Evening Star Newspaper, January 21, 1929, Page 4

VENING STAR, W DISTRICT APPROPRIATION BILL CARRIES TOTAL OF $38,213,150 ' T U.S. TO CONTINUE LUMP SUM CONTRIBUTION OF $9,000,000 Present Real Estate Tax of $1.70 and Same Tangible Personal Property Levy Retained in Measure. (Continued From First Page) as amended, with the exception of school teachers and others specially ex- | cepted from the provisions of the act The District personnel contributes to the retirement fund by salary deduc-| tions the same as Federal personnel. Until the fiscal year 1929 no appropria- . tion had been made by the Federal Government toward financing tlie ac- crued liability of the Government in the retirement fund which accrued li- ability is estimated at approximately $400,000,000. For the fiscal years 1929 | and 1 Congress has appropriated | approximately $20.000.000 each year to- | ward financing the accrued liability of | the Government. Included in this| stated accrued liability of the Federal Government is the portion of the lia- | Bllity which was created by the- par-| ticipation of District of Columbia em- ployes, In order that the financing of that portion of the crued liability which is properly chargeable to District of Columbia personnel may be borne| et of Columbia instead of | y the Uni States the Committee | has recommended & separate section in the bill transferring from District reve- | nues the sum of $300,000, comp of $150,000 cach for the fiscal years 1929 and 1930, to the credit of the United | States. For the next fiscal year, and' thereafter as long as it may be neces-) sary, it is anticipated that a regular| item for this purpose will be budgeted and carried annuallv to meet the trict’s share of the accrued liabil ‘The sum of $150.000 for each of thes years is based upon as accurate an est mate as it is now possible to make of the portion that should be borne by the District. As better data become available in future years the annual amount can be readjusted to meet the situation of the accrued liability then existing or to adjust any underesti- mate or overestimate of the District’s share year by year.” Salary Raise Item Eliminated. ‘The report accompanying the bill points out that the omission of the second year appropriations in the two- year program adopted last year of bringing District employees’ salaries up to a fair average with those in other departments of the Government is due to the fact that the committee believes the effect of the Welch pay bill has been to take care of this situation and that “in comparison with the Federal departments the average salary rates.of the District government employees are most favorable.” The report says: “Last year when the committee had the estimates for the District of Co- Jumbia under consideration it went par- ticularly into the question of the sal- wries of employees of the District of Columbia, under the classification act of 1923, operative at that time. They salary rate of teachers, firemen, or po- licemen, were not included in the study, ms these were and are all covered by legislation apart from the act men- tioned. A comparison was made of the mverage number of employees, the aver- Bge rates, .and the total salary obligations for all employees in the District of Columbia, listed under the different Federal establishments, includ- ing the District of Columbia, for the years 1927, 1928, and 1929. With the exception of employees under public buildings and public parks of the Na- tional Capital—which service was hard- ly comparable, as most of those em- ployees are grouped under the custodial grades—the average salary for the em- ployees of the District of Columbia was the lowest of that for the 33 depart- ments and bureaus listed. The com- mittee then ascertained the total amount that would be necessary to bring the salaries of the District em- ployees up to the average salary rates of the grades specified in the then lapplicable classification act of 1923, amount having been estimated at $340,750, the committee at that time determined to appropriate this amount of money over a two-year period dis- Sributing it under the respective bu- reaus and divisions of the local gov- ernment. A sufficient amount of money was included in the bill and appropri- ated last year over the Budget esti- mate,- and there was actually expended or allocated during the current , prior to the enactment of the eleh pay act, $175,641. i Taken Care of in Welch Bill. ! %The committee’s action, of course, in planning this two-year program of palary increases, was not predicated upon the passage and application of he pay rates contained in the Welch ay act. When this law became oper- tive, the effect of its provisions, so ar as the salaries of the employees of khe District of Columbia were con- erned, was to add an additional net mount of $557,802 to the pay roll of he District government, over and bove the original $175,641. The total of .these two amounts, therefore, 533,433. represents what actually has # been obligated and allocated for salary | fincreases during the current year, and | the salary amounts covered in this bill for the next