Evening star., 1955-06-09
Senators Hear
Pleas for More
School Funds
District Officials
Cite City's Needs
At Budget Hearing
BY DON s. WARREN

The Stennis subcommittee OF
the Senate in charge Of the Dis
trict's 1856 budget today ex-
plored the needs of the public
school system and found top
school officials insisting that as
q minimum the Senate should
add at least $451 900 to funds
okayed by the House.
It was a story of the pressure
Of a growing school population,
Of a great backlog of needs not
met because of the financial
straits of the District, of over
crowded classes, of leaking gut
ters that are threatening to ruin
structures for lack of repair
money, Of principals and stu
dents having to do clerical work
and Of the fact that the school
system has only one regular
typewriter repair mechanic, al
though there are 4,400 type
writer's in daily use.
The Stennis subcommittee also
was to take up requests for added
funds for free public libraries,
the recreation system and the
Police Department.
Get Sympathetic Hearing
District officials got a SYM
pathetic hearing for most items
at the morning session, most OF
which was conducted by Senator
Bible, Democrat, of Nevada,
freshman member of the Senate
District Committee, and ex-officic
member Of the appropriations
subcommittee on the District
bill.
But the pleas for more money
were heard against the overtones
Of the big question as to whether
Congress will restore the 81 mill
lion cut in the Federal payment
ordered by the House when ii
chopped down on the District
spending program.
Informed officials say any ma
jor requests for adding to the
House total of $166.9 million
could be affected by the final
decision on the size Of the Fed
eral payment.
A strong appeal for restoration
Of 1924, 900 to build a new Wood
ridge branch public library at
Eighteenth and Hamlin streets
N. e. was made by Librarian
Harry N. Peterson.
Complaints Received
Many complaints had been re-
ceived about the inadequacy of
present service at a rented store
building, the librarian testified.
Mr.. Peterson also requested
restoration of other funds cut by
the House, including $21, 900 for
operations and a new truck.
Funds also were requested to
east library branch on South
east library branch on South
Carolina avenue to remove
what the librarian called a "po-
tential hazard"
Senator Bible questioned Rec
reation Department officials
about a protest received by the
subcommittee against the Friend
ship Playground now partly de-
veloped at Forty-sixth and Van
Ness streets NV.
Defense of the project was
made by Henry Gichner, chair
man of the Recreation Board
and Milo F. Christensen, super
intendent Of recreation.
Misapprehension Cited
The signers of a long petition
objecting to the playground
were under a Misrepresentation
the recreation official testified
They emphasized that the place
purchased long ago and now
partly developed, would be
strictly a neighborhood project
for neighborhood children anc
would be developed as a fine
recreation center.
The Recreation Department
asked for restoration of $4,000
cut by the House from operating
expenses and $65, 900 in capita
outlay.
School needs were presented
by c. Melvin Sharpe, president
Of the Board of Education,
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
and his assistant, Charles N
Zellers.
DR.. Corning said the effect ot
the House cuts amounted tt
something much more serious
than might be indicated by the
amount Of money involved.
The House made extreme and
vital cuts. It is a very serious
situation" Ne testified.
Under questioning by Senator
Bible. he brought out that the
School Board originally had
asked for total Of $37.5 million
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