The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1922-02-22
HOUSING DEBT
APPROP
PASSES HOUSE
Graham Bill to Refund City $4,000
Now Before Senate; End Of
Long Controversy.
Washington Ncws Bureau
i Rock Is,and Argus :

Rock Is,and Argus
Washington, d. c., Feb. 22--The
house yesterday afternoon passed
the Graham bill authorizing the
United States Housing corporation
to make immediate settlements
with Rock Island and other cities
which had housing contracts with
the government during the war.
The bill goes to the senate today
for reference to senate committee
on public buildings and grounds.
Twenty senator's, including Lodge,
Watson, Frelinghuysen and other
influential leaders, favor the bill
and its passage seems certain.
Chairman FernaId Of the senate
committee today declared that he
favors the bill and will do every
thing possible to expedite passage.
Moline, East Moline and DaVen-
port have no balances in their IA
vor under the contracts but Rock
Island will get nearly $4,000 as
soon as the bill passes and the
president signs it. The house pass
ed the bill by a vote of 230 by rs.
1t had no opposition either in the
house public building grounds or
rules committees, which supported
the special rule proposed by Con-
gressman Graham for immediate
consideration.
Congressman Graham made
half hour speech on the floor yes
terday in which he declared that
the government was bound legally
and morally to recompense munic-
ipalities which provided public util-
tiles under. the war contracts.
EniOined From Collection.
A telegram was received yester-
day afternoon by Mayor Harry M.
Schriver from Congressman Will
liam J. Graham in which it was
stated that the housing bill pass
ed the house"
Directly following this was
telegram from Mayor Bradford of
Quincy, Mass, to the same effect,
only adding that in the senate
there may be some opposition, and
asking that immediate attention be
paid to the enlisting of aid of SEN
ators of this district in passage of
the bill in the senate. The message
from Mayor Bradford follows:
bill passed authorizing pay
ments in lieu of taxes on housing
projects. Opposition likely in SEN
ate. Concerted action necessary.
Advise your senators and represent
ativeS at once"
In the case of the city of Rock
Island it is estimated that approx
mately $4,000 is due on pavements
laid by the city, which at the tine
work was done It was believed that
the United States Housing corpor-
alton would pay for all work. Pay
ments had been made instead Of
assessments in the year 1919, but
no further payments were receiv-
ed.
Persons who purchased the prop
critics obtained federal injunctions
through the aid of the housing cor
poration which precluded any re-
sponsibiIity on their part of paying
either taxes or improvement in
stallments.
Although contracts had been
made with the city, only the one
payment was made for taxes, and
no payment was made for improve
ments. Congressman Graham had
conducted the fight to obtain the
payment for the assessments. This
has passed the house and Mayor
Schriver has asked Mayor Barewaid
of Davenport to ask Iowa repre-
sentatives and senators to support
the program for payment of all as
sessments due cities on work done
as special improvements during the
war period.
The county of Rock Island had
fought the proposition and lost
through federal court injunction.
The county was not in possession
of contract for moneys to be paid
in lieu of taxes, as was the city. ,
Later the corporation refused to
pay moneys due. under such a COLI
tract made with the city of Rock !
Island. saying that no money was
on hand, and thenceforth an effort |
was made to have a bill passed to !
pay the money due, which in the in
stance of the city Of Rock Island !
is approximately $4,000.