fiscal year maintain this gchedule. When the District Commis- sioners submitted their supplemental estimates to both the Bureau of the Budget and to the committee this year, they included an item of $165,000, the purpose of which was to finish the second part of the two-year salary-in- | crease program which the committe had embarked upon last year. The Bureau of the Budget eliminated this estimate in view of the subsequent effect of the Welch pay act, and the com- mittee in reporting out this bill has su tained that action. From data, te: mony, and tables contained in the hear- ings this year it will be observed that, 4n comparison with the Federal depart- ments, the average salary rates of the District government employees are most favorable.” Start of Municipal Center Promised. Promise of appropriations commit- | tee support for the new municipal cen- | ter legislation and the related project | of a new police court are given in the | report, ‘ogether with approval of the | expplemental estimates for important public improvements aggregating $1,- 674.000. The report says “The original estimates submitteéd to! the committee for its consideration | amounted to $36,883,122, which repre- | sented a reduction of $754,186 under | the current appropriations. The esti-| mates as they first appeared for exami- nation were lacking in many important | items of a forward-looking character | for improvement and develbpment pur- poses. Investigation by the committee | showed that, exclusive of a reserve! cash working balance of $4,000,000 and ! & Teserve of $1,000,000 to offs under new la ble deficiencies | in current or prior propriations, there would still be'a net cash surplus | of revenues to the credit of the District | pubiic séhools of Columbia approximating $5,000,000. | The commissioners, upon invitation by the Bureau of the Budget, had sub- mitted to the bureau after the Budget of $36883112 had been approved, supplcmentary estimates which not approved because of the type of a number of the items submilted, among them being provision for additional po- sitions und salary increases. After this sefusal, the Bureau of the Budgetgsug- gested that an alternative s¢jple- |of this fund upon necessary projects | | current appropriations. were | This the District Com- missioners falled to do. Supplementary List Prepared. “The subcommittee, at the hearings, did not give any justification for the lack of planning in this respect. Hav- ing in mind the large idle cash sur- plus to the credit of the District of | Columbia, and believing that the tax-| payers of the District were entitled at least to the expenditure of a portion from which they would derive a de- served civic benefit, the committee, after indicating the nature of im- | provements which it would consider, | obtained from the District officials an estimate of primary items of importance | totaling $4,979,700, paralleled by a sec- ondary group amounting to $1,630,000, | making a total of $6,609,700. The com- | mittee then cooperated with the Bureau | of the Budget, and as a sequence to such action there was submitted to Congress a supplementary list of esti- mates covering important public im- provements amounting to $1,674,000. Chese supplementary estimates cov- | ered amounts for the library service, | concentration of the highways depart- | ment shops, repairs to Anacostia Bridge, school sites and buildings, Gallinger Hospital nurses’ home, public parks, and a building at the National Zoologi- cal Park. The committee has recom- mended all of these items which makes the total of the bill $575,442 over the r ‘Two additional projects, a municipal center (estimated at $2,400,000) and a new police court building (estimated at $300,000), were also given serious consideration. ~Action thereon has not been taken at this time due to lack of legislation for the civic center, and the opinion that a project of the magnitude of the police court buflding quite naturally is linked to the plans for a new civic center. Proposed legislation, recently introduced in the House of Representatives, is pending at the present time, and it is anticipated and hoped that action will be taken during this Congress, both of authoriza- tion and appropriation for this project.” .+ Maintenance Allowance 0. K'd. The committee continues the present allowances to certain District employees for quarters, maintenance, etc., pending a review by the Personnel Classification Board, the same as the amendment in the Interior Department bill regarding the allowance for Dr. William A. White, superintendent of St. Elizabeth’s Hospi- tal. Chairman Simmons in explanation of this said: “At the various institutions of the District of Columbia for many years in the past it has been the practice and custom to allow gquarters, main- tenance, etc, for employees who are required to live at the institutions. The necessity of a large number of per- sons to live at the institutions is very obvious. The classification act of 1923 provides that in fixing salaries these maintenance allowances shall be taken into consideration. The rates of allow- ances and values in effect