Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-28
j. S. BUILDING MAY
Be BEGUN IN 1926
Bill May Be Voted by Senate
in Time for Allotment
of Funds.
6 On Q n 3 roN.

With the public buildings bill al
ready approved by the House and
slated for early consideration in the
Senate. there Is a good chance that
the present Congress may also be able
to make the initial allotment of funds
so that work can be started both an
Washington and in the States during
the next Y months.
The bill now awaiting action by the
Senate authorizes a building program
and specifies the ultimate outlay for
the District of Columbia and for the
country as a whole, but does not actu-
ally appropriate money. IL is an au-
thorizing act.
One Senate leader pointed out yes
terday, however, that If the Senate
passes the measure before the session
is too far advanced there will be time
TO insert the first installment of funds
in a deficiency appropriation bill be
fore adjournment. Should final action
on the authorizing bill come late IN
the session the appropriation or tunds
to begin construction would propