Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-03
D. c. BUDGET
Continued From First Page

metropolitan 'Area, gave the is
sue a new turn When she said
Iher organization opposes any in
crease in District taxes at this
time. Instead. she argued.
there should be a higher Fed
Ieral payment and suggested a
return to the one-time 60-.40
ratio.
Adoption of such a ratio plan,
she said, would put an end to
the annual uncertainties as to
how much Congress would grant
and end the annual hassle over
the amount.
For the Federation of Citizens
Associations, William J. Smith,
head of its taxation committee,
recorded the Federation call for
limiting District spending. He
said it should be held to the
present level except for manda-
tory or emergency items.
Would Avoid Crisis
He urged approval of the res
toration of the So million Of the
Federal share that was denied
last year and warned that any
increased spending above funds
now in sight would produce
another critical situation in a
year or two" that would bring
on the District another added
revenue program.
Members of the Rabaut Sub
committee seem to be impressed
with the stories of the disas-
itrous results to be expected from
the teacher shortage. Mostly.
they haven't indicated how they
will vote. But as Representative
Wilson put it: IF this committee
Is not convinced now, it never
will be-" referring to the long
parade of pupil parents.
One of the most moving was
testimony by Mrs. Hazel S. Han
back who said School Supt. Ho-
bart M. Corning had indicated
he planned to close Grant School
to save the salaries of three
teachers. This, she said, would
cause children from to 8 to
cross one of the most dangerous
highways in the city, Twenty
third street NV. which leads
to Memorial Bridge. She, of
course. was for the proposal to
grant more funds for more
teachers to avoid such hazards.
Former Aide Called
Representative Wilson called
to the stand his former executive
secretary, Mrs. J. T. Mart, of
808 Twenty first street NV. She
said her children go to the
Grant School. She. too, spoke
of the hazards of children cross
ing traffic arteries to go to a
different school.
4 The issue over the use of a
portion of the Janney Elemen-
tary School grounds as a site for
a branch library apparently is
settled.
DR.. Ellis Haworth Of the
Janney PTA urged the House
subcommittee not only to reject
the plan but to ask that it write
into it's funds bill a direct
prohibition. Chairman Rabaut
broke in to say the land already
had been transferred. After all,
he said. school officials should
know about the land require
ments for schools.
Would Cut Public Works
For the Northwest Council of
Citizens Associations. Charles A.
Burmeister, chairman, argued
some cuts should be made in
the public works program to
permit additional teachers. He
suggested elimination of a fund
of 50 million for the purchase
of rights-of-way for approaches
to the projected Constitution
avenue bridge, although agree
ing this would not help the city's
general fund.
He said his group opposes
the downtown bridge work
until after the construction of
the Jones Point span. which he
said would postpone the urgency
lof the downtown project.
( Many other witnesses spoke
for the needs of schools, for
extra staff for the Recreation
Department, for higher grants
for public assistance, more aid
to dependent children. for more
foot patrolmen, civil defense,
elimination of river pollution
and for more scientific teams to
combat the problems of emo
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