Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-24
NEED0F ARM0RY
TOLD IN HEARING
Erection Of Permanent Tour
list Camp Buildings Opposed
Before Subcommittee.

The need Of the District National
Guard for q new armory and the de-
STABILITY Of preventing erection of
permanent buildings for q tourist
camp in East Potomac Park were
discussed at the hearing by the sub
committee on the District appropria-
ton bill today.
row on q tour of inspection of the
streets to see where funds should
be spent during the next fiscal year.
This afternoon the subcommittee ex-
poets to finish hearing District Off.
Gals, except on part OF the school
appropriations. The school budget
probably Will be disposed of Satur-
day. Next Monday and Tuesday the
subcommittee will invite represent
atives of citizens associations and
other civic societies who have asked
to be heard on various items in the
bill.
Gen. Anton Stephan, head of the
District National Guard. discussed the
armory problem with the subcommit-
tee today, when the item Of $4,000 for
erection of the armory was reached.
He told the committee that the Dis
trict National Guard has been ordered
TO yacate its present quarters on
June 80, and in spite Of desperate
efforts they can find no place to go.
He mentioned the possibility Of Sc
curing quarters in the Old Pension
Building. 1t is certain, however, that
Congress never would sanction the
use of any part of the Pension
Building for an armory even II 1t
should be recommended by the sub
committee on appropriations.
S49,850 In Appropriation.
The total in the bill for the District
National Guard Is $49,35O, which ia
an increase Of $1,000 over the current
appropriation.
The tourist camp was discussed at
length when Maj. L. s. Grant. I'd.
engineer officer in charge Of public
buildings and parks. was before the
subcommittee.
The appropriation bill last year car
RED $4,000 for permanent construc-
ton work at the tourist camp. The
contract for this building has not yet
been let because strong opposition
mas developed among members OF Con-
gress against establishing a perma-
nent tourist camp in East Potomac
Park. A canvass Of members OF Con-
gress shows that there will be no
serious criticism of the engineer Of
fcer If he delays letting the contract
ioi tiiS permanent building until
Congress has had an opportunity to
pass legislatively upon the bill intro
duced by Chairman Zihlman OF the
House District committee and Senator
Bruce OF Maryland directing that no
permanent structure for q tourist
camp be erected in East Potomac
Park.
Asks Lump Sum.
Maj. Grant argued in justification
OF a lump sum appropriation for the
support Of public buildings and pub.
lie parks amounting TO S334,66O, in
lieu of a number Of small definite ap.
preparations for individual projects
He told the committee that a consid
cradle reduction on cost could be made
by having a working lump sum in
stead of inaccurate definite appropria
tons for particular work, the exact
cost of which could not be determined
in advance.
This saving also would result from
shifting of employees from ono ac-
ivity to another, which would be I'M
possible under the definite apportion-
ment as heretofore made. This lump
sum scheme has the approval Of the
Budget Bureau
A new item In the bill calls for an
appropriation of s11 ,450 for uniforms
and equipment for the United States
park police.