Evening star., 1961-03-22
Mcmillan Shelves
D. c. Revenue Plan
Fuvors Boost
In Sales Tux:
Asks Probes
By JOHN McKELWAY
Star Staff Writer

OJ SO1EN MCnELWAX
Star Staff Writer
Chairman McMillen of the
House District Committee to-
day apparently slammed the
door on any hopes of District
officials for the city's $16 mil
lion tax program and a higher
Federal payment. -
Mr.. Mcmillan also sharply
criticized the way the District
Government is run.
He said bluntly that he feels
that the city can get by" dur
ing the next fiscal year without
additional taxes except for an
increase in the sales levy from
2 to 3 per cent.
Mr.. McMillan's remarks were
contained in his report on the
bill to raise the sales tax, which
he introduced.
He passed to the House Ap-
preparations Committee the re-
sponsibility for increasing the
Federal payment.
ID. C. Asks More
The Commissioners had asked
the District Committee to in
crease the authorization from
$32 million to $36 million. But
Mr.. Mcmillan said that with
the increase in the sales tax,
the city should be able to COL
lect sufficient funds, in addi-
ton to the authorized Federal
payment Of $32 million, to op-
crate the District Government
for the next fiscal year.
The Appropriations Commit
tee has steadily refused to ap-
propriate a Federal payment Of
more than $25 million. Hear
ings on the city's 1862 budget
have yet to begin and Mr.. Nc
MILAN clearly is not ready to
boost the authorization until
the full amount is appropriated.
Mr.. Mcmillan said in the re-
port that after reviewing the
proposed tax program he could
not see any problem of an emer-
gency nature. The Commits
sioners also had asked for ad-
ditional taxes on beer, cigarettes
and liquor.
The chairman was. particu-
larly critical of the operation of
District General Hospital.
Asked New Study
He suggested that before
Congress approves an $11 mil
lion consolidation project at the
hospital an investigation should
be made of excessive and mis-
use of funds for construction Of
offices and laboratories"
He said the whole consolida-
ton plan should be analyzed,
particularly the thousands Of
dollars used on fees for con-
sultantS."
Claiming that the hospital
is poorly" administered, Mr..
Mcmillan also charged that the
school Of nursing is operating
at a tremendous deficit anc
doctors are living in a dis
graceful condition" because of
poor planning and admins
tration."
Turning to spiraling costs
in the welfare field, Mr.. Nc
MILAN suggested an investiga-
ton of the Welfare Depart
ment and said payments might
be controlled by:
l. Lengthening the one-year
residence requirement of most
welfare recipients.
2. Controlling the birth rate
OF the population through thu
teaching Of birth control in
hospitals and clinics and "by
other methods"
Raps D. C. Payroll
Mr.. Mcmillan strongly limited
that the city's financial plight
could be traced in part to the
steadily increasing number OF
District employees.
He said there has been a
clear tendency to add more and
more ito the number Of ad.
ministrative personnel in the
District government, far out Of
proportion to the much smaller
increase in the number Of lower
salaried clerical personnel"
He said the situation was
highlighted by the fact that
$l52 million-two-thirds Of the
city's operating budgets de.
voted to personnel.
Mr.. Mcmillan said there ap.
pears to be mo logical reason
for the number Of city EN-.
ployes" in the face Of Q slightly
dwindling population.
The sales tax bill is due for
House action on Monday. The
District Committee has ap.
proved an amendment which
would turn $3.1 million over to
the Highway Department from
the Motor Vehicle Parking
Fund.