Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-27
Conference Report
Goes to House
Tomorrow.
Is AMENDMENTS
IN DISAGREEMENT
$22,639,68O Provided
by Measure as Fa-,
vOred in Senate.


vOred in Senate.
The conference report on the Dis
trict appropriation bill for the fiscal
year 1923, it is expected, will be sub
mitted to the House tomorrow by
Representative Davis of Minnesota.
The report was agreed to by the SEN
ate late yesterday on motion OF Sen
ator Phipps Of Colorado.
The report of the conferees. how
ever. as adopted by the Senate. still
leaves in disagreement between the
two houses fifteen Senate amend
metats. But the conferees have among
themselves reached an agreement on
thirteen of these amendments and
are deadlocked over the other two.
The thirteen amendments to which
the conferees have agreed In commit
tee must, under the House rules, go
back to the House for approval be-
fore they can be technically and Of
dcially agreed to by the conferees.
DeadIoeked Over Two.
The two amendments over which
the conferees are still deadlocked In
committee are those providing for
the purchase of the Patterson tract.
the Piney Branch and Klingle valley
tracts, to be used as public parks, and
the item of $4,000 to be used for
q tourists camp in Potomac Park.
Among the thirteen amendments to
which the conferees have agreed in
committee but must obtain the OF
ficial consent of the House for ap-
proval, is the important fiscal rela-
~ ha arrn m
for an increased water supply OF the
District. Both of these Senate amend
ments have been redrafted and are
acceptable to the conferees them
selves.
Another Conference Expected.
, After obtaining Senate approval OF
the conference report submitted yes
terday, Senator Phipps moved to In
sist further on the Senate amend
ments still in dispute and to ask for
a further conference with the House.
As soon as the House has acted on
the report, it is expected 49, con-
ferees will get together again In an
effort to reach a final agreeMant.
The agreements reached blythe con-
ferees in committee will ipCrease the
total appropriation for the District
by about $2,24e.000 ovef the amount
of the bill as passed by the House. It
is estimated. making the total about
The conferees, in dealing with the
Jones rider, or Senate amendment
dealing with the fiscal relations OF
the District, have drafted new and
permanent legislation. changing In
District Of 1873 under which the
half-and- half plan Of appropriating
for the District was established.
Fun Property value.
In the first place. the proposal Of
the conferees is that the 60-40 ratio
so per cent out of the District reve-
nues and 40 per cent out Of the fed
eral Treasury-under which the Dis
trict Is now operating, shall be made
permanent.
1t Is further provided that the taxes
on real estate and tangible personal
property shall be levied on the full
value of the property.
The Commissioners have authority
to hx the tax rates SO as to provide
the necessary 60 per cent Of the ex-
penditure of the District. which must
be raised in District taxation. 4
furthermore. the Commissioners are
fnstructed to fix the tax rate during
the next Hfe years that OAOu6u oA-
ditional revenue will be raised to
create a surplus, SO that In the fu-
ture-after June 80, 1927-the District
shall be upon cash paying basis. In
this way the payments of money for
the District will not be made from
the federal Treasury. with the under
standing that the Treasury Is to be
reimbursed from the revenues Of the
District later on.
Tax Rate Increased.
The tax rate on intangible personal
property is increased from $40 Of l
per cent to $40 Of / per cent on the
full market value of such property.
When a surplus of District revenues
Il on hand at the close of fiscal
year, after the five-year period. this
surplus may be used either to meet
appropriations during the next year,
or Ii may be used to reduce the rate
Of taxation.
No mention Is made in the agree
nnent regarding the existing District
surplus of between $4.0O0.000 and $5.-
000, 900. 1t is the understanding that
aome action will be taken In regard
The District Commissioners are not
90 be restricted in submitting to the
bureau of the budget their estimates
OF the needs of the District. but they
are directed to bring them within
the probable aggregate of the fixed
proportionate appropriations to be
naid by the United States and the Dis
frict OF Columbia"
Agree to Needed Changes.
The Senate conferess were success
xul in prevailing upon the House con-
ferees to agree to a very considerable
humber of added appropriations.
much needed by the District. Chair
man Phipps Of the Conference COM
h,ittee,. who had charge Of the bill in
fhe Senate, has worked indefatigably
to bring about an agreement by the
House members to items sorely need
ed by the District. and with much
success.
The proposal OF the Senate for an
Increased water supply for Washing
ton. agreed to by the cOnferees in
COMMITTEES, but still awaiting action
by the House and Senate, provides
$500, 900 to be Immediately availa-
BILE, and also authorizes the Secretary
Of War to enter into contracts for
such materials and work as may be
necessary to the extent of an addi-
fionai 81 ,l60, 900. The conferees fixed
q limit upon the total cost Of the prof.
ect Of '$S.73S.000. including the
amounts carried in the present bill.
This total sum Is in accordance with
T5,ovfirued an PAGE p Column 81 a.