Evening star., 1920-05-28
PLEA TO CONGRESS
BY Mr.. BROWNLOW
T0PASS D. c. BILL
Commissioner Says to Ad-
journ Before Adopting
Measure Means Disaster.

An earnest appeal to Congress not
to adjourn without agreeing to the
District appropriation bill. was made
by Commissioner Brownlow today.
In a statement given out at the
District building the Commissioner
said it would be calamity for the
city If the District. government had
to run until December on a resplu-
tion continuing the appropriations OF
the expiring fscal year.
Would Amosfnt t0sDisaxser.
II cannot believe" said the Com
missioner, 'that the two ,ouses Of
Congress will adjourn without maxi
ing provision for the municipal gov
ernment of the National Capital. Such
a failure would amount to disaster
which the provision of mere con-
tinuing resolution would not ade-
quately relieve.
.1The CITY is three wears behind in
it's program of improvements because
of the war against Germany and Aus
tria. cannot believe congress viii
hermit a war between the House and
Senate to put it another whole year
behind.
I'm my opinion, there should be a
COMPROMISE between the two houses.
There is nothing at stake that would
warrant the calamity of permitting
the bill to fail.
Gloom in Government Branches.
There is a feeling of gloom in
many branches of the District gov
eminent over the apparent prospect
of Congress adjou-ning without an
agreement on the District bill.
Improvement of suburban roads and
MANY city streets. so badly needed.
would be delayed by continuing res
olution.
The salary increases for school
teachers. carried in the new bill.
could not be paid on continuing
resolution. In this connection one OF
the leaders in the effort to obtain a
$500 bonus for teachers said:
Means No Raise for Teachers.
1.-The plan for continuing the pres
ent District appropriation bill means
that the teachers Of the city will re-
ceive no increases. and that their
salaries. small and entirely made
quate already. will force them to be-
gin the fall not only burdened with
debts but with no relief even for
next October. To any one who has
the slightest knowledge of the school
situation that is known to be dis
astrous in the extreme.
working under a strain and finan.
cial worry for several years past. this
added misfortune cannot be bridged
over except by the immediate action of
Congress on the proposed bonus bill.
This would at least tide the teachers
over few months
Criticises Educators.
In pointing out that the school teach
ers will not get their pay increases if
an agreement is mot reached on the
District bill. Commissioner Browniow
severely criticised the educators for
their efforts to get $500 bonus to
tide them over the summer months.
c'The teachers" said the Commits
sioner. who are carrying on a foolish
and unjustifiabie campaign for a bonus
of $500, will do we'll to forsake that
will O. the wSp and devote their time
to trying to get an agreement between
the two houses on the bill which car
ries substantial increases for all teach
ers."
Fire-Police Situation.
TIE pay of every fireman and police
man would be reduced by approximate
ly $25 month after July I. The pro-
vision in the legislative. executive and
judicial bill granting federal and Dis
trict employees the s24O bonus for the
next fiscal year specifically omitted po-
licemen and firemen.
The new District appropriation bill
would restore half of the bonus, but
if the District bill fails before ad
journment the defenders of life and
property will lose this extra compen-
sation. In addition. the policemen and
firemen will lose one-twelfth of the
salary increase granted them last
year, because the appropria ton that
would be made available by con-
tinuinE resolution provides only the
increased pay for eleven months.
The bonus amounts to SEQ a month
and one-twelfth of the increased pay
would average about 81 month.
Fear ResignatiOns.
Fear is expressed that if this con-
dition is brought about many of the
young men who entered the police
and fire service as result of the
salary increases granted last year will
resign during the summer. The po-
lice department already is below it's
full quota of men.
1t was pointed out at the District
building that while the city has sew
eraI times been obliged to run from
month to month on continuing reso-
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column S.