Evening Star Newspaper, March 10, 1926, Page 4

- T THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, WEDNESDAY, WARCH T0, 1928.' $33.,762,989 FISCAL BILL SLASH TRACED TO DEFICIENCY MEASURE ALREADY APPROVED Slight Raise in Tax Rate Is Possible—Method of Property Assessment Attacked—$9,000,000 to Be Paid by Federal Government. (Continued from First Page.) $1.500.000 is made available until ex pended. For extension of the Water Depart ment distribution svstem, laving of such service mains as may be neces- zary under the assessment system $250.000. The rates of assessment for laying er constructing water mains and serv. fce sewers are increased from $1.25 to §2 and $1 to §3. service sewers consi laid Auring the fiscal year 1927. The Commlissioners are directed 10 sncrease the scale of water rents in effect by not less than >3 per cent er annum for the fiscal vear ending June 30, 192 School Appropriations. or For school construction, site puy chases, addition and playgrounds the bill provides: Ior completion of the construction of the Francis Junior Iligh $275,000; for preliminary stud plans and specifications for a new gchool building for the Business High School. $5.000. ¥or continuing the construction of the new building fer the MceKinley Technical Iigh School, $200.000. For the construction of an eight- room addition, cluding a combined gymnasium and assembly hall. to the Rurroughs School. including the nec- emsary remodeline of the present building. $245.000 For the constuc of a taird- siory addition of four rooms to the Amidon School, including the neces- mary remodeling of the present build- ing. $80,000. zrows out of supplemental appropria- tlons for the fiscal year 1936, esti- mates for which were presented sub- soquently to the submission of the budget, the major portion of which comprised items of a somewhat emergent charactéer which otherwise would have been incorporated in the regular estimiates for 1927, liowever, there are two outs reductions in the hudget estimates not affected by these supplemenial cstimates, one of a $1, 00 on account of buildings and grounds, public schools, and an- other of $1,000,000 pertalning to the new water supply project, both dlis- cussed later in this report. The sum of the reductions under the regular and supplemental appropriations for the current fiscal year have been ab- sorbed for the most part by increases under the classification act; new posi- | tions and positions transferred in pursuance of law from lump-sum &p- propriations and given a permanent status without corresponding reduc- tion in the appropriations from which transferred; of larger appropriations for the electrical department; for the longevity pay of policemen and fire- men: for permeanent improvements under the fire department, and by in. creased appropriations for the health department and for charity and cor- rectional purposes, the details as all e@pearing in the table at the end of this report. L “With respect to the committee's proposals, which show a met reduc- tion of $290,035 under the budget esti- mates, it will be found that the com- mittes has gone above the budget in a number of instances and tl net reduction practically all grows out of its refusal to provide for the purchase of a site for stables, shops For the erection of an extensible Junior High School Building to re- 3 the present Garnet-Patterson School Building, in accordance with the plans of the Maciuriand Junior High School, moditied as the limits of the site may require, and including the removal of one or both of the present buildings as may Le neces- sary, $300.000, and the Commission- era are authorized to enter into econ- tract or contracts, as in this act pro vided, for such building at a cost rot to_exceed $475.000 For the construc addition to the cluding the nece: the present building, oo For the erection of a junior high school building on the site purchase. for that purpose in accordance with the p farland Junfor High and the Commissioners to enter into contract s s in this act provided. for such building at a cost not to exceed $475,000 Addition Approved. For the construction of an addition to the Langley Junior High School,. $100,000. For the construc 3 to the Hine Junior High 000. For the construction of a combined ymnasium and assembly hall at the etworth School in accordunce with the original plais for the constructior of said building, $75.000. For the construction of an eight room extensible building on the site &t Cariton-and Central avenues north . $160.000. 2 For the construc combined ymnasium and 11 at the ‘est School, in a original plan for the construction o: said building, $77.000, For the purchase of school building and playground sites. as follows: In Brightwood or vicinity. for a new Junior high school building: in the vicinity of Fourteenth and Ogden atreets northwest, for a new 16-room achool bullding: in the vicinity of Six- teanth and Webster streets northwest, for a new 16-room school building; in the vicinity of the Morgan School, for playground purposes: in the north- east, for a new junior high school to on of a four-room chool, in vemodeling of School, $100, hi | a lower tax and storerooms for the Engineer De- partment and for a birdhouse at the Zoo, both discussed elsewhere in this report. The committee has not ad- hered to the budget allocation in all instances. Certain adjustments have been made with the Tet result indi- cated. No Tax Reduction Seen. “The tax rate on veal estate and ble personal property the cur- fis'al vear has been fixed at Th continued = of the full ma; “Real estate ing June 30, 1 - 749,842, (he assessment on tangible personal property will approximate 00,000 and the assessment on iie personal property will ap- proximate $310,000.000. “W, on tle face of vear end- d at $90 this bill it would aps that it carries $ 415 less than the sum of current appropriations. that rate might be levied dur- ing the tiscal year 1927, the auditor has indicated to the committee that the rate probably would be $1,70 or $1.75. Primarily this is because of the supplemental appropriations for 1626 carvied in the first deficlency act, fiscal year 1926, approved March 3, 1926, not re ed in the deter- mination of the 192; rate, and also to meet the contingency of further sup- plemental and deficiency appropri tions. Whether the rate can be made jower or not. however, and provide sufficient revenue to satisfy current demands, it is the juigment of the | committes that it should not he low- oi in the face of the five-year school building program confronting the lo taxpavers and in view of the existing and growing need for larger outlays for street improve- ments and extensions, water malns and sewers, and for better street lighting. “The fact is, however, that & smaller rate might obtain now it property hers were assessed In ac- cordance with the law at its full value, having particular reference to unimproved property. The hearings with respect to land purchases made and proposed are replete with in- stances where the prices paid or to serve the Brookland-Woodridge rec- tion; in Potomac Heights or vicinity, for & new S-room school building o replace the i-room huilding on (‘on- @uit road: in the vicinity of iska avenue and liolly street northwest, for & new 16-room school bullding: in the vicinity of the Wheatley School, n the vi- > i School, for athletic and playground pur- 03,500 to be avallable immedi- y. and of such sum $405.000 shall be ‘charged to the “building and grounds, public schools. surplus reve. nue fund.” Other Sites Proposed. For purchasing sites in the viciaity of Grant road, in the vicinity of Con. necticut avenue and Upton street, in the vicinity of the E. V. Brown School, In the vicinity of Rhode Island avenue and Twelfth street northeast and in the vicinity of the Loveioy School. Sites for playground purposes fin the viclnity of tr e Tollowing schools: rookland, Sckington, Cranch and Toner.~ e For repairs and improvements o school bulldings and grounds and for repairing and renewing heating, plumbing and ventilating apparatus and installation of sanitary drinking fountains in buildlngs not supplied with same, and maintenance of motor trucks, $350,000 to be available imme- diately. The bill provides for the arwoint- ment of people’s counsel for the Public Utilities Cotnmission 4t a salary of $6.000 a vear. A real start on tackling the prob- lem of providing high water \pressure for downtown Washington—a project which has been urged for many years -——18 made In a provision in the Dis. trict bill for an appropriation of $3.000 to be used by & commission of three numbers, to be appointed by the Commissioners, and which will inves. tigate the need for installation of a high-pressure water system. In offering the bill to the House Mr. Funk discussed the fiscal relations be: tween the Federal and District Gov- ernments, claiming that the former contributes more than $9,000,000. ife This bill, as has its two prede- ors, provides that the District shall receive entire credit for certain mis- cellaneous revenues which, prior to the adoption of the lump-sum plan in the fiscal year 1925, were credited to the United States and the District of | Columbia in the proportion that each | pported the activity from which such miscellaneous revenue was de- | rived. The amount of revenue the Gov- ernment gave up under this arrange- hent during the fiscal year 1925 was $754,013.49. The auditor has estimated such relinquishment during the ensu- ing fiscal vear at $1,000,000. As this arrangement is part and par- cel of the lump-sum plan, our actual eontribution during 1927 will be $10,- 600,000, rather than $9,000,000, and right in thsi connection it should be be paid, guaged by past experience or by preliminary investigation, range from 100 to 200 per cent in excess of the assessed value, and this in the face of the recently completed bi- ennial assessment. As it works out, the small-home owner is paying larger taxes because of the underassessment of unimproved property, or if the property be fairly assessed, because Some agency of government is respon- sible for paying exorbitant prices for land acquired for municipal purposes. Committee Perplexed. “The committee, frankly, is some- | what perplexed as to the best way to meet the situation. In condemna- tion cases the prices awarded are about as much out of proportion with the assessed value as in the cases of acquisition by negotiation. This would seem to indicate that the as- sessments generally are low. With the end either to bringing assess- ments up or prices down, the com- mittee is proposing in this bill in con- nection with ail land purchase items that no property shall be acquired at a price in excess of its full value assessment plus 25 per cent. “Taking the bill in the order of its several subdlvisions the following ex- planations are made with respect to the reguiar annual appropriations. The permanent annual and indefinite appropriations, which occur automat- ically each year without further ac. tion by Congress, will be found listed on the last page of this report. They total $1,578,557, or $8,201 above the amounts set up for the current vear. In some instances it has necessary to augment funds emb by this classification from the gen- eral revenues of the District of Co- lumbia. Salaries. ‘he iotal estimates for under the classification act of 1923 amount to $3,758,077, as against an estimated total expenditure for the current fiscal year of $3,262,054. The committee has exceeded the budget to the extent of $14,436, on account of additional assistance which it felt should be provided for the Publio Utilittes Commission, the Public Li- brary, the Supreme Court and the courthouse. The budget increase is due to provision for promotions with- in salary grades (at the present time out of a total of about 2,600 employes only 300 are receiving the average rate of pay of their respective salary grades), to meet reallocations, to pro- vide for additional employments in various activities and to take care of 116 employes now being paid from lump-sum appropriatlons, for whom it is proposed to make specific provision during the ficsal year 1927 In pursu- ance of the provisions of section 4 of the District of Columbia appropriation act for the current fiscal year. Their pey amcurie to $218,140. “The usual provision is carried in observed that of the total the bill sroposes shall be appropriated approxi- mately but §16,300,000 will be ra by real estate levies, the remainder com- ing from other sources. So s between the Federal Government and the real pn‘rxsny holder the Government is paying in the proportion as 2 is to 3.” Decrease $2,425,415. “Contrasted with the current appro- » ns, the bill shows a decrease of $2.035.415 Te o larpeextent fihmmm this bill restricting the average of all salaries pald under any grade under the classification act of 1823 to the average rates specified for the grade, amended to conform with the pro- visions in the other - reguiar supply bills which have been agreed to both houses so as to permit in cases of one position in a grade advances to be made, in unusually meritorious cases, to rates higher than the aver- n of the grade often, onoe during . by reason of the fact | t salarles the fiscal year and then only to the next higher rate. “While the act creating the Public Utllities Commission provides that the corporation counsel of the District of Columbia shall be the general counsel of the comnilssion, that the assistants