have been criticized by the Comptroller General as being too low in many cases. In order that these rates may be reviewed by the Personnel Classification Board, the central agency for allocating posi- tions, and determination by them of the l%{ut::ed scale of d;uawancu, the com- mi recommends a paragraph under the Board of Public Welfare continuing the present scale of allowances in ef- fect pending a review and determina- tion of the rates by the board. The glnstltutlnmfinvol&l,ed include the work- use, reformatory, jail, hospitals, homes, and the various correctional in. stitutions, and a proper and detailed study of the entire field will enable the board to evaluate the allowances in re- lation to the entire salary question.” Care of"District Bullding. | Addition lof permanent public improvements in | - | the District. Street. This property was transferred to the United States Botanic Garden under the act of May 11, 1922, The Botanic Garden development requires the early removal of the highways de- partment shops to another location. It is proposed to consolidate the shops of the highways department with those of the water department at the Bryant Street pumping station. In order to | accomplish this purpose, provide for the repairs of highways department auto- mobiles at the District automobile repair shop across the street from the Bryant Street pumping station, and provide housing for these automobiles, it will be necessary to provide additional con- struction as follows: to District shop.. automobile £40.000 135,000 repair New garage .. Shop construction. including ‘asphalt and cement laboratory. and re- moval of equip 1 d new location Total 205,000 “The additional construction will be 30.000 | on land dlready owned by the Govern- ment. It is contemplated also that the garage and shops of the trees and park- ing department. in buildings and on the grounds of the Gallinger Municipal Hospital, shall be moved to the Bryant Street pumping station. Municipal Architect’s Office. “The committee by its own action has increased the Budget estimate for the municipal architect’s office by $3,800, to provide for a manager of the Dis- trict repair shop. At present the shop has no real executive head and it is believed that an employee with such ability to direct the large amount of repair work done under the District government will aid materially in in- Free Public Library. “The total recommended for the Free Public Library and its branches totals $390,940, which includes a supplemental estimate of $35000. This is an increase for 1930 over 1929 of $58,005. The sup- plemental estimate proposes the acqui- sition of a site to be approved by the Commissioners of the District and the | board of library trustees for a building for a northeastern branch library. The board of library trustees has considered that a branch library in the north- eastern section of the city is most urgently needed, directing attention to the fact that in this section there is one junior high school, 18 graded schools; 3 parochial schools, the Gal- laudet College, as well as many churches, and other organizations and institu- tions. The proposed library will serve a large commercial and residential area and it is expected that when completed this branch library will benefit about 100,000 people. Recorder of Deeds. “At the present time all expenditures under the office of the recorder of deeds are accountable only to the General Accounting Office and are not reviewed by the auditor of the District of Co- lumbia government. This situation has existed for a number of years and at times has created conditions that do not lend themselves to the proper effi- clency of this office. The committee is of the opinion. that the expenditures of this office should, like all other units under the District government, receive the prior approval of the Commissioners of the District. Accordingly, & proviso has been inserted in the biil under the office of the recorder to bring about such an administrative review before audit by the General Accounting Office. Employment Service. “The commitiee has increased the Budget estimate for personal services and miscellaneous and contingent ex- penses for maintaining a public employ- ment service for the District, by replac- ing one employe at $1,650 who had been eliminated. The committee is of the opinion that this service is render- ing a distinct help in the District of Columbia in placing jobless individuals in positions, and that reducing the staff by one employee would work a real hardship, especially in view of the fact that the total pay roll represents only 8 positions, 2 Federal, and 6 municipal. Street and Road Improvement. “The total recommended for the va- rious items for street and road improve- ment and repair in the District of Co- lumbis is $3,745,500, which includes a supplemental estimate of $120,000. These'| figures represent a reduction of $332,- 960 under the current year and $36,000 under the Budget estimate. An accom- table sets forth at a glance the creasing the efficinecy of this service. | Appropri- | ations for 1929 (Including deficiency amounts contained