Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-12
DC. Budget Wins
Approval in House
Federal Grant
Again Held to
$50 Million

on the Districts budget, which
cleared the House yesterday,
are expected to open early next
month.
The House approved its APP
preparations Committees $284.3
million spending bill for the
District. City officials hope
that the budget figure would
be increased by about $40 mil
lion later.
Money-raising measures for
the city are pending in Con-
gress. Enactment would clear
the way for the District to sub
init a "B" budget of nearly $40
million, which has been held
back because the city lacks the
revenue to finance it.
The $284.3 million budget,
which the House passed on a
voice vote after a round of
comments on city problems, is
about $5.3 million under the
amount requested by the Dis
trict.
City officials, however, have
said that the reductions would
have relatively little impact.
The bulk Of the cuts reflects
spending estimate revisions
and project postponements.
$50 Million Grant
On the revenue side, the
Governments annual grant to
the city was again held to $50
million-$2 million under the
current authorized ceiling.
In his discussion of the
budget items on the House
floor yesterday, Chairman
hatcher Of the House Appro-
priations Subcommittee for the
District, held out hope for a
higher Federal payment.
If Congress passes one of
the pending revenue measures
to increase the authorized max
imum for the grant, every
consideration will be given to
an increased Federal payment"
appropriation when the $40
million ''B" budget is consid-
cred, Mr.. hatcher, Democrat
of Kentucky, said.
Byrd Plans Hearings
Meanwhile, it was reported
that Senator Robert c. Byrd.
Democrat of West Virginia.
who is chairman of the Senate
District Appropriations Sub
committee, plans to open budg-
ct hearings during the first
week or two in August.
1t was understood that Sen
ator Byrd has delayed calling
the hearings in the hope that
Congress would act on the rev.
enue bills. This would author
ize the District to submit its
$40 million "B" budget and
thus permit Senator Byrd's
subcommittee to consider all
of the city'S spending propos-
ais.
The budget speeches in the
House yesterday touched on a
number of District problems.
but the emphasis appeared to
be on crime and the highway
rapid rail transit controversy.
Mr.. hatcher said that:
Eat no time in the history of
the District has it been more
important that the police de-
partment receive maximum
support from the courts, the
officials in the District and
from Congress. Serious
crime in the District climbed to
new levels during fiscal year
1868 (that ended June 30)."
Delinquency Of Concern
When criminal charges ARE
preferred and clearly estab-
lished. adequate sentences
should follow" Mr.. hatcher
said.
Mr.. hatcher and others, in
GLIDING other subcommittee
members. also expressed strong
concern over the city's juvenile
delinquency problem and the
manner in which Juvenile
Court handles the cases.
There is no doubt that the
handling Of the cases in the
Juvenile Court left something
to be desired" Representative
Finnegan, Democrat of Illinois,
said.
The committees position that
the District should move ahead
with its highway program was
Endorsed by several speakers.
The White House, in submit
ting legislation for a rapid rail
transit network in the WASH
ington area. recommended that
three projects-the Three Sis
ters Bridge, the Potomac River
freeway and the inner loops
north leg-be shelved while
the highway program Is re-
studied.