to the ocorporation counsel shall ren- der whatever assistance the corpora- tion counsel may prescribe, and that special ass{stants may be employed, in the discretion of the commission, t! committee feels that the work of the commisaion could be performed with more facllity and with greater thor- oughness if it wers provided with an attorney to be engaged exclusively on public utility matters. Accordingly, it is proposing that provision be made for an attorney directly under the commission and is recommending a provision requiring that this attorney and the corporation counsel and his assistants shall be required to devote thelr whole time to thelr official duties. Public Library. ~ “For the Public Library. including branches thereof, the budget esti- mates amount to $259,860. The com- mittee is proposing appropriations to- taling $271,800, or an increase of $11,- 440 in excess of the budget, of which 94,440 s for additional employes over and above the nine additional pro- posed in the budget. The committee is convinced that the library is hand- icapped in the performance of its mis- slon through the inadequacy of its staff. At least five of the new em- sloyu will be assigned to the chil- ren’s section of the Mount Pleasant branch. The committee also is pro- posing to increase the budget esti- mate of $2,600 to $3,000, or $500 more than the current appropriation, for Sunday and holiday service; to allow $5,000 more than the budget proposes for new books, and to Increase the budget allowance for binding from 311,000‘“(0 $12, i lecreasing the accumulation of un- bound books and getting them back Into circulatfon. A new appropriation $20.000 Is proposed, in accordance with the budget estimate, for repairs and improvements to the main library and the' Takoma FPark branch and for furniture, furnishings and equip- ment for general library use. In ad- dition to the appropriations made available to the library, it has an in come from fines and other sources, avallable for general library uses. The total available from the source during the fiscal year 1925 was $12,768.50. Office of the Director of Traffic. “The appropriations provided on ac. ‘ount of this new office for the pres. ent fiscal year, directly and indirectly, amount to $1 With this sum there has been 11 be applled $42,. 000 to the i atin of automatically controlled tr signal lights on Six. teenth street horthwest from I street to Florida avenue and from KEuclid street to Newton street, and on Massa. chuseits avenue northwest from Vinth street to Eighteenth street, call- ing for a total of 120 lights. The bud- get estimate for 1927 calls for an ap- propriation of $100.000, of which it is vroposed to apply $17,000 to the {nstal- Jation of 48 more of such lights, ex- tending from Twentieth to Twenty- second street on Massachusetts ave- nue northwest, and south on Twenty- second street from Massachusetts ave- nue to Pennsylvanla avenue. The cost of operation of the total of 166 lights has been estimated as $7.300. Fifty thousand dollars of the budget estimate is for ealaries alone, of which $16,320 has been estimated as neces- sary for the employment of a tem- porary force to handle the work of renewing automobile operators’ per- mits, The remainder of the money will be employed in the purchase or making of signs, painting lines and signals, ete. “The committee is proposing budget estimate, and fn order that greater progresms may be made in the installation of traffic signal lights it 1s proposing. in addition. that the fees dGerived from the renewal of op- erators’ permits shall be applied ex- clusively to the purchase, installation and maintenance of traffic lights. This would not interfere with the District's regular revenue from new permits or from replacing lost permits and should vield in the neighborhood of $125,000 for continuing this well recognized efficient method of controlling traffic assuming that the renewul rate pr scribed in existing law is not disturb- ed. The traffic director has prepared lans for the installation of 1,000 ad- slll(mn.l signals for installation on the streets. They will cost $381,800 to purchase and install and $34,000 per year to operate and maintain. Their installation would release from traffic duty 54 policemen and would release for regular duty 41 policemen engaged at certain intersections during the morning and evening rush hours. The rate of progress with respect to these installations is controlled in a large measure by the appropriations made available for new lighting equipment under the electrical department. Street and Road Improvement and Repair. For surfacing new and old streets the budget estimates call for a total of $860,000. The committee is pro- posing $850,600, a decrease of $9,400, This grows out of the substitution proposed by the committee, after a personal inspection of the streets, for some of the budget items, the read- justment resulting in the decrease indicated. Frankly, the committee believes that a much larger amount could well be applied to new street- surfacing and resurfacing items. Many of the items it has eliminated possess merit and the property owners are entitled to the improvement, but the committee was guided by the thought that with the limited funds available they should be applied where they would serve the general public rather than a particular locality. It should not be overlooked that there has been made available within the month $642,700 for this olass of work, which the authorities desired to get under way before they would have been able to had the funds been car- ried in this bill. Treating this sum as a 1927 appropriation, the amount proposed in this bill exceeds the cur- rent appropriation well above $200,- 000. The impression might prevail that the gas-tax fund should be able to finance iarger undertakings, but the of income in hand and receivable, have assumed such proportions that larger drafts might make it necessary for contractors to wait for their money. “Of the items inserted by the com- mittee, one is to complete the un- paved portion of Thirteenth street northwest from Allison street south- ward, with the view to reducing traffic on Fourteenth and Sixteenth streets, one is to continue the widening and repaving of Eleventh street northwest from New York avenue to Massa chusetts avenue, which will give a 70- foot rondway from Pennsylvania ave- nue to Massachusetts avenue, and another provides for plvm’nWllconl!n avenue northwest from Thirty-seventh street to Massachusetts avenue, which, when completed, in conjunction with paving to be done out of avallable funds on Wisconsin avenue from P to R street, will make this a finely paved thoroughfare from Tenleytown to M street, with the exception of the pav- ing