in the second deficiency nct of 1928) | Salaries (including $3,800 in second deficlency act, 1928, and $240,000 in supplemental estimate Contingent and miscellaneous : | Street and road improvement and repai cluding $160,000 in supplemental estimates for 1930) | Collectlon” and disposal of | Public playgrounds Electrical department | Public schools | mental estimates for 1930). | Metropolitan Police | Fire Department Health Department Courts and prisons. Public _welfare | mental estimates for 1930). | Miscellaneous | Public buildings and public parks National Capital Park and Planning ing $400,000 supplemental estimate for National Zooloical Park (including $220, estimate for 1930) | Water service (including $494,000 contained ia supple- (including $150,000 contained in supple- | $2,166,865 223,700 d for 1930) and bridge i 4,078,460 | 1,526,000 | 1,576,740 | 190,610 1,140,180 | b 12,150,530 3.141.545 | 2,130,015 399,455 790,693 . 4,322,020 230,400 1,006,335 | | 193 850,000 ,000 supplemental . | 182,050 1,531,710 Budget estimates for 1930 $2,600,701 275,916 3.792.400‘ 1,451,000 | 1,613,9007 198,060 | 1,145,055 12,087,580 3,129,190 4,529,580 | 232,300 1,102,400 1,000,000 423,000 1,495,330 Increases de- | [ | Recommen- dations for 1930 | | Increases | abpropria- | | | "tions " | estimates +$5978 51,001 —1,215 —36,900 25,000 $2615679 | +$448.814 274,701 | | 3,745,500 | 1,476,000 | 1,613,900 | 198,060 | 1,140,430 | 11,846,000 3,083,950 2,171,790 | 427,590 | 842,340 | 4,486.580 ‘ 232,900 | 1,139,400 i 1,000,000 423,000 | 1,495,330 —332,960 ~4625 —304,530 57,595 -+41,775, --28,135 0 51,647 + 164,560’ +150,000( ....eunee 240,950 —36,380 $37.637,308 | $38,557,122 $38.213.150 18575842 —$343,972 | for the different activities of the sewer | provide for continaing the construction of the Stickfoot Branch storm water sewer, a project. according to testimony | submitted by interested citizens in that | locality, is quite desirable. The other | funds remain approximately the sams and propose the same amount of work for next year as is called for by the present program. The item for assess- ment and permit work shows an ap- parent reduction of $70.000, but this is offset by making certain unexpended balances of the current appropriation available for 1930. “The total amount recommended for the public schools, their maintenance, personal services, and buildings and grounds, for the next fiscal year is $11,846,000, which includes a supple- mental estjmate of $494,000 for addi- tional schools and school sites. The recommendations represent a reduc- and $241,580 under the Budget esti- mates. This reduction, however, is merely a postponement to a future date of several school projects until certain elements incident to their construction are worked out. “Personal services of administrative and advisory officers—The committee has added $5,000 over the Budget esti- mate for the appointment of what is to be known as a business manager for the school department. During the hearings last year it was developed that there was lacking in the system an administrative business manager to supervise only the business administra- tion and expenditures. A joint hear- ing was had between the House Sub- committee on Appropriations and the Senate Subcommittee on Appropriations handling District appropriations, with school officials and the school board, at that time. They were asked to study the suggestion of the creation of such a position and to report back this year. At the conclusion of the hearings this year it was decided to go ahead with the appointment of such a man- ager. to be chosen by the District Com- missioners, the school board, and the superintendent of schools, the man- ager to be preferably, one with an engi- neer’s qualifications. By following out this proposal, it will relieve the super- intendent of many matters of a busi- ness nature which he has to deter- mine at the present time and concen- trate under one proper supervision the manifold construction, engineering, and mechanical questions which naturally arise in carrying out the school-expan- sion program. “Teachers—The estimates examined by the committee proposed 33 new teacher positions, as follows: 8, class 1A, at $1400; 4, class 2A, at $1,800; 8, class 2C, at $2,200; and 13, class 3A, at $2200. Of the number of teachers requested (33) the committee has recommended in the accompanying bill 15, or a net reduction of 18. Those included in the bill are: 1, class 1A, at “In the estimates for the c: the District Building, which m;." lan?S vides for the necessary expenses. of maintenance and operation, including Tepairs, fuel, light, and power, the re- port says “there was contemplated the elimination of one employee at $1,428. ‘The report continues: *“This employee was one of five engineers, and it ap- peared his services were quite necessary. The committee, therefore, increased the appropriation to the extent necessary to include this A “Under the license bureau, the com- mittee has inserted the following proviso: *“‘Provided, That hereafter the super- intendent of licenses of the District of Columbia shall not issue a