Hearings

you, Mr. Hechinger, and others of the staff who are providing with this, I think, workable solution. It certainly does represent, I think, a well-considered proposal, which was done in a minimum of time. I am concerned about a couple of items along the line that the gentleman from California was talking about and asking about. There has been within recent days a number of cases of arson in the community. I would hope that there are steps being taken to try to prevent this type of thing, because again, this throws confusion in the business community. Perhaps, Mr. Fletcher, you might have something to

say.

Mr. FLETCHER. May I answer that, sir?

Two answers. Number one, we have increased substantially our enforcement in terms of the arsonists by both the police department and the fire department. We are doing everything within our power to correct the situation.

I might also point out that we have had meetings with other cities that have gone through the same experience, to profit by what happened in those cities. The pattern in the other cities has been identical to the one that we are seeing right here. It is like the aftershock of an earthquake. Every other city watched, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and so on, had a series of these arsons up to two to two-and-ahalf months afterwards. We certainly hope that ours is not that long. Something seems to be generated when you have this, but it is usually pretty fairly young people doing it. They start a few of these arson fires every night. Knowing what took place in the other cities, I think we are better prepared to try to stop it. But it is something that is a pattern that comes out of al the civil disturbances that we have seen throughout the country. We are increasing our enforcement, however, in that area.

Mr. HORTON. Now, the other question has to do with the matter of the question Mr. McMillan asked you. You mentioned a loss of $2.75 million in '68 and '69, $1.7 million in 1968 which you expect as revenue loss as a result of the disorders that occurred recently. You don't anticipate here or make any estimates for what may happen in the next week or so? This can get to be a very serious problem, and would throw your budget off, I would think. You are pretty close now to the $1.37 or almost $2 million. I think your figure is, what, some $43 million? Mr. WASHINGTON. Forty-two million expected revenue from this bill.

Mr. HORTON. So you are down to $40 million at the present time. Mr. WASHINGTON. That is correct.

Mr. HORTON. On this question of the poor people's march. Do you feel that you have to go back and make some estimate depending on loss of business as a result of this event which is supposed to take place in the Capital?

Mr. WASHINGTON. We are calculating, as best we can, based on just the recent announcement of what the plans were. I don't think we are in a position at this point to relate it to loss of business or loss of funds.

Mr. HORTON. Well, on that, too, I would like to say in connection with what Mr. Sisk was saying, and your reply was to encourage conventions to come here. I think that the indefiniteness of this poor people's march has created great confusion. I have, for example, some

people in my district who normally would come down; they don't want to come this week or next week because there have been different days-April 29 was mentioned, May the 2nd, May 11, May 12th was mentioned, as the time for the march. Is there any attempt to define the time period?

In 1954 we had the civil rights demonstration in the City of Washington. It was organized. It went off without any incident. People came in the morning. They left in the afternoon. It was a fine demonstration. It was announced beforehand. It was well handled. It was of short duration.

Is there any definition of time on this so-called poor people's march? Mr. WASHINGTON. Well, as far as a definition is concerned, working with the Department of Justice-yes, there has been some effort to establish time.

The CHAIRMAN. I want to thank you gentlemen for making yourselves available for questioning today. I think we got off to a good start. We hope that we can get the necessary money you requested. However, we may not go along with all that you have suggested. Mr. WASHINGTON. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.

(The tables referred to by Mr. Washington in his testimony follow :)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT

April 25, 1968

SUPPORTING TABLES

A. District of Columbia Analysis of Increases for 1969

B. Revenue Proposals in the General Fund

C. Estimated State and Local Tax Burden in the Washington Metropolitan Area

D. District of Columbia Federal Payment Authorization

E. Rate Comparison of Major Taxes in the Washington Metropolitan Area

F. Percentage of Federal Payment to the General Fund

G. Population of District of Columbia by Age

H. Increased Operating Costs FY 1962-1968