between the car tracks from M street to P street, which the commit- tee expects the Commissioners to re- quire the street railway company to improve. Repair Funds $895,000. “For repairs to streets, urban and suburban, the committee is proposing appropriation of $895,000, in con- formity with the budget estimate. Like in the case of the appropriation for new pavements, o€ $150000 hag ust bean. B FOR DISTRICT IS REPORTED TO HOUSE Main Provisions of Appropriation Bill for District for Coming Year Outstanding provisions of interest in the District bill as reported 1o the House today include the following: The Board of Education {s given authority to draft regulations for the admittance of non-resident pupils to the District public schools and to fix thelr tuition, with approval of the Commissioners. A total of 46 trafc lights are provided for, to be Installed on Massachusetts avenue from Ninth to Twelfth street and on Sixteenth from Euclid to Newton street. Eleventh street will be widened from Pennsylvania avenue to Massachusetts avenue, thus providing a new traffic artery to relieve congestion in the downtown section. A people’s counsel for the Public Utilities Commission is provided, to be appointed by the Comnissioners at a salary of $6,000. A commission of threc members, to be appointed by the Commis- sioners, 18 given an appropriation of $3,000 to study the high-pressure water system here. taking care of the more emergent work, and were it not for this special appropriation the gmount proposed for 1827 would about parallel the current appropriation. Here, too, the com- mittee feels that there is ample justi- fication for a larger outlay. “Under this head the budget in- cludes an item of $1560,000 for the pur- chase of a site for stables, shops and storerooms of the Engineer Depart. ment and $2,600 for the preparation of plans and estimates of cost for the construction and equipment of build- Ings to be erected thereon. The prop- erty in view, including improvements, 1s assessed at $53,750. The property at present occupled is a part of the site in South Washington under the furisdiction of the joint committee on the library, intended for use by the Botanic Garden. The committee {is not aware of any pressing need to vacate and certalnly Is averse to ap- propriating $150,000 for a which has an assessed value of § 0. “An appropriation of $10,000 is car- rled, in accordance with the budget estimate, for making repairs to the District fish wharf. Members of the committee visited the wharf In the course of an inspection trip and found a really dangerous prevailing, “It was developed during the hear- ings on the biil that the practice has been in inviting proposals for street paving work to specify a particular kind of paving, mostly sheet asphalt and concrete, to the exclusion ot all other types or compositions, frre- spective of the fact that other kinds of paving have been laid in other communities and after long usage have demonstrated their durable qualities. We may be getting the best kind of paving here and at most favorable prices, but the fact remains that every responsible party should have an opportunity to bld on a pare ticular class of paving—that s, smooth paving, and brick or blol paving, and not be excluded by speci- fications barring bids on auy other than a particular composition. The specifications a to performance should be as rigid as the authorities might determine should be necessary or desirable. With this thought in mind the committee has incorporated a provision In the bill requiving that specifications for street paving work shall be 8o prepared as to permit of fair and open competition Bridges. “For maintenance and repalr bridges the committee is proposing appropriations in the sum of $£93.300, which s $39,512 in excess of the cur- rent appropriations 000 in excess of the budget estimates. Of the increase, $14,512 Is intended al- most entirely for a larger outlay on repairs. The remainder (£25000) has been added by the committee for con- structing _highway guards on the Calvert Street. Klingle Road ' and Penneyivania Avenue hridges, with the view of avolding further automo- blle mishaps. The sum provided ls considered adequate by the ngi- neer Commissioner properly to afford 1 reasonable degree of protection.” “The budget estimate on account of all work in connection with sewers is $1.447,000, which is £18,000 bhelow the current appropriation, charging to the latter a supplemental appro- priation of $275.750 just made avail- able in the first deficlency act, fiscal year 1926. The extensive building operations that have been going on in the outlying sections of the city have made heavy demands on this department for main and service sew- ers. To aid In meeting this situation the appropriation proposed is $550,- 000, as compared with $385.800 for the current year. This situation also will be benefited by the appropriation of $400.000 proposed by the budget and the committee for assessment and permit work. sewers, which is $125,000 above the approp! atlon carried in the current appro- priation act, and which recently was augumented by a_supplemental ap- propriation of $125.000. “The committee is proposing that the appropriations on account of sewer extensions, including service sewers, shall be available immediate- of 1y, “It was developed in the considera- tion of the estimates that the rate of $1.50 now charged for laying serv- ice sewers represents but half of the cost. The committee {s proposing ;lal.lo:' the rate shall be Increased to Collection and Disposal of Refuse. “For street cleaning and the col- lection and disposal of refuse the budget estimate is $1,442,560, or $11,420 in excess of the current ap- propriation. The committee is pro- posing a further Increase of $10,000 to provide for the purchase of shears for cutting up into marketable con- ditfon the vast accumulation of tin cans and other metal containers, which have a sale value of appro: imately 8 cents a pound. The com- mittee is advised that the operation would be gelf-supporting and would give good returns on the investi- ment. During the fiscal year 1925 there was received from the sale of by-products of garbage $286.292 and from the sale of miscellaneous trash $102,012. Public Playgrounds. “The budget estimates on account of &uhnc playgrounds, apart from funds on account of the maintepance, equipment _and _improvement of school yards for play purposes under the public schools is $162,805, or $16,026 over the current appropria- tions. The committee is nronuslns their budget estimate. There are 2 playi 5 play stations and 3 bathing pools, apart from 3 pools on playground sites, supported by these appropriations, which also include provision for supervision, equipment and supplies