registra- tion certificate or identification tags for any motor vehicle upon which any per- sonal taxes are due and unpaid to the said District.” “In testimony submitted to the com- mittee it was started that a practice existed in the District where some of the inhabitants give a fictitious street dress when applying for their regis- tration certificate or identification tags for their automobiles, and this practice naturally obviates the collection later of personal taxes upon the vehicle. By the adoption of the above proviso, this subterfuge will be stopped and it has been estimated that approximately $70,- 000 additional in personal-propert; taxes will come into the District treasury. “The committee has increased the Budget estimate for the office of the corporation counsel by adding $1,500 to cover the salary of a messenger. At the present time there is no such em- ployee in this office, and it was stated that such services are much needed. Highways Department. “Including a supplemental estimate of $205,000, the amount recommended | for the highways department for ithe | next fiscal year is $420,690, which is the | Budget estimate, and an increase over the current year of $222,840. The pur- pose of the supplemental estimate of ; $205,000 is to provide for the removal { of the highways department shops, etc., to the Bryant Street pumping station, and in this connection, to make cer- tain other desirable economical ar- rangements for servicing, repairing, and housing municipal automobiles. For many years the store yards and shops of the highways department have been ¥ | Avenue, panying different funds appropriated for under general amount. ———————eeeee T Assessment permit walks, curl Paving Toadw: work, side- and slieys vin under pei Gasoline {ax, road and sireet Tund. Grading small p Streets, avenues, roads, or highwi Opening, widening. or extension Streets, avenues, and alleys, repairs Sidewalks and curbs around public reservations, etc. 3 Bridges, construction’ and repair (in cluding $120,000 contained in supplemental estimate) .. ! Reconstruction and Teplaceiieit of | SR T parkin Public convenience silabions |Estimates | mates | for 1929 | “for 1030 i 300,000 | $300,000 40,000 | 1,802,900 | 1, 50,000 | $1.400; 4, class 2A, at $1.800; 3, glass 2C, at $2,200; and 7, class 3A, at ‘2?2004 (—). bill compared th 1930 |with 1929 | wi; 1 I | _appro- Budge! 1 priations. | _estimates xm,oooi e 000 | —$10,4 600 | o 30,000 | 600,000 30, . 1,565, tion of $304,530 under the current year | recommended for the school program | proposed station, and in the conduct of estimate of $494,000. “For the erection of school additions service in the District has been in-|for the next fiscal year is $2,242,000.|the hearings this year officials of the | court and its probation officers. | creased by the committee $25.000 to | This' amount includes a supplemental | police department failed to impress the | immediate need for such a station house. Accordingly, the committee and building new schools there will | has made available $2.000 of the ap- be available for 1930 a total $1,835000. This amount covers actual projects as follows: 10 of | propriation for this purpose for the acquisition of additional land for the final site for this house when condi- Project, | School. Amount 8-room addition and combination gymnasium snd assembly hall. Combination gymnasium and assembly hall Junior high school building (limit of cost, t . A. Paul Junior High School Colored Health School Tlew Business High School (limit of cost, $1,500,000) . Addition to Park View School.... 4-room addition, including combinati and assembly hall. on ' gymnasium | | Unex- | Morgan School.. pended | John Eaton School | _Roa LW Viginity of School .. Undeterminec ... Park View. Buchanan School. | 1,835,000 v “Schol sites—For the purchase o(! sites for proposed new schools there is included in the bill $407,000, which contemplates the purchase of land, or portions of land, for eight new projects, the exact location of which is as yet undetermined. Police Department. “The bill carries a total amount for the police department of the District of Columbia of $3,083,950, which is a decrease of $57,595 under the amount for this year and a net reduction of $45,240 under the estimates contained in the Budget. THe figures first pre- sented to the committee included an amount of $36,300, involving the addi- tion of 13 new privates at $1,800, 3 sergeants at $2400, 1 licutenant at $2,700, and 1 captain at $3,000. The committee has disallowed all of these 18 additional men for the force. It based its action upon the number of men now on the force, believing it to be amply sufficient properly and effi- ciently to patrol the city. The District force, under its present number, com- pares most favorably with other metro- politan cities. A report, made recently by the United States Bureau of Effi- clency, states: “ ‘Washington has a greater number of policemen per capita, regardless of the fact that it has no large foreign- born population and that it is neither an industrial center nor a seaport, than the cities of