Evening star., 1921-01-15
King and Harrison
Lead Opposition
to Proposal.
CURTIS EXPECTS
CONFERENCE SOON
Utah Senator Asserts
City Should Pay
for Good Rule.

for Good Rule.
The Senate today voted to restore
the halfand half plan VI appropri-
ating for the District of Columbia
agreeing TO the amendment TO the Dis
| 'Flct appropriation bill reported by
the Senate appropriations committee.
Opposition to the continuance of the
d-half plan was expressed 10y
Senator King of Utah and Senator
HARRISON. mississippi. Indicated that
ne might oppose the amendment 4"
the District bill reported by the com
mittee.
senator Curtis of Kansas. WHO has
charge Of the District appropriation
, uiil in the Senate, called the atten-
tion Of these senator's to the fact that
the entire question of th. fiscal rel.s-
! tons between the federal government
| and the District of Columbia and the
method of appropriating for the Dis
| trlct is at present in conference be-
tween the Senate and House. He de
ciaied that this Is leg, ,s!ative maj
Ter which can be determined by IA
conferees to whom IL mas been as
signed. He pointed out tA.i Lie :, g..
! atr IN adopting the committee d5nena-
| nient, Was rel teiat;ns I,s position "t.
| ths matter. 10 do otaerwis-, he said.
! might embarraSS TIA. StEaIe con-.
ees dealing with the legislative bi.
known as The JoueS-MapeS bill
Senator Curtis SAID that the confer
! ence on the Jones' Ma pes bin had bvgl.
delayed on account OF tar (. absence q.
two OF the HouS- co1ferees. but tu-
i ne nDtreI Or-
meet and reach an agreement
Believes They tan Agree.
4 believe that the corferee> "
sc, together" said Senator Curtis
If they do not believe that the CO,
/ ferees on the District appropriate
bill will reach an agreement.
i Senator Harrison cf Misses Pr g.
was announced. viii offer an s-l-I..-
ment 10 n. District bill pVovidi--
! that automobile licenses I>>CeG oy -a-
! District OF Columbia shall L. reco- =
n!zed by all states THas = design
J particularly 10 force MAJ lane.
: recognize District .irel-Ses-
; In expressing his opposition 10 IN
( continuation o. the 14.t-aal-hs.- p
7 Senator King said ;hst re beilese,. -
District app o3'rla;.on bill le.SS.,.
! by the House MS more 3uSt-
D., Il have never been able 20 EEds--
e
/ erty owners here Shoa q not be a.
i SeSSed as Ill other cities nor way tt-
residents of the District should noI -:
a reasonable TAX IT order 70 rr,4t;lcaii.
the District government. There - no-
d better governed city IN the word,
and the people who live here sho.id
be willing TO pay for il
says L. =. should Fay Excess.
Senator King said ne believed tfa.
property in the District should 10,
assessed a, fair market value and
that the average tax rate in other
cities should then he levied asains:
property here. and that the federal
government should pay any sums al
excess of the revenues SO obtained
government.
Exceptions 10 the suggestion %.
Senator King were taken by senator
Robinson of Arkansas. Mr.. Robinson
said that the question OF appropriat-
ing for the District has been in con-
troversy between the two houses for
years.
II am convinced" said Senator Rob-
nson. that the plan proposed in the
Senate amendment is as fair. if not
fairer. than any other plan that has
Yet been suggested. The Senate has
uniformly taken this position. 1t is not
a scientific plan and the controversy
probably will continue until some scien-
tific plan is worked out. The amend
ment suggested by Senator King. how
ever. l am convinced will not stand the
test. Taxation varies very widely in
different locations, according to the con-
ditions prevailing. To strike an average
tax and apply it to the District of Co
lumbia would not be reasonable way
of levying taxes here
The Senate committee amendment
also authorizes the use of the surplus
revenues OF the District which have
accrued in past years. and now amount
to approximately S4.00o.000 as they
may become needed. Senator Curtis
explained this when Senator king
questioned him regarding the increase
in the District appropriation bill. as
reported by the Senate committee.
Senator King was urging that every
economy possible be practiced in re-
gard to expenditures.
Continuing with the consideration of
amendments recommended by the
Senate committee, the Senate adopted
amendment after amendment without
debate. The amendment providing
$500 for maintenance of a public en-
ployment service>in the District. in con-
nection with the Department of Labor.
was agreed to. and also the committee
relating to improvements
and repairs to the streets.
Transfer Bridge Control.
The Senate adopted committee
transferring the control of
the highway bridge across the Potomac
river to the District commissioners 1t
is now under control of the Army en-
gneerS.
When the items for the public schools
were reached Senator Harrison of Mis-
sissipp proposed that the janitors in a
large number of the schools whose sal
aries were fixed at $3.50 be increased to
$500.
in this was backed up by Senator
Walsh of Massachusetts.
Senator Curtis said that the COM
mittee had given careful considera-
ton to this matter and had decided
only to increase those janitorS and
laborers in the schools whose salaries
were 5000. The increase given them
was to $720. He said that he did not
believe the other salaries should be
disturbed until the reclassificdtiuii OF
pieted. Senator Harrison suggested
Ihat it might be d long time before
the reclaSSi1ication was put through.
The committee amendments relating
10 the public schools were adopted.
vi tn the exception of that amendment
$4,000 for conducting com
forums and civic centers in
school buildings, which went over at
he request of Senator Kenyon. for
later.
Senator Harrison offered a series of
providing for new school
buildingsi in accordance with the
leed of the District as set forth b
he board of education. These viii
DC acted on later, in the consideration
IF the bill