on account of school playgrounds which are kept open during the Summeér months and the larger schools vards which are kept open dally after school during the school term. A list of the existing ygrounds will ;‘c' found in the earings on page 3 The major portion of the increase over the current appropriation is re- quired to provide attendance on and take care of three new playgrounds acquired by the National Capital Park Commission and turned over to the municipal authorities, including two guards for the supervision of a swimming pool which the c".::i Chase Recreation League has off. to construct on the new Chevy Chase layground site conditional upon the Blnrlc{ providing for the maint nance and superivsion thereof. - Electrical Department. “The budget proposes an appropria- tion of $952,240 on -cou:t of this de- nt, or $186,612 more than the current appropriation. e electrical department is with t] u] on and of the ting sy~ situation § tem, enforcement of electrical regula- tions dealing with the installation of electrical wiring in public and private buildings, maintenance and operation of the police patrol signal, fire alarm system and the municipal telephone system, and the regulation and super- vision of the erection and main- tenance of poles and overhead wires of public utilities in public spaces, “The appropriation proposed makes provision for three additional em- ployes required to give more efficient service to the public in speeding up inspections and making such inspec- tions more thorough. The principal increase occurs in the {tem for street lighting, $760,000, as compared with $5690,000 for the current year, and virtually all of this increase ($143,- 000)) goes into the maintenance of existing street lighting. The pro- posed allocation of the money leaves but $35,000 for improving lighting facilities plus a specific appropriation proposed by, the budget and the com- mittee of $40,000. This will allow a small measure of progress to be made on the comprehensive plan worked out under the direction of the Com- missioners for providing for and bet- tering the Nghting needs of the Dis- trict. The Engineer Commissioner has reported that the street lighting as a whole is distinctly inadequate. How rapldly the lighting plans should be proeceded with would seem to tie to the question of the extent the local taxpayers wish to go in provid- ing for its accomplishment. The committee suggests that a study of the legislation with respect to serv- ice rates might disclose a means of reducing this expense and thereby re- lease money for extension and im- provement work. Public Schools. “The appropriations proposed by the budget on account of the public schools amount to $11.283,0° or $1,032,060 below the current appro priations. The commniiltee is propos- ing the budget estimate and a rea; propriation of approximately $150,000. The decrease of $66,500 represents a transf to the Health Department of the appropriations on account of medical and dental inspection work. Teachers. Fou the pay of teachers and librarians the appropriation proposed by the committee and the budget ix $5,504,300. This is an increase of $396,300 over the current appropria- tlon. Longevity pay in accordance with the act of June 4, 1924, accounts for $216,100 of the increase, and the remainder ($i86,200) is for the com- pensation of 90 additional teachers estimated to be required on account of increased enrollment und the open- ing of nmew classrooms. The whole enroliment in the public schools of the District for the year ending June 30, 1925, was 72,957—49,717 white and 23,250 colored. The daily average at- tendance during that year Wwas 61.- 318.1, There are 2566 teachers and 10 librarians employed in the public schools of the District this year. The gchool authorities estimated for a larger number of additional teachers, but there was a difference of opinfon as to the probable date of opening of new buildings, which is responsible for the smaller allowance. 1f it should appear that these bulldings will be ready for occupancy earlier than the allowance contemplates, teachers for them can be provided for in a de- fictency bill. Janitors. “The budget propo: the janitorial force from 433 to 481, entailing an increase over the current appropriation of $64,600. An additional increase of $12,000 is propesed to pay increased compensation in accordance with the classification act. The com- mittee is proposing the budget esti- mate, The superintendent of schools expressed the opinion that the addi- tional force provided will take care of the buildings adequately, assuming that no more buildings will be made ready for occupancy during the school year than the estimates contemplate, The proposed appropriation takes care of the janitorial force for 12 buildings or additions to buildings which it is expected will be opened during the next school year for an additional em- ploye In each of three existing build- ings, and for an additlonal assistant to the superintendent of janitors. Miscellaneous Items. “Under this head the budget and the committee propose increased appro- priations of $127,800 for furniture and equipment for school buildings. of $5,000 for contingent expenses and of $25,000 for text books. The increase for furniture is attributable to the larger number of new buildings near- ing completion. The amount proposed for books is in agreement with the original estimates of the Board of Edueation. Provision also is made under this head for the purchase of paper towels, The current appropria- tion is $2,600, the amount recommend- ed by the budget and the committee is $2,600 and the amount recommended by the Board of Education is $4.000. The superintendent of schools stated that to supply each pupfl in the pub- lic schools with one sanitary paper towel for each school day would re- quire an appropriation of approxi- mately $21,000. Buildings and Grounds. “The act approved February 26, 1925, prescribed a five-year program for the construction of school build- ings and for the purchase of sites for school buildings and school play- grounds. The total estimated cost of that program is $20,000,000. To date there has been appropriated toward its aoccomplishment $4,336,500. This bill provides a further sum of $2,608.- 500 and a reappropriation of approxi- mately $150,000. This, obviously, is not at a rate that would provide the funds for the entire program within a period of five years equally distrib- uted. In this connection it will be recalled that under the terms of the act approved February 2, 1925, the sum of $4,438,154.92 was made per- manently available in the general ac- count of the District of Columbla in the Treasury Department for ap- propriation by Congress ‘for purchase of land and construction of bulldings for public school. playground and park purposes.’ In pursuance of the provisions of such act a further credit of $819,373.88 was found to be due the District by the controller gen- eral of the United States, and be- came available for such purposes as Congress might from time to time rovide. Thus a special fund was Cnut up of $6,267,628.76, of which there has been appropriated to date 2,631,600 toward the five-year school uilding and ground program, and this bill carries a further draft there. on of $2,025,000, leaving $601,028.7; of whlt&l. pendll:g lell!lol,!'.fi:;‘\mcgon.tab piates employment X tha soquisition of lapd remalning o £ be acquired to complete all land pur- chases incident to the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway. With this fund exhausted, therefore, it would be necessary to make quite a substantial draft on current revenues if an ap- propriation approximating one-fifth of the cost of the five-year program were to be made. It is the thought of the committee, however, that the prime need is the early acquisition of the profected sites while available and be- fore prices become prohibitive, and that there is no vital or pressing need for the completion of the entire build- ing program within a five-year period. $1,900,000 for Buildings. “The sum proposed in the bill on account of new school buildings, con- tinuing construction of buildings, and for preliminary studies on plans and specifications for buildings is $1,900,000. The amount proposed for sites is $708,600. plus ihe unexpended balance of the appropriation of $154,000 contained in the second de- ficiency act, fiscal year 19256, on ac- count of the Park View Scheol. The committee has made a net reduction In the budget estimates for buildings of $190,000, reducing the appropria- tions on account of the Francis and Langley Junior High Schools by $350,000 and making provision for a new’ elementary school bullding in Woodrédge, to cost $160,000. Tt Is proposing the application of $121,000 of the reduction to the purchase of sites, to be supplemented by the un- expended balance of the appropria- tion of $164,000 above referred to on account of the Park View School. The citizens in the vicinity of the Park View School are opposed to a third-story addition to that school as the appropriation previously provided contemplates. They advocate the ac- quisition of additional land &o that the existing building may be extend- ed outward rather than upward. The school authorities and the municipal architect advocate the third-story addition. In view of this difference the committee is proposing the appll- cation of the money to other uses. “The appropriation proposed for the acquisition of sites is hased on estimated prices doubly and trebly In excess of the assessed value. If the land can be purchased under the language employed by the tommittee at prices not exceeding its assessed value plus 25 per cent obviously there would be a surplus. The com- mittee proposing that this sur- plus may be employed as far as it will go in the acquisition of other sites recommended in the original es timates of the Board of Education but for which the budget estimates make no provision Repairs and Improvements. “Much criticism is heard of the con ditfon of school buildings. The record shows that the appropriations pro- vided over the last fivevear period in the aggregate are but $25,000 less than the original requests of the Board of 1eation. A vear ago, it will be recalled, this committee pro- nosed an Increase o 000 over the budget estimate for This year the estimate that comes t us is $475.000. The original estimate of the Board of Education s $550.000 and the committee is proposing the appropriation of that sum. With re. spect to the buildings scheduled for | ¢ early abandonment it is questionable just how much should be expended on them. If they are kept clean and sanitury and warm it would seem therse would be no for com plaint. The responsibility rests with the school officials for this being done Non-Resident Pupils. “Out of ‘@ total of 70,000 and over pupils in attendange at the public schools of the District of Columbla the committee finds that 3.072 are non-resident. Three thousand and twenty-seven of this number are resi. dents of the States of Maryland and Virginia. 1f all of these non-resident pupils paid tuition at the rate of actual cost. computed on the basis of teaching service alone, they would pav a total of $274005.80. The amount actually collected during the fiscal year 1925 in tuition charges from non-resident puplis not entitled to free instruction was $7,128.68. On the basls of 40 pupils to the room, these non-resident pupils require for their accommodation approximately 10 eight-room school butldings. The committee submits that it is not falr to the local taxpayer or to the local children who are crowded, attending part-time classes, and who may be attending portables by reason of this fnflux of outside children. Police Department. “The toal appropriation proposed by T?‘l‘e budget and the committee on account of the Police Department is $3,027,070, or $:9.590 in excess of the currept appropriation. The sum proposed is adequate to provide for advancement of privates in conform- ity with the law and for an addition- al captain and lieutenant for the new thirteenth police precinct. the estab- lishment of which was provided for in the current appropriation act. There are 1,281 members of the force time. ll“;):l’l‘le bill makes provision for the purchase of a site and the erection of a bullding to be known as the fourteenth police precinct station house to replace the substation at Tenleytown, D. C. Firfe Department. “The committee is proposing the budget estimate of $2,198,220 for the Fire Department, which is $175,060 in excess of the current appropria- tion. The amount proposed provides for the advancement of privates in conformity with the law and for ad- ditional personnel (see hearings, page 807), properly to officer the organiza- tion and to officer and man a truck company to be installed with and In the quarters of No. 28 engine com- pany, on Connecticut avenue between Ordway and Porter streets. “A new appropriation of $20,000 is proposed for installing improved toilet and bathing facilities in 15 fire ! houses; another of $11,985 is propos- ed for making repairs, alterations and additions to the Fire Department re- fiur shop, and another of $92,825 for ouse, site, furniture and furnish- ings for an engine company to be located in the vicinity of Sixteenth atre!et and Piney Branch road north- west. > Charities and Corrections. “For the numerous objects provided for under this head the budget pro- poses apropriations totaling $8,349,970, or $224,600 