Chicago, Philadelphia, De- troit, Cleveland, St. Louls, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Minne- apolis, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Mo.; Indianapolis and Toledo. Its per capita is only exceeded by .New York City, Boston and Newark. “This report does not take into con- sideration an additional force of 71 park police maintained under the Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds, the police force at the Capitol, House and Senate Office Buildings, and the numerous guards stationed at all Federal buildings. If this additional police protection were taken into con- sideration no city in the United States could compare with the number of policemen per capita. The committee ¢ | has also inserted a provision reducing the amount for extra compensation to members of the force who may be mounted on horses from $450 to $360 per annum; those mounted on bicycles from $70 to $50 per annum; and extra compensation for motor vehicles from $480 to $312, being of the opinion that the amount authorized under current law to be excessive. In reducing the estimate by 18 positions a correspond- ‘Total street and road improve ment and Tepair. “For paving, repaving, and grading, under the gasoline-tax road and street fund the committee has eliminated two improvements which were contained in the estimates when they were examined. ‘These items are the paving of Western from Forty-first Street to Chevy Chase Circle, $21,000; and the paving of Admiral Barney Circle SE., $31,000. The committee, as is its cus- tom, made the usual automobile trip over all street improvements contem- plated in this bill and were unanimously of the opinion that from the present fair condition of these two projects they could:very properly be postponed for awhile. “The supplemental estimate of $120,- 000 proposes the reconstruction of the floor system and handrail of the Ana- costia River Bridge. This bridge was built in 1908 and consists of six steel arch spans and a draw span. The road- way, 35 feet wide with two 6.5-foot sidewalks, carries two street car tracks. ‘The asphalt surface of the floor has rolled so that in places the curb height is reduced to 1 inch. This is a very inadequate protection to vehicular traffic, and the railing is not of suffi- cient strength safely to withstand the impact of modern traffic. The entire floor system is in need of replacement 2. located on United States territory in the Second Street west and South Capitol center parking of Canal Street, between | at a lower level to privide an increased height of curb. “The Budget estimate of $1,451,000 ‘Table of items suggested by Distri in_ District revenues: Table of Items Suggested To Absorb Surplus Revenues ict Commissioners to absorb the surplus | Group 1. | Group 2. Total. Public buildings ‘and public parks. Municipal center ........ ........ Disposal of city Yefuse (incinerators Street and road improvement and re Highways department garage and Culvert Street Bridge Klingle Valley Bridge 4% acostia River Bridge (repairs Home School for colored children Incre 5 i g | Palice C 4 ¢ Library. ... upreme Court. DIstrict 'of Gallinger Municipal Hospits Suburban sewers . mentary list be submitted, which ‘was P(h daclude dtems -more n the -nature Tolal | i b R a1 2,400,000 2,400,000 395.000 395,000 125,000 325,000 | | | | oo e e Those eliminated are 7, class 1A, at $1.400; 5, class 2C, at $2,200; and 6, class 3A, at 2,200. Those additional teachers recommended by the commit- tee represent positions necessary in the establishment of new classes. ‘Those additional teachers requested that were eliminated by the committee repre- sented teachers that were not for new classes but in addition to their regular IlM presumably because of oversized classes. The committee in making the | reduction has followed the same policy that it adopted last year in following the recommendations ‘contained in the school report of the United States Bureau of Efficiency at which time it was_quite apparent that there were ample teachers to take care of class- Toom needs. The situation presented to the committee this year indicates nothing to change this policy, except the appointment of teachers to new classrooms. | New School Building. “The total amount for public works (which lngudes both thepbuudlnz of new schools, additions to schools, and the purchase of new sif d_future schools) which is | 25 or 40 Watt “Edison” | BULBS % MUDDIMAN § 709 13th St. N.W. Main 140-6436 ing reduction of $1,350 was made in the fund for uniforms. House of Detention Cut $4,000. “A reduction of $4000 in the estimate for the house of detention has also been made because in the original estimate for this service an allocation of $15,000 was made for rental, whereas recently the house of detention has been able to obtain quar- ters at a rate for the next fiscal year totaling $11,000 per annum. “Last year there was appropriated a sum of $52,000 for the erection of a building to be known as the fifteenth police precinct station housé. No con- structi has_as yet started in the Good (redit y an Asset * Consolidate Y our Bills, Pay T hem All and Keep Your Credit Good . tions