Evening star., 1925-08-12
SMOOT TO ASK u. S.
BUILDING BONDS IF
OTHER MEANSFA|L
Will Introduce Such Measure
if Congress Denies Ap-
preparations.
BELIEVES S100,0OO,OOO
ISSUE WOULD MEET NEED
Exact Figures, However, Not De-
cided Upon, Finance Committee
Head Asserts.

Senator Smoot, chairman of the Sen
ate finance committee, will favor a
Federal bond issue to finance the Gov
ernment's new building program in
case the proposed appropriation bills
for that purpose fail in the next ses-
sion of Congress.
Senator Smoot today said he already
has drawn up two alternative bills,
one to authorize an appropriation and
the other in case Congress fails to ap-
propriate, authorizing the floating OF
a Government bond issue
THIS development followed close to-
day on the heels of discussions at
Swampscott between Chairman Mad,
den of the House appropriations COM
mittee and President Coolidge.
Bond Issue Secondary.
The Senate finance committee chair
man is not in favor of a bond issue,
he said today, if there is any way TO
obtain first direct appropriation for
financing the Federal building pro
gram. First attention is being given.
he said, to the problem of how much
the Government will need and how
much should be appropriated for the
next year to meet these needs. This.
he said, would be the best way to han
die the situation.
The Federal building program "a
vored by Senator Smoot would take
care of both the District of Columbia
and the field. In my opinion" said
Senator Smoot, I'VE could not get an
appropriation for the District of Co
lumbia without also some appropria
tions for needs in the field
The exact figures TO be included in
the appropriation bills and his pro-
posed bond issue bill have not been
decided upon, Senator Smoot said. as
he was waiting for the latest estimate
from the Post Office Department espe-
cially, and other Government activi-
ties throughout the country. 10 deter
mine upon the latest development in
field needs.
Senator Smoot last year favored the
movement which would have author
lied a total of $50, 900. 900 for a To-
year building project by the Fedora
Government. This. however. was not
enacted by the last Congress. The
Elliott bill. which authorized such 4
program with the expenditure of $3.50.
600. 900, passed the House. but failed
in the Senate in the last jam OF legis-
lation.
$100, ,000, 900 Issue Seen.
Pressed for a rough estimate as to
in case appropriation legislation fails.
Senator Smoot said that his approx
mate estimate would be 800, 300.
This figure, however. he emphasized
was yet to be determined.
Asked to the probability of the
bond issue bill passing Congress, Sen.
ator Smoot said he thought il very
likely could be enacted.
The District of Columbia under the
~ Sl-o
ing project, Senator Smoot said today,
would have received about $50, 600, 900,
or S.. 100000 year for 10 years. This
stipulation. however, was not includ-
ed in the Elliott bill.
The discussion of a probable bond
issue by Senator Smoot and Chairman
Madden of the House appropriation
committee was interpreted today by
friends of the Federal building pro-
gram as among the most favorable
Developments of its kind since the
program was launched. The subject
occupied much time in circles inter
eSted here and it was understood that
officials were already making a sur
vey of the whole situation, including
the number of buildings which are
needed by the Post Office Department
and the whole Federal machine in the
District of Columbia.
1t was pointed out that congress
has authorized the construction OF no
buildings except the War Emergency
| buildings since 1918. The need in
Washington and throughout the coun-
try was said by officials to be rapidly
increasing, particularly on account of
the growth in postal business.
When congressional committees
meet next Winter they will have be-
fore them an up-to-the minute picture
from the executive departments Of
Federal building needs.
Various structures have been named
from time to time as the most urgent
f! necessities in the District, but there
has been no decision, it was under
stood today, as to which of them were
| to be first constructed in case Con
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