more than the current ap- propriation. The committee is proposing appropriations totaling ”.lrl,no. or $12,650 in excess of the budget esti- mates, additional allowances being proposed in amounts as set out in the table at the end of this report on ac- count of the Washington Home for Incurables, the Industrial Home School, Florence Crittenton Home, Southern Relief Soclety and National Library for the Blind, all very worthy items in the judgment of the commit- tee. “The outstanding increase over the current appropriations is in the item for continuing the construction of the domestic building at Gallinger Munic- Ipal Hospital and commencing the con- struction of an additional ward build- ing of not less than 250 beds' capacity to cost, including all equipment, fur- niture and furnishings, not to exceed $1,000,000, and toward which the bill carries $300,000. The general wards of the hospital still are housed in old wooden buildings that were in exist ence during the Civil War. They are totally unfit for hospital purposes and the contem- ihas been confined to the area below | clusive of the park development p! $2,025,000 FROM SURPLUS FUND Committee Declares There Is No Vital or Pressing Need for Completing All Building Projects Within 5 Years Specified Earlier. fties to take the place of these old wooden structures. . Militia. “The local militia or Naticnal Guard constitutes a part of the 29th Division, composed of troops of Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. The District contingent at the present time comprises 12 units composed of 51 offi- cers and 737 enlisted men, divided into one company of Infantry, 7 companies of Engineers, 2 Coast Artillery bat- teries and 1 Military Police Company. The total maximum peace strength of the existing units is approximately 1,000 men."” “The budget estimates for the fiscal year 1927 on account of the militia to- tal $49,850, or $2,400 more than the current appropriation. Included in the estimate is $10,000 for rental of armories and drill halls, which cor- responds to the current appropriation for such purposes. There is no drill hall available at the present time and notice has been served on the militia authorities that their lease to the armory which they now occupy wil! not be renewed after July 30 next. The matter of their future accommo- dation is so indefinite at this time that the committee has merged the appropriation for rental of drill halls and armorfes with the general ex pense appropriation of the organiza- tion, making the latter available for rent. Under this arrangement they are given more leeway for negotia- tion, although a larger rental natu- rally would have the effect of reduc- ing the amount which ordinarily would be expended in general main tenance. Anacostia River and Flats. “This project provides for the im- provement of the river and for the reclamation and development of the adjacent flats from the mouth of the river to the District of Columbia boundary line. a distance of about 613 miles. Work up to this time | Benning Bridge, comprising 931 acres, all of which has been acquired. The area above Benning Bridge to be re claimed and devoted to park pur poses, as authorized by law, will com prise 600 acres, of which there re mains to be acquired approximately 100 acres, 1 “The total cost of the project. ex | of the work, will approximate $4 000, of which there has been appro school repairs. | ap | recommendaing {tion of land above Benning Bridge | work is under the office of the director priated $2.263.460. The estimate on account of the en- tire project for the fiscal year 1927 is $170,000, the same as the current ropriation. The committee is the appropriation of 1at sum, of which it 1= proposing that 000 may be applied to the acquist- and the remainder to reclamation work below and above Benning Bridge, in the discretion of the chief of engi- neers. “The park development phase of the of public buildings and public parks and to date $163.040 has been appro- priated on this account for the de. velopment of section D. which les be- tween the Anacostia Bridge and the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge. Devel- opment of this section is nearing com- pletion and the appropriation of $6 060 requested and proposed for the fiscal vear 1927 contemplates continu- ing work on section D and the com- mencement of the improvement of section C, lying between Bolling Fleld and the Anacostia Bridge. A consid- erable part of this area is now being used as a tree nursery by the District government. Public Buildings and Public Parks. ‘The director of public buildings and public parks of the National Cap- ital, under the general direction of the President of the United States, is charged with the construction, main- tenance, care. custody, policing. up- keep or repair of public bufldings, grounds, parks, monuments or memo- rials in the District of Columbia. The appropriations under this official un- der this head have to do with the activities enumerated, with the ex- ception of the Executive Mansion and grounds, the grounds of the executive departments, the Capitol grounds and Botanic Garden, the Washington Mon- ument, the building where Abraham Lincoln died and the Lincoln Memo- rial. There are over 500 park reser- vations under the control of this of- ficlal, not all improved, it is true, but which are developed and improved as funds permit. “The committee is proposing appro- priations fn agreement with the bud- gest estimates. “A year ago, it will be recalled, the committee merged quite a large num- ber of park maintenance items into one paragraph. The budget has pro- posedga further merger so as to have one paragraph covering exclusively the pay of classified employes and one paragraph covering contingent ex. penses, material and per diem labor, specifically setting aside. however, a portion of the sum carried by the latter paragraph to meet the ex- penses, apart from classified labor, of certaln activities set out separately in the current appropriation act. The committee believes that the proposed arrangement possesses merit, is busi- nesslike and should be adopted, and Ilsp :rx;onmifig i!? adoption, as well as P ons In agreement wi budget estimates. e “The current appropriation act car- ried an appropriation of $50,000 for continuing construction of the tour- sts’ camp on its present site in East Potomac Park, and $5,000 for the maintenance of such camp. The di- rector of the office of public buildings and public parks has advised the com- mittee that it is his intention to pro- ceed with the work as rapidly as pos- sible. The committee is including specific provision of $5,000 in the con- solidated general expense Aappropria- tion for the maintenance of the camp i”: lkts present