warrant its erection, and reap- propriated and transferred the remain- ing $50,000 to another item in the bill. “THe committee has reduced the es- timate presented to it for the fire de- partment $41,775, under the current year and $37,350 under the estimate contained in the Budget, making a total amount available for the depart- ment for flext year of $2,171,790. This reduction includes the elimination of 18 new firemen for six months, totaling $17,000; some new fire gear amounting to $21,000, and the uniform appropria- tion by $1,350. The committee sub- stantiates its action as follows: Last year, when the bill was before the com- mittee for its consideration an amount was recommended for a site and for the erection and furnishing of a building for an engine company to be located in the vicinity of Sixteenth Street and Colorado Avenue. Injunction proceed- ings precluded the District officials from proceeding with this program, and the matter is still in the courts. Eighteen additional men and the requisite fire gear were recommended in the amounts carried in the bill for this new fire house. Despite the fact that there has been no fire house at which to station these men, they were appointed shortly after the money became available. In the estimates originally submitted to the committee, as has been stated, there were 18 new men included for manning a proposed fire house at Connecticut and Nebraska Avenues which is recom- mended in the bill. The committee has eliminated these new positions and the apparatus and exrecu the department to use at this latter station the per- sonnel and apparatus granted last year !ol{’ )tlh?’ ;“hl'alnn. the oon‘:‘tlructlon fl:f whic up temporarily pending the routcome of litigation. Health Department. “The bill carries a total amount of $427,590 for the health department of the District, which is an increase of $28,135 over the current year. All of this increase is absorbed by salary re- adjustments under the Welch pay act. The committee has increased the ap- | propriation for maintaining a child T ~ Shoe Savings for Men Rich’s Semi-Annual Clearance Sale | hygiene service by adding $2,000 to the | | Budget estimate, making the amount | available for this purpose for 1930 $54,000. In reality this is an increase | | of $4,000 over the current year. The | department contemplates the establish- | ment of an additional hygiene station. The amount in the estimate did not | appear sufficient so_the committee on | its own volition raised the amount as | | indicated. | For the District courts, their ex- | penses, and the support of convicts of | the District of Columbia a total of | $842,340 has been recommended for the vear 1930. This amount reflects &n in- crease of $51,647 over the current year | and a decrease of $4,040 under the Budget estimates. | “Juvenile court—The bill carries $65,740 for the activities of the juvenile | ‘The | committee eliminated as unnecessary a proposed additional financial clerk at duced the amount for the police court | by $2.420, making the total appropria- tion for 1930, $14: ‘The commit- tee’s action \in making the reduction referred to eliminated one night court | clerk at $1,920, whose services were no longer necessary by reason of the com- | mittee’s action last year in closing the | night traffic court, and by reducing the general maintenance fund by $500. The committee was informed last year | that by closing the night traffic court it would cause a reduction both in the amount needed for fuel and for gas, electric light and power. In the esti-| mated allocations under this fund for 1930 the amounts remained practically the same. “Municipal court—The Budget esti- mate of $83,270 has been recommended for the municipal court, an increase over this year of $8,734. This increase includes an additional bookkeeper at $1,800, the balance being absorbed by Welch pay act increases. “Supreme Court of the District of | Columbia.—Including & supplemental estimate of $10,000, covering the salary of an additional judge authorized by the act of December 20, 1928, the amount estimated in the Budget for the conduct of the Supreme Court of the District was $292520. No addi- tional employees are recommended over this year, the differentiation in amount between 1929 and 1930 being covered :ycsnhry increases under the Welch ct. Public Welfare. “Including a supplemental estimate of $150,000 for a nurses’ home at Gal- linger Municipal Hospital under an estimated cost not to exceed $325,000, the estimates submitted for the various public welfare activities total $4,529,580. The committee has recommended $4, 486,580, which is an increase of $164,- 560 over 1929, and an apparent decrease under the Budget of $43,000. Actually, however, the committee increased the Budget amount by making available $50,000 of an unexpended appropria- tion for the purposes of the construc- tion of permanent buildings at the re- formatory, and thus releasing this amount from the set-up. This increase of $7,000 is covered by raising the item for a home for the superintendent at the Home for the Feeble-Minded from $15,000 to $20,000; and by increasing