Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-14
Senate Group
Opens Hearing
On Tuesday
BY JAMES G. DEANE
star stan Writer

0QbCO1AAAAAAbtCCg yCoetA4aJ ~
duced to 1908 million the city's
$215 million budget proposal.
The unit also recommended
only a $40 million Federal pay
ment, instead of the s25 million
requested.
Senate hearings on the city
spending plans are scheduled
TO open Tuesday City officials
indicated the Senate will be
asked to restore q large part Of
these sums deleted by the
House committee.
The Senate Appropriations
Committee may be urged to
back a $25 million Federal pay
ment, as well, although key
officials yesterday we're nom
committal on this point.
Sums Undiscl0sed
The Commissioners acted
speedily yesterday on plans for
the Senate presentation after
the House group announced its
recommendations. Restoration
requests from department heads
were reviewed, and for the most
part approved. These are to be
sent Monday to the Senate sub
committee headed by Senator
Pastore, Democrat of Rhode
Island, which will conduct the
hearings.
officials declined to disclose
the sums to be asked. This
would violate congressional
protocol, they said. But most
department. heads, it was UNDER
stood, held firm on their major
original estimates.
Among sums expected to be
sought with particular vigor is
$498.000 for school operation
denied by the House unit. This
lis partly intended for hiring Of
teachers to reduce the elemen-
tary pupil-teacher ratio to 32-1.
House committee members said
this should be postponed until
more claSSroomS are available,
The unit objected to planned
establishing of more part-time
classes instead.
Some Cuts Uncontested
Commissioner Robert E. Nc
Laughlin yesterday said some Of
the House committee cuts we're
disappointing. Others, he said,
the District can live with. Of
ficials noted that a number Of
cuts had been voluntarily sug-
gested by the city because Of
changed plans. and these will
presumably not be contested.
The proposed $40 million
Federal payment caused some
District Building concern. The
House committee report, pre-
pared by a boom m ittee
headed by Representative Ra-
baut, Democrat of Michigan,
said a larger payment would
be unnecessary because the rec
commended budget contemplated
a SO million surplus.
City officials had drafted a
budget including only an $780,
900 reserve. They also have re-
Gently been stressing the city's
need of more Federal financial
help.
Congress has authorized a
$23 million payment, but the
authorization does not bind the
Appropriations Committee. The
Commissioners proposed to
draw an additional So million
from unappropriated, although
authorized. Federal payment
funds of previous years.
Pay Raise a Factor
1t was reported at the Dis
trict Building that the House
units cutback was at least
partly connected with pending
salary increases for city en-
ployes. The pay raises are ex-
pected to require some $17.5
million or more in city funds
beyond the pending budget
The budget makes no provision
for the raises, which are ex-
pected to be retroactive to DAN
uary.
A new public works law en-
powers Congress to grant a $50
million Federal payment. and
also. for the first time. gives
the city general fund borrow
ing authority. Both may be
needed to meet the pay raises
according to officials.
Because of the pay raise
move. which is partly gearec
to raises being granted Federal
employees. the final total Of the
city's budget and reven
needs may not be known until
several weeks after the start
of the new fiscal year starting
July /.
New Taxes Discounted
Schuyler Lowe, general ad.
ministration director, discount,
ed the likelihood of any new
taxes this year.
Highlights of committee &C.
ton yesterday included:
A reduction from SILT mil
lion to 1899 million in operat'
ing estimates, spread over mos
departments.
A reduction from $19.6 mil
lion to S15.7 million in pro
posed public building construc'
ton.
A reduction from $S.4 million
to S6.4 million in sanitary en-
cheering construction esti
mates.
Approval Of a $1.3 million
increase in public assistance.
The committee-approved bill
despite the overall reductions
allows an increase Of about So.
million for public building con
struction. S4.8 million for over
all capital outlay, and 50 mil