Evening star., 1924-06-05
7Q3OF|SCALPL
MAY END D. {. BILL
CONFERENCE FIGHT
Contest Among Conferees
NearS Head Today Over
New Tax Ratio.
DEADLOCK MAY HALT
MANY VITAL PROJECTS
1924 Budget Likely to Be Extend
ed If Conferees Fail to Agree
on Compromise.

II the Senate will agree to recoe-
hize the principle OF a lump sum sp-
preparation, as embodied in the
Cramton amendment to the Distric,
appropriation bill. the House viii
agree TO 1910 ratio between ,bA
DlStrlct and the federal government
LOT the next fiscal year, and in the
meantime a committee representinc
both houses of Congress will conduc,
an investigation TO determine what
constitutes fair lump-su appropri-
atlon from the Treasury toward meet
ing the annual expenses Of the Dis
trict government
This. it was learned today is the
proposal which may end the deadlock
now existing between Senate and
House conferees on the District an
preparation bill. The conferees, at
meeting some time this afternoon.
probably will act on the proposal.
Pendlng the meeting of the con
'erees. the situation which confronts
them was outlined from an authori
tative source as follows:
chairman Davis Of the House con-
lerees has shown an unwillinsness in
the conferences to come to any agree
ment different from the House bin
Whlch provided fiat contribution
from the federal treasury Of $4,000.
Voo.ali or the other expenses TO be
met from District of Columbia reve-
nues
The Senate 'conferees and Repre-
sentative AyreS of Kansas. the demo-
cratic conferee for the House. are
agreement Representative Funk az
Illinois. the other House conferee, has
been otherwise engaged and spent lit
tie time in the conferences
Asks study by Committee.
Representative Ayres proposed that
the principle of the Cramton amend
ment substituting lump-sum appro-
priation from the federal Treasury
instead of the time-honored 60-4e
percentage be recognized but that
the percentage method of contribu-
ton be continued while a committee
should make a careful study OF what
is a fair lump-sum appropriation
from the federal Treasury.
The proposal of Representative
Ayres that committee of nine mem
bers be appointed to make this study.
three from the Senate. three from the
House and three representing the
citizens of the District to be appoint
ed by the President, met with the
approval of the Senate conferees
It such committee was appointed
they agreed to 1880 proportion for
the next fiscal year. while this inyes-
tigation was being made.
Representative Davis. however. was
unwilling TO agree and conference
with Chairman Madden of the House
appropriations committee and with
HniJcp haT -Ln l.
a conspicuous part in discussion or
the fiscal relations between the fed
eral and District governments show
ed that ii would be extremely diff
cult TO have such proposal approved
by the House
Ayres Offers Agreement.
Late yesterday Representative Ayres
went ba-k bearing as an olive branch
proposal which il is believed will
have the support of Chairman Madden
and other members of the House par
ticularly interested in the fiscal re-
lations. but which Representative
Davis of Minnesota, has declared his
intention TO oppose
This new suggestion is for a commit
tee of ten. comprising five members of
the Senate, TO be named by the Presi-
dent of the Senate. and five members Of
the House. TO be named by the Speaker
of the House. with the understanding
that the membership will be selected
from members of the Senate and House
District appropriations and legislative
committees. Senator PhippS was so in
cenSed at the attitude OF Representative
Davis that he was unwilling last night
TO agree to this proposed committee OF
ten. The suggestion, however. was left
with the Senate conferees for considera-
ton. and it is expected that some action
will be taken by them today
Only two more days remain after
today. and if the compromise suggest
ed yesterday fails thersa will arise the
possibility of the enactment of only
continuing resolution for the opera
ton of the District government after
July !.
A continuing resolution would
merely make available stssh routine
items as appropriations 70: salaries
OF employees. purchase of iuel and
supplies. On all projects that are still
under construction a continuing reSo-
luton would appropriate this same
amount that was authorized fsS the
current year. The District bill how
ever now in deadlock. carries man
new and urgent appropriations TOR
street improvement, school buildings
and the water conduits which would
not be available under a continuing
resolution.