Evening star., 1926-03-10

/ tues TO ldhc tIIS pldSC Va SHS0O OiA
wooden structures.
Militia.
"The local militia or National Guard
constitutes a part Of the 2Sth Division.
composed of troops of Maryland, the
District Of Columbia and Virginia. The
District contingent at the present time
comprises IL units composed of 81 Off.
GERS and 1877 enlisted men. divided into
one company of Infantry, z companies
Of Engineers, 2 Coast Artillery bat
teries and !, Military Police Company.
The total maximum peace strength Of
the existing units Is approximately
/ 900 men,"
"The budget estimates for the fiscal
year 1927 on account Of the militia to-
tai $40 $50, or 81 400 more than the
current appropriation. Included In
the estimate is $4,000 for rental of
| armories and drill halls. which cor
responds to the current appropriation
for such purposes. There is no drill
hall available at the present time and
notice has been served on the militia
authorities that their lease to the
| armory which they now occupy Will
not be renewed after July 80 next.
The matter of their future accommo-
datiOn is so indefinite at this time
| that the committee has merged the
| appropriation for rental of drill halls
| and armOries with the general ex
pense appropriation of the organiza-
ton, making the latter available for
rent. Under this arrangement they
are given more leeway for negotia-
ton, although larger rental natu-
rally would have the effect of reduc-
| ing the amount which ordinarily
would be expended in general main
| tenance.
| AnacOstia River and Flats.
This project provides for the i'm
provement of the river and for the
reclamation and development of the
adjacent fats from the mouth of the
river to the District Of Columbia
boundary line. a distance Of about
| s 1-3 miles. Work up to this time
has been confined to the area below
! Benning Bridge. comprising 931 acres,
all of which has been acquired. The
area above Benning Bridge to be re-
| claimed and devoted to park pur-
poses, as authorized by law, will com
prise 600 acres, Of which there re.
mains to be acquired approximately
| 100 acres.
The total cost of the project. ex
elusive of the park development phase
of the work. will approximate s4295,-
| 600. of which there has been appro-
priated s2,263,460.
| THE estimate on account of the en-
tire project for the fiscal year 1927
| IS $4,000. the same as the current
appropriation. The committee is
recommending the appropriation OF
that sum, of which It is proposing that
! $4,000 may be applied TO the acquisi-
ton of land above Benning Bridge
and the remainder to reclamation
work below and above Benning Bridge.
In the discretion of the chief of engi-
neers.
| The park development phase of the
work is under the Office of the director
OF public buildings and public parks
and to date $163.06 has been appro-
pr1ated on this account for the de-
Velopment of section y. which lies be-
tween the Anacostia Bridge and the
pennsylvania Avenue Bridge. Devel-
| opment of this section is nearing COM
pietion and the appropriation of s63.-
Ot0 requested and proposed for the
hscal year 1927 contemplates continu-
| ing work on section d and the com.
mencement of the improvement of
section c, lying between Boiling Field
and the Anacostia Bridge. A constd.
| cradle part Of this area is now being
| used as tree nursery by the District
| government.
Public Buildings and Public Parks.
| The director of public buildings
and public parks Of the National Cap.
ltal. under the general direction of
the President OF the United States, is
charged with the construction, main.
tenance. care. custody. policing. up.
keep or repair of public buildings
grounds. parks. monuments or memo
rials in the District of Columbia The
appropriations under this official un-
| der this head have to do with the
| activities enumerated, with the ex.
ception Of the Executive Mansion and
grounds, the grounds of the executive
departments, the Capitol grounds and
Botanic Garden, the Washington Mon.
ument. the building where Abraham
Lincoln died and the Lincoln Memo
rial. There are over 500 park reser-
vations under the control Of this of.
ficial. not all improved, it is true.
but which are developed and improved
| as funds permit
| The committee is proposing appro-
prlations in agreement with the bud.
gest estimates.
| "A year ago, 1t will be recalled. the
| committee merged quite a large mum.
Der OF park maintenance items into
one paragraph. The budget has pro.
posedsa further merger SO as to have
| one paragraph covering exclusively
the pay OF classified employees and one
paragraph covering contingent ex.
penses, material and per diem la abor.
| specifically setting aside. however. a
portion OF the sum carried by the
latter paragraph to meet the ex.
penses. apart from classified labor. of
| certain activities set out separately
| In the current appropriation act. The
| committee believes that the proposed
arrangement possesses merit, is bust.
nesslike and should be adopted, and
Is proposing it's adoption. as we'll as
| appropriations in agreement with the
budget estimates.
| The current appropriation act car
ried an appropriation Of $4,000 for
continuing construction Of the tour.
lists camp on its present site in East
Potomac Park, and $4,000 for the
maintenance of such camp. The di.
rector OF the Office Of public buildings
and public parks has advised the com.
mittee that It Is his intention to pro.
ceed with the work as rapidly as pos.
sible. The committee Is including
SPECIFIC provision Of $1,000 in the con
solidated general expense appropria
tion for the maintenance of the camp
on its present site in East Potomac
Park.
National Capital Park Commission.
Under the provisions Of the act en-.
titled An act providing for a com.
| prehensive development of the park
and playground system Of the Ma.
tional Capital approved June 8, 1924
an initial appropriation Of $500, ,00O
was carried in the District Of Colum.
bia appropriation act for the current
fiscal year. The law provides that an
annual appropriation may be made of
q sum not exceeding l cent for each