annual appropriation bill) are also shown at the foot of the table and included in with the grand total so as to indicate the final figures affecting the fiscal affairs of the District of Columbia.

The regular annual appropriations under which the District of Columbia government is operating for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1930, total $41,487,615. The amount recommended for the fiscal year 1931 as contained in the President's Budget (and including the supplemental estimates amounting to $684,300) total $45,502,028. The amount that has been recommended by the committee in the accompanying bill is $45,334,317, an increase of $3,846,702 over the 1930 appropriations, and a decrease of $165,711 under the total Budget estimates submitted for the next fiscal year. The following table will show the distribution of these figures between the various divisions and services of the municipal government. An explanation of the committee's action in each instance appears under the appropriate heading in this report and an itemized tabulation of the figures at the end.

TAX RATE AND FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION

The committee has recommended the usual Federal contribution of $9,000,000, which amount has been carried for the past several years. Provision has been made in the bill that the present tax rate on real estate and tangible personal property shall not be reduced during the next fiscal year.

COMMISSIONERS

As in the instance of the other appropriation bills where the Committee on Appropriations has excepted the assistant heads of the executive departments from the "average provision" with reference to the classification act of 1923, as amended, contained in all appropriation bills, which precludes the average of the salaries of the total number of persons under any grade in any bureau, office, or other appropriation unit from exceeding the average of the compensation rates specified for the grade by such act, the committee has excepted the two civil commissioners likewise. The average salary rate of grade 15, senior executive officer, is $8,500. Excepting this grade from the provision mentioned above new civil commissioners appointed could go to the top of the grade, $9,000, after appointment.

SALARY INCREASES

When the estimates were presented to the committee, automatic increases to the extent of $245,573 for teachers, policemen, and firemen were contained in the total, and increases to employees under the classification act of 1923, as amended, amounting to $100,683. The committee's recommendations contain the amounts necessary for the automatic increases, but, with several exceptions where employees were at the minimum of their respective grade, salary increases in the neighborhood of $100,000 have not been recommended. This committee in reporting the District appropriation bill in 1929, included an amount of $163,041 for salary increases, and last year (1930) an amount of $572,000, due to the Welch Act increases, was included in the bill, making a total altogether for the past two years of $735,000. On the basis of this large amount which has been devoted exclusively to salary increases in that period, the committee refused to recommend an additional $100,000 for the next year. This, of course, does not mean that no salary increase can be made during that time, because money in appropriations is usually available due to resignations, lapses in salaries, turnover, etc., and where an especial case is presented, it can be taken care of. After making a comparison with the employees in the executive departments, the committee was of the opinion that the municipal employees of the District of Columbia stood on a very favorable basis.

BUILDING INSPECTION DIVISION

The estimates presented to the committee for the building inspection division were based upon the addition of 18 new positions, at a total salary obligation of $42,640. These embraced one first deputy inspector of buildings at $4,600; 1 zoning engineer in the engineers' section at $3,200; 1 chief concrete and steel inspector and 1 senior inspector of concrete at $3,200 and $2,600, respectively in the engineer inspectors' section; an assistant chief elevator inspector at $2,800; and 2 field inspectors at $2,000 each in the elevator inspectors' section; 1 inspector at $2,000 in the fire-escape section; 5 inspectors at $2,300 each in the general inspectors' section; and 1 clerk and 1 messenger. The committee has recommended all of these positions with the exception of the deputy inspector of buildings and the messenger, both of which it was felt were unnecessary. Salary increases to the extent of $2,000 also were not recommended.

PLUMBING INSPECTION DIVISION

Under the figures in the bill for the plumbing inspection division there is recommended $43,100, which figures differ from the present year by including the recommendation of an assistant plumbing inspector at $2,600 needed to inspect the installation of automatic refrigerators, which have been increasing in large numbers under new construction. Under new regulations which it is contemplated to be adopted by the District Commissioners, the necessary requirements for the position must be possessed by a man who has had wide experience in automatic refrigeration and factory experience.

ASSESSOR'S OFFICE

There is recommended for the office of the district assessor $223,070 for next year, an increase of $15,560 over this year. In the amount proposed in the bill salary increases for the eight assistant assessors from $4,600 to $4,800 have been approved. An amount of $1,100 also has been included with the recommendations to bring the salary of the assessor from $6,400, the amount which he now receives, up to $7,500, or from the maximum of grade 13 up to the maximum of grade 14, in the event that this position is reallocated. New positions provided for in the estimates and approved by the committee provide for one deputy assessor and four additional clerks and the transfer of two positions heretofore on the per diem roll of the engineer's department to the assessor's roll. The salary proposed for the deputy assessor in the estimates was $4,600. Being a new position, it has not as yet been allocated; so the committee, recognizing the necessity of having a first assistant to the assessor, has included $1,000 in the bill, with the expectation of this position instead of being allocated at the minimum of grade 12, $4,600, that is be allocated to the minimum of grade 13, $5,600, and that the assessor be allocated up to the maximum of grade 14, $7,500, which respective grades are consistent with the importance of the duties coming under these two positions.

LICENSE BUREAU

For personal services, the bill carries the same amount as for the present year, a small item covering $120 for a salary increase having been eliminated.

