Evening star., 1924-05-07
HOPE FOR D. C. BILL
LIES WITH SENATE
Chance Remains There for Saving
6040 System of Ap-
preparation.
TIME OF ACTION UNCERTAIN
Subcommittee Plans to Begin
Hearings by End of Week.


Civic leaders of Washington today
turned their attention toward the
Senate in the hope of having the 60
40 plan OF appropriating for the Ma
tional Capital saved.
With the passage of the appropria-
ton bill by the House late yesterday,
carrying the Cramton amendment
substituting a lump sum of $4,000, 900
year for the time-honored fixed
percentage basis of appropriating, the
measure is now before the Senate sub
committee on appropriations. The
subcommittee probably will begin
hearings on the bill by the end of
this week or at least by Monday.
Hope stiIl exists that the Senate will
restore the 60-40 provision to the bill
and let the fight on the question of
the fiscal relations be settled by the
conferees.
One thing was clearly indicated on
the Senate side of the Capitol today,
namely, that the Senate will not be
willing to agree to an $S,000,000
contribution in the event the House
conferees stand pat against the 6040
method.
1t is believed that should the House
conferees remain firm against restor-
ing the 60-40, the Senate spokesmen
VIII then make an effort TO have
the lump sum substantially Increased
Senator Jones of Washington, a mem
Der of the subcommittee on District
appropriations, indicated today that
If the lump sum cannot be avoided
he would advocate making it
larger than SSOOOOOO. Senator's who
Wi oh no ar-trn Of icfr iS.t ~,
preparation bill could not predict
definitely today just how the bill
would emerge from the Senate with
regard to fiscal relations. In past
years, however, the Senate has stood
out against far-reaching changes in
the fiscal arrangements that would
reduce the federal government share
of expense in Washington.
Carrying approximately $24,65O,0 900,
the District appropriation bill for the
fiscal year beginning July 1 next was
passed by the House late yesterday.
The outstanding feature of the bill
as passed is the revolutionary change
in the fiscal relations between the
federal and the District governments.
The old fixed proportion of particlpa
ton in the expenses of the National
Capital, formerly on a $3.50 basis and
more recently on a 6040 basis, is
set aside and d lump-sum appropria-
tion of SS,0O0,OOO is made by the fed
eral Treasury, all over and above
that amount to be paid by local taxes.
The Senate is expected to strike out
this amendment, fathered by Repre-
sentative Louis C. Cramton, Repub-
lican, of Michigan, and to restore the
60-40 proportion.
Will Offer Amendments.
Representative Bacon of New York
asked for a separate vote in the
House on the Cramton amendment
yesterday, but withdrew his motion
on request of Chairman Madden of
the appropriations committee. If this
amendment is not stricken from the
bill in the Senate there will be a
offered.
The House also approved the action
of the committee of the whole in
making provision in the District ap-
bill for a program of
street improvements amounting to
$S90,000, all OF which will be paid
for out of the gasoline tax, or auto
reciprocity, bill recently passed.
Adoption of the $880.000 school
building program during the next
fiscal year was one of the most i'm
portant actions during consideration
of the bill yesterday.
Scandalous delay" in having new
school buildings erected after Con-
Sress had appropriated money was
censored vigorously by Representative
Cramton in opening debate on the bill.
When the House adjourned Saturday
Representative ByrnS of Tennessee,
ranking Democrat oe the appropria-
tions committee, had criticized the
subcommittee in charge of this meas
ure and District officials because ade-
quate provision was not being made
to enlarge the school facilities to
meet inevitable requirements, as
shown by the rapid building in GER
tain localities.
CramtOn Resumes Remarks
Representative Cramton resumed
where Representative Byrns had left
off. He said that at this season of
the year school officials were in
dulsing in attacks on the niggard-
lihess of Congress. after appropria-
tions have been given by Congress
there is scandalous delay in the erec-
tion of school buildings" said Rep
resentative Cramton, who told the
House that he wished to challenge the
papers to this situation.
He called particular attention that
in the appropriation bill a year ago
there were two items of substantial
amounts for increasing school faciIi-
ties. That became law on February
%, n year ago.
One item was st3S. 900 to provide
336 additional seats in the Raymond
School. Representative Cramton en-
phasized that the District officials did
not advertise for bids for ten months
after the money was available, and
then it took until April % to let the
contract, and it is expected that the
building will not be completed until
February, 1925, two years after the
money was available.
Gave Second Illustration.
A second illustration ae gave -e-
garding Tenleytown. An appropria-
tion of $780, 900 was available for
336 additional seats. THE latest in
formation 1 can get from the super
intendent of schools is that plans
are being developed That is one year
and three months after the money
was available. And it is not con-
templated that the building will be
ready for occupancy before January,
1925"
Representative Champion impressed
upon the House that this delay was
not caused by Congress, but by the
District officials in not promptly