Evening star., 1926-05-03
VOTE LOOMS TODAY
ON BUILDINGS BILL
Conference With Opponents
Believed to Have Met
Objections.

Passage of the $165, 100000 public
buildings bill by the Senate before ad'
journmant this afternoon appeared
likely, following a conference today
between those in charge OF the meas
ure and Senators who have beeA OPP
posing it in It's present form.
1t was learned that an understand
ing was reached at the meeting this
morning under which certain amend
ments will be offered on the floor,
meeting. In part, the objections that
prevented action on the bill during the
last two weeks.
The understanding reached today
was that language would be written
into the bill providing in substance
that in deciding on cities In which
emergency needs for public buildings
exist, consideration would be given to
population, area and post office re-
ceipts.
Among those who attended the con
ference We're Senator Fernald OF
Maine. chairman of the public build
ingS committee: Senator Lenroot OF
Wisconsin, who had strongly support
ed the bill as reported, and Senators
Swanson, Democrat, of Virginia; liar
rison. Democrat, Of Mississippi and
McKellar, Democrat, of Tennessee.
Some Changes Favored.
It was Senator Harrison who sug-
gestesl in the Senate Saturday that
some provision should be made in the
bill giving consideration TO population,
area and wealth of the States In ap-
portioning the lump sums authorized
by the bill.
Another amendment which has won
considerable favor on the floor is that
offered by Senator Swanson, which
would prevent the Treasury Depart
ment from entering into contracts un'
til money has been made available by
Congress for the buildings. The aim
of this amendment is to give Con
gress, through the appropriations
committee, some check on the decl-
sions Of executive department in To-
eating buildings.
This public buildings bill, which al
ready has passed the House, is unique
in form In that 1t departs from
the old method of specifying the cities
which are to receive buildings by
authorizing lump appropriations to be
used for buildings and in those sec
tions where the Treasury and Post
Office Departments believe the emerg-
ency is greatest.
Central Authority Opposed.
During the past few weeks, how
ever, Senator Harrison has raised
vigorous objection to action in the
Senate on the ground that the bill
gives too much authority to the Sec
retary OF the Treasury TO decide when
and where buildings shall be located.
Speeches in opposition to this feature
of the bill also have been made by
Senator Robinson of Arkansas. minor
ity leader, and Senator Maytield. Dem
ocrat of Texas. The conference held
this morning resulted from this op-
position and was held in an effort to
prevent this important legislation fail
ing Of action.
Repeatedly since the bill was taken
up Senator Fernald, Senator Smoot,
chairman Of the finance committee,
and Senator Lenroot have called at
tention to the urgent necessity of get
ting started on the accumulated need
for public buildings, both in Wash
ington and throughout the country,
resulting from, the fact that Congress
has not passed a comprehensive build
ing program since 1918. Senator
Fernald has told his colleagues that
the main reason for asceItaining a
lump sum was to place the erection
Of pubic buildings on the basis of
efficiency and economy, pointing out
that it would have been impossible at
this time to take care of all the in
dividuai projects that would have to
be considered under the old method
of specifying buildings in the bill.
The $165, 100000 authorized in the
bill is divided into three parts as fol
lows:
To relieve the serious shortage in
housing facilities for the departments
in Washington, $50 100000; to com
plete projects remaining from the last
program authorized in 1918, $15,000,-
900. and to take care of the most
urgent needs that have developed
since 1913 throughout the country.
500, 900, 900.