience to the best advantage, =
he said. Il realize the District
Is q bic city and has many prob
lens that should be given real
attention. !.
There was a general attitude
Of dismay among some other
members Of the House when they
learned the District probably
will need more revenue.
Smith Getting Tired"
Representative Smith, Demo-
crat. Of Virginia. who Is slated
to be chairman Of the Fiscal
subcommittee OF the House Dis
trict Committee. said he Ia
frankly getting tired Of receiv-
ing declarations Of need Of one
District tax increase after an.
other" He promised the fiscal
subcommittee certainly will
make a very careful study" Of
any new District tax proposals.
Mr.. Smith, however, was de-
lighted to see budget proposals
for progress on "a downtown
bridge project and for plans for
construction Of q Jones Point
bridge between the District and
hlEAhHufla.
As 10 the latter. he said, II
am glad to see 1t is regarded AZ
necessary and will be given
prompt attention from the White
House. InTegard the Jones Point
project ~ very urgent"
Representative Broyhill, Re-
publican. Of Virginia, author Of
legislation authorizing the Jones
Point span. said: Il am very
happy to see that the adminis-
tration is sympathetic with my
desire 70 speed the Jones Point
bridge project. Z
Harris Pessimistic.
Representative Harris, Demo-
crat, Of Arkansas, who has been
q member Of the fiscal subcori.
mittte Of the House District
Committee, shook his head sadly
when he learned of another pros.
pective ceficit in District finan-
ces.
Tin inclined to believe It win
BE- very difficult to get any addi-
tional tax increase through Com
gress In view Of the huge pro-
gram enacted by tne past Con-
gress." he said.
-F b IIt4 !. VI j 4 I