site in East Potomac rk. National Capital Park Commission. “Under the provisions of the act en- titled ‘An act providing for a con’l‘- prehensive development of the park and playground system of the Na- tional Capital,' approved June 6, 1924, an initial appropriation of $600,000 was carried in the District of Colum- bia appropriation act for the current fiscal year. The law provides that an annual appropriation may be made of & sum not exceeding 1 cent for each inhabitant -of the continental United States as determined by the last pre- ceding decennial census. “An estimate of $600.000 has been presented for the fiscal year 1927 and the committe is proposing the appro- grl&uon of that sum, of which $566,- 00 will be applied to the purchase of land, $33,000 to personal services and $200 to printing and binding. ““The committee is not advised and, therefore, cannot inform the House as to any particular parcels of land that will be acquired under the ap- Koprhuon proposed in this bill. The ning committee for preparing plan: for park extensiol nd the ‘economi- rocurements,’ using wf the MeMillan Commission, adopted in 1901. The general plan is to make acquisitions in aceordance with the 1901 plan, as modified from time to time, giving preference to such parcels as are in danger of being destroyed by dump ing, grading, filing, cutting of trees and building operations. It is the pur pose, also to the extent practicable to continue the project of completing the so-called Fort Drive, encircllng the city and touching in its course each of the forts thrown up during the Civil War for the defense of the Capital, involving the acquirement o certain areas both park purposes. National Zoological Park. “For maintenance and operation the budget proposes $170,000, as agains: the current appropriation of $157,000 The budget included an item of $49,000 toward the construction of an exhibition buildiing for birds, to cos: not to exceed $102,000, exclusive o® equipment and outside cages, which it is estimated will cost approximately an additional $25,000. The coramittee is willing to concede that the facilities now at the park are neither suitable nor adequate for housing and display ing the stock of birds on hand, but it Joes feel that provision should be made on a less elaborate scale than contemplated by the park authorities and for that reason it is not proposing that the appropriation be made. Increasing Water Supply. “Using the language of the report the chief of Army, 19 ““This project includes a new intak= gate chamber above the present intake from the Potomac River at Great Falls, and a new aqueduct, nearly paraliel to the present one, from this intake to the north end of Dalecarlia Reservoir. It also includes a rapid sand fitration plant, located on the west side of the Conduit road fust below the District of Columbia line; a hydroelectric plant for generating electric current to be used in pumping the filtered water, located west of the filtration plant; a pumping station at he filtration plant: a storage reservolr. located in the District of Columbia be tween Dalecarlia reservoir and the Bureau of Standards, for storing water to supply the second high serv ice; a storage reservoir, located east of the present Georgetown reservoir, fo: the first high servi and the neces sary pipe lines for carrving the filtered water from the new filtration plant to the first, second and third high-service areas. ““The new additional water-supplv works are to be used for purifying and supplying water to all the high area within the District of Columbia, where pumping is required to lift the water to the required elevation.’ “The present supply of water is 70.000,000 gallons per day. The new system will supply 80,000,000 gallons per day additional. “The total authorized cost of the profect is $9.165,000. Of this sum there has been appropriated to date $7.200.000. The revised estimated cost for completing the undertaking, it is gratifying to note, is $8,827,600, o $341.400 less than the authorized cost There remains to be appropriated $1,627.600. The budget estimate is $1.500,000, and the cormitiee is pro- posing that that sum be appropriated leaving a balance of $127.600 (o he appropriated «t a later date. While it is estimated that all work finaliy leted by June 1, 1827, i for roadway and final settlemen: there will be deferrved ments of sums sufficient to warr the remalning sum of $127,600 rot being made avall- able prior to J 1, 1927, “The commitiece heretofore has called attention to the fact that the new system would not be a complete or perfect auxiliaiy, because it em- braced no means of getting water to the gravity-supplied areas of the city should a break occur in the main con~ veying water to the McMillan Park filtration plant and reservoir. The committee is advised now that such a contingency has been provided for, Water Service. “On_ account of the Washington Aqueduct and the activities of the Water Department, all payable from the water revenues. the budget pro- posals total $1,416,891. The committes is proposing $1,272,191, or $144,700 less than the budget estimates. The estimated revenues for 1927 are §1.- 250,000. The amount proposed by the budget involves an outlay well above the estimated income. The sum the committee is recommending exceeds the estimated receipts by $22,191. Eighty-five per cent of the houses in the District are now metered and pay each a minimum rate of houses in the District are now meter- ed and pay each a minimum rate of $5.65, covering 7,500 cubic feet, the equivalent of 56,100 gallons. The com mittee is including a provision {n this bill directing the Commissioners to in- crease the scale of water rents by not less than 25 per cent per annum. “The estimates include $295,221 for laying water mains. The committee eliminated items calling for a total of $147,700, not being impressed with the need of providing them at this time. “The committee has inchuded under this head an appropriation of $3,000 for the expenses of a col 1o be appointed by the Commissioners te consider and report upon the installa- tion of a high-pressure water system in the conzested high-value section of the Distriot.” Western Union in Mexico. MEXICO CITY, March 10 (#).—The government, through the department of communications, yesterday signed the contract with the Western Unlon Telegraph Co. and the Mexican Tele. graph Co., whereby the American company takes over the Mexican com pany, which is the Mexican division of the All-America Co. Cables. 6% Bonds SECURED BY First Mortgages priscipal and intsrest of which are GUARANTEED by a= outstandiag SURETY COMPANY May be purchased if de- §% paid en instaliments THE MORRIS PLAN BANK Under Supervision of U. 8. Tressusy 1408 H Srest N. W,