the appropriation for the Temporary Home for Union Ex-Soldiers and Sailors, $2,000, to cover the salary of a night watchman and repairs. “The committee has increased the amount to be available from the vari- ous funds at the District Reformatory, to act as a revolving fund, and known as the working capital fund, from $25,000 to $50,000. This fund was cre- ated last year upon recommendation by the Bureau of Efficiency, the pur- pose being to provide certain small self-paying industries at this institu- tion to keep the men occupied and provide some means of remuneration and Rich’s SHOES for Men at Greatly Reduced Prices . Twice yearly you are offered this opportunity to buy “Nettleton” and Rich’s shoes—both acceded to be of the highest grade and distinctiv stylish footwear to be had at greatly reduced prices. 250 pairs Men’s High and Low “Nettleton” Shoes reduced to $9.90 Former prices, $12.50 to $16.50 200 pairs and Shoes reduced to $7.90 Former prices, $10 to $12 Rick’s entire stock is not included in this sale, but the variety AUTO TAXES MUST BE PAID BEFORE TAGS ARE ISSUED Proposed Act Does Not Contain Second Installment to Bring D. C. Employes’ Salaries Up to U. S. Level. for their labor. The initial success of this idea has induced the committee to increase the fund for the purpose of adding several other industries at the institution. “The committee has recommended for public buildings and parks for the District a total of $1,139,400, an in- crease of $133,065 over the current year and an increase of $37,000 over the budget estimates. The item for salaries under public parks reflects a budget increase of $49,540 over 1929, This increase covers $44,280 for labor- ers under the Welch act, and $5,260 for an increase of five laborers at the minimum rate. For salaries of the park police the bill carries $152,000 for 151 men, an increase of $2,000 and 1 officer for next year over 1929. Includ- ing a supplemental estimate of $40,000, and an increase by the committee over the budget estimate of $37,000, the ap- propriation for general expenses for | public_parks is $570,000. The supple- mental estimate is an initial amount for beginning the construction of a sidewalk and protective railing along the seawall of East Potomac Park. At the present time a sidewalk and an iron railing_now encircle the seawall at Hains Point. ‘The purpose of this es- timate is to continue the walk and rail- ing a considerable distance on both the Washington Channel and Potorac River sides of East Potomac Park. The $32,000 added by the committee over the budget estimate covers an item for the purchase of road metal for the parkway between Massachusetts ave- nue and the Zoo, which was eliminated from the estimates by the committee last year, because the material would not be used at that time. An addi- tional $5,000 was added by the com- mittee for temporary labor. “The original estimate submitted to the committee for the National Park and Planning Commission for 1930 for the purchase of park areas was $600,- 000, a reduction under the current year of $250,000. A supplemental estimate of $400,000 was received later for in- clusion in the amount recommended for 1930, bringing the total up to $1,- 000,000. This supplemental estimate is to expedite the purchase by the Na- tional Capital Park and Planning Com- mission of lands for the proper ex- tension of the park and playground system, “Including a supplemental estimate of $220,000, the amount recommended for 1930 is $423,000, an increase over the current year of $240,950. The sup- plemental estimate is to provide the necessary housing facilities for the proper exhibition of collections of rep- tiles, amphibians, insects and other in- vertebrates. At present reptiles and amphibians must be kept in the lon house under conditions unsuitable for their care and exhibition. This amount will provide for the most pressing need at the Zoo. “Washington Aqueduct—The amount recommended has been increased from $425,000 for 1929 to $441.000 for 1930. The increase of $16,000 is required to Ccover increases of salaries due to the Welch Act amounting to $8.400, and to the increased amount of water which will be consumed in 1930, the treat- ment and pumping of which will cost $7.600 additional, “Salaries .and maintenance —The @mounts carried in the bill for salaries is $154.800, an increase of $10,440 due to the Welch Act, and for maintenance $365,000, an increase of $30,000, $25,000 of which is due to increased per diem wages under the wage scale of August 6, 1928, and $5,000 general increase to provide for unforeseen emergencies. “The amounts for extension of dis- tribution system, $250,000; installing water mieters, $30.000; installing fire and public hydrants, $50,000; and re- placement of old mains, $50,000; all Temain the same as the current year. “For the extension of water mains in different sections of the city there are five projects contemplated, at a total cost of $154,53: I - 0 ely of Men's Oxfords is good and includes nearly all sizes and styles in the different lots. Men’s Wool and French Lisle Hose at Half Price No Refunds—No T Exchanges—No Credits