Evening star., 1959-11-22
WeIIing Says DistrictFaces
s23 Million Roads Deficit
Hints Change
May Be Asked
In Tax Setup
By JAMES G. DEANE
Star stan Writer

mated S23 million highway
fund deficit in its current six-
year highway building program.
Brig. Gen. Alvin c. yelling, en-
gineer commissioner, said last
night.
Gen. yelling hinted on q
radio broadcast that a change
in the tax structure might be
proposed to head of the red
ink. He did not elaborate.
He stressed that the Com
missioners now plan to proceed
with the highway program as
it stands, despite the fund prof.
lem.
Commissioner Robert E. Nc
Laughlin. who appeared earlier
yesterday with Gen. yelling on
a television panel program,
voiced concern about the A.
nancial implications Of area
highway and other transporta-
ton needs.
Both he and Gen. yelling
voiced hope that use of existing
railroad trackage might offer a
partial answer to the areas
.commuter difficulties. Mr.. Nc
Laughlin disclosed he will at
tend a meeting next week in
Denver to discuss commuter
railroad expansion on a ma
tional scale. He belongs to a
committee of municipal off,
cialS studying this subject.
7O96 In U. S. Funds
Gen. yelling said District
highway plans for the next six
years. which are tagged at
around $3.50 million, are sched-
uled to be about 10 per cent
covered by Federal funds under
various national highway aid
programs. Bit the District must
put up locsl funds to obtain
this aid. and it now stands to
have onlv about 10 per cent Of
the necessary local revenue, he
said.
The gap. according to per-
centage figures given by Gen.
Wellings on station WWDC,
would amount to some $23
million.
The highway program. the
engineer-commissioner said, is
based on availability of Fed
eral funds. City officials have
adopted the policy of seeking
to qualify for the maximum in
Federal aid. Thus changes in
the future level of Federal aid
will be among factors that
could improve or worsen the
city's financial outlook, Gen.
yelling said.
Eases Pressure
The Federal program this
year was cut back by Congress,
he noted. This had the effect
of easing pressure on local
revenue but also is causing
delay in some projects. Exact
projects to be deferred are still
under discussion, Gen. yelling
said.
The Districts general fund
is also facing difficulties. and
the Commissioners have ap-
proved a series of tax increase
proposals to be handed to
Congress in January to help
meet general expenses.
The general fund according
to a pending proposal will lose
some S2.3 million annually
now drawn largely from the
motor fuel tax and which is
used to help operate the police
department. This money would
be switched to the highway
department. Part of the addi-
tlonal general fund taxes would
make up for this shift.
Mr.. Mclaughlin, who ap-
peared on a program on
WTOP-TV, did not 90 into the
financial picture in detail. But
he said it is now generally
accepted that the District,
which will gain the least,
should not be burdened with
most of the cost of construc-
ton" of improved transporta-
ton facilities.
Major Projects Accepted
Gen. yelling was asked
whether the city was reassess-
ing the highway construction
program in the light of both
the financial problem and crit
iciSm at recent public hearings
of elaborate highway construc-
tion plans.
Our highway program is
based on the availability Of
Federal funds" he replied.
For the six years ahead Of
us the major projects have
been accepted by the Commits
sioners."
Gen. yelling added. how.
ever, that no one has the di-
vine answer as to how much or
what kind" of transportation
facilities the District should
have.
He also asserted that great
good can come out of" the
Denver meeting to be attended
by Mr.. Mclaughlin on the rail-
road question.