Evening star., 1961-03-18
Commissioners
Practically Told
To Get Loan
By JOHN MCKELWAY
Star Staff Wi.er

three hours and without lunch
in an attempt to convince a
Senate subcommittee on ap-
preparations that the city faces
a financial crisis unless baiIed
out by a S5.7 million Federal
payment.
The subcommittee new
chairman, Senator Robert Byrd,
Democrat of West Virginia,
C arefully picked his way
through the city's deficiency
request for the current fiscal
year and warmed up only to a
request for more policemen.
He warned the Commission
erS they would have trouble in
securing the additional Federal
p aym e mt and practically
ordered them to borrow the
money instead.
Critical of Welfare
At another point. he was
critical of a welfare request of
S730,000 added to the supple
mental money bill since its re-
view by the House.
Its hard to hold an item
like this in conference" he
lectured the Commissioners.
There should be only the most
eXtenuating circumstances to
justify adding the request.
I'm not sympathetic with
laSt-minute supplemental re-
quests and I'm going to look
with a jaundiced eye on re-
quests not presented to the
House. I'm simply not going to
urge adoption when the House
has not heard about them"
Gerard M. Shea, welfare di-
rector, testified that without
the appropriation he would
have to cut the welfare pro-
gram 35 per cent on April |.
Facing reductions in welfare
benefits would be dependent
children, old-age- assistance re-
cipients, the blind, the disabled
and those on general public
assistance.
$50 of Load NOn-White
Senator Byrd also pressed
Mr.. Shea for racial break
downs in the departments
caseload as we'll as in case
workers.
Mr.. Shea said that 85 per
cent Of the caSeload is mon
white" and that IS to 80 per
cent of the departments case
workers are "non-white."
Senator Byrd also drew from
MI. Shea that from SO to 80
per cent of all known illegiti-
mate children were non-white.
Another witness, DR.. Daniel
Fin NC ane, health director,
asked for $36,45O to increase
the stipend for residents and
interns at D. c. General Hos
pital and $16l, 900 for the care
of the city's INDECENT insane at
st. Elizabeths Hospital.
Police Chief Robert V. Muir
ray was the only witness who
received open assurance of sup
port from Senator Byrd. Chief
Murray asked for 100000 to
speed his departments re-
cruitment program.
Snow Funds Asked
Also teStifying was William
A. Xantcn, superintendent of
the Sanitation Division, who
requested S1,243,OOO to finance
added snow removal costs in
CURED during the recent snow
storms.
Engineer Commissioner Fred
erlck j. Clarke made a special
plea for $4,000, cut by the
House, which would enable the
District to pay its share of
the expenses of the newly
formed Metropolitan Area
Transit Commission. MARYLAND
and Virginia are now footing
the bill.
The case for the additional
Federal payment was summed
up by Commissioner Walter N.
Tobriner.
He pointed out the city can
finance So million in pay raises
voted by Congress last year.
But without an additional Fed
eral payment 1T will be neces-
Sary to defer for a year capital
works projects amounting to
almost Sc million"
Deficit Feared
He added that failure to OBJ
tain adequate financing from
Congress will increase our
estimated deficit for 1862 at
current tax levels to $22
If forced to delete $5.7 mil
lion from the 1862 budget, Mr..
Iobrlner said, the breakdown
would be as follows: SIG mil
hon for schools, $1.2 million for
hospital construction, $1.2 nil
ion for Stormwater sewer con-
Struction, 100000 for Zoo con-
'tructlon and another $6O0,OOO
for various welfare, library, rec
'eational and other capital out
ay requirements.
Previously, the Commission
erS have outlined a new tax
to meet next years
The program is before
5he House District Committee
and only an increase in the
sales tax has been assured
House support.