Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-06
Public Hearing
SET Tomorrow
On D. {. Budget
q SUNDAY STAR,
Washington, D. c..
SUNDAY, MAY 6, 1856
BY DON S. WARREN

BY DON S. WARREN
The Stennis subcommittee Of
the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee will begin public hearings
tomorrow at 10 am. on the Dis
trict's $3.50 million spending plan
for the fiscal year beginning
July /, with indications that top
District officials will ask for res
toration of most of the $3.l mil
lion cuts made by the House.
One of the cuts city officials
will ask to be restored is the
million dollar item for construc-
ton of a new health school on
District-owned property at Thir-
tenth and Allison streets NV.
The House cut the project be-
cause city. school and health Of
flcials at the time were not in
agreement on what should be
done.
Since then the three local
agencies have agreed that the
building should be on the Thir-
teenth street property instead
of going out to Mt. Olivet road
NE. as once suggested by some
school authorities.
Figures Not Disclosed
Exact figures were not avail
able pending their disclosure at
the open Senate hearings, but it
is suggested that District off,
Gals will recommend restora-
ton to the supply bill of close
to 80 per cent of what was cut
out on the House side.
School, police and hospital
items are expected to occupy
much of the time as the Senate
subcommittee reviews District
requests and House cuts. There
may be a discussion Of school
matters Monday morning when
the hearings are opened but de-
tails are expected to be developed
sometime Tuesday as the STEM
mis- subcommittee wades through
the itemized accounts.
Parent-teacher and other cit
liens groups will be given a
chance to air their views but
officials Of the Senate subcom-
mittee stressed yesterday that
these witnesses would not be
called to the stand until Wednes-
day.
More than $13 million in adj
Iditional public works items
awaits the submission of the
supplemental budget. These
were deferred last January be-
cause at that time the District
did not have the financing to
cover the costs. Since then
Congress has enacted and the
President has signed a new Dis
trict revenue act which eases the
financial picture while raising
District taxes and boosting the
Federal payment by So million.
Police Increase Included
If present plans carry, the ul-
innate size of the Federal pay
ment will await House action on
the expected supplemental bill.
The present plan is for the Sen
ate to consider the regular 1857
District supply bill on the basis
of present tax revenues and the
House approval of $40 million
for the Federal payment, the
highest possible until the new
revenue law was enacted.
Likewise, it is expected that
the congressional move to raise
the authorized strength of the
Metropolitan Police Department
to 2,500-about $50 above pres
ent strength-will await the sup
elemental budget.
There was no certainty, how
ever. that some of these ques-
tons, such as the extra number
OF teachers needed for the public
school system, would not come
up tomorrow during the general
discussion of the city's budget
situation. The school problem
definitely will be debated during
subcommittee consideration of
the school estimates and during
the citizens turn at the witness
stand on Wednesday.
Other Hearings Slated
Units of the Senate District
Committee will hold public hear
tngs on several matters during
the week.
On Tuesday at 10 am. the Ju-
dietary subcommittee of the SEN
ate District Committee. headed
by Senator Morse. Democrat, of
Oregon, will hold a hearing on a
bill to give judicial weight to
chemical tests for persons &C
cused of driving while drunk.
The subcommittee will also con-
slider a bill to permit an expan-
sion of the cemetery near Alaba-
ma avenue Sc. of the Washing
ton Hebrew Congregation: and a
bill to liberalize the retirement
provisions for the judge OF the
District Tax Court and extend
his term of office from four to
10 years.
On Thursday az 10 am. the
fiscal subcommittee of the Sem
ate District Committee will hold
a hearing on two House-passed
bills dealing with the projected
Jones Point Bridge over the Po-
tomac. These propose the bridge
remain the Woodrow Wilson Me-
mortal Bridge and also propose
to transfer the construction
operation from the Interior De-
partment to the Commerce De-
partment, and to consider pro-
posed changes in design that Of
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