An estimate for $20,000 for the purchase of motor-vehicle identification tags has been recommended. This is to cover the cost of approximately 170,000 pairs of automobile identification tags at 12 cents a pair. These tags will be manufactured, as they have been for several years past, at the District of Columbia Reformatory at Lorton, Va., by the inmates of that institution as one of the industrial activities conducted there. In the fiscal year 1930 the cost of manufacturing these tags was paid for out of the appropriation for maintenance of the reformatory, an item having been included in that appropriation for that purpose. For the fiscal year 1931, the above appropriation of $20,000 is included in order that the superin tendent of licenses may make transfer to the working capital fund to cover the cost of manufacturing these tags.

AUDITOR'S OFFICE

An appropriation of $126,200 is suggested next year for the office of the District auditor, an increase over this year of $7,560. This increase covers one new employee to assist the field examiner of this office in his examination of the books and other records of revenueproducing bureaus in the District government, and the transfer of four per diem employees to the annual roll who are now paid from appropriations under the control of the Engineer's Department.

OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL

Including a supplemental estimate of $6,500, appropriations for salaries exceeding the amount for the present year by $10,520 have been included in the bill. Two additional stenographers at $1,440 each, made necessary by increased work of the office, are included in the increase. A supplemental amount of $6,500 makes up most of the balance, to provide for an assistant to the corporation counsel who shall be an expert in public utilities law and practice. The corporation counsel is the general counsel of the Public Utilities Commission, and this commission urged that provision be made for the appointment of an assistant so skilled in the field of public utilities law as to be able adequately to handle the complex legal questions that are coming before the commission in increased number. The original departmental recommendation for this position was $7,500. Under the law affected by the "average provision," however, any appointment made could not be at this rate of compensation. The average salary of the grade into which such a position would fall is. $7,000. Any appointment made could not exceed this average of $7,000, and as this grade is already occupied by one assistant corporation counsel at $7,000, the committee has recommended a salary of $6,500 for this new position, which is at the minimum of the grade. An amount of $10,000, not considered in the Budget, but added by the committee, in the form of a legislative paragraph, is contained in the bill, authorizing the employment of a special assistant to the corporation counsel to investigate the title of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Co. to certain lands, properties, and rights appurtenant thereto, and the said company's authority to occupy such lands. The lands in question are those through which the old Chesapeake & Ohio Canal used to operate.

EASTERN AND WESTERN MARKETS

An estimate of $10,000 has been approved providing suitable sheds and facilities for the use of farmers retailing farm produce at the eastern and western markets. At the present time no such apparatus is available, and during inclement weather in backing their vehicles up against the curb to display produce on the sidewalk, the farmers undergo severe hardships. With the proposed sheds to be built this will be obviated.

FARMERS' PRODUCE MARKET

The act of Congress, approved March 2, 1929, entitled "An act authorizing the acquisition of a site for the farmers' produce market, and for other purposes," approved the purchase or condemnation of all of squares 354 and 355 as a site for the said market, and also required that within the amount of the limit of cost of $300,000, all necessary work shall be performed, including the clearing and leveling of the ground and the erection thereon of protecting sheds and suitable stalls and stands. The estimate submitted of $300,000, which proposed to expend $225,000 for the purchase of the site, and $75,000 for excavating, grading, improvements, etc., has been recommended.

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HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT

Salaries: An increase of $7,960 brings the total for salaries under the highways department up to $223,650. Three new positions are figured under this increase, an engineer of tests at $4,600; and two clerks at $1,800 and $1,560 respectively, transferred from the office of the engineer department to the highways department. The service of the engineer inspector is to increase the department's efficiency in the analysis and control of materials entering into construction, both at the source of supply and manufacturing point.

Highway garage and shops and extension of auto repair shop: Last year a sum of $205,000 was appropriated to provide for the removal of the highways department shops, etc., to the Bryant Street pumping station and in this connection, to make certain other desirable economical arrangements for servicing, repairing, and housing municipal automobiles. An amount of $150,000 is carried in the bill this year to complete this program.

SEWER DEPARTMENT

A nominal increase to provide for the services of an assistant to the superintendent of sewers at $2,600 a year, and an amount of $800 covering reallocations is included in the next year's budget for the sewer department bringing the total for personal services up to $196,600. The duties of the superintendent of sewers are manifold and the committee felt justified in recommending the new employee to relieve him of some of his less-important burdens

TREES AND PARKING

The sum of $25,100 is contained in the bill for the salary item for the trees and parking service, which figure includes an additional foreman at $1,620 per annum and $400 to permit the salary of the superintendent to be increased to $5,200 a year.

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Six new positions are embraced in the appropriation recommended for the Public Utilities Commission's activities during the next fiscal year, including one senior engineer at $4,600, one assistant engineer at $2,600, one junior engineer at $2,000, one accountant and auditor at $3,200, and an assistant auditor and stenographer at $2,000 and $1,620, respectively. The committee has approved all of these positions in view of the increase in the importance and amount of work now coming before the commission for its decision. The total amount recommended for 1931 is $92,620.

OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC

Proposing 10 new positions under the office of the director of traffic, the Budget estimates for personal services amounted to $53,540. Nine of these positions covered 1 chief examiner, at $1,800, 7 assistant examiners, at $1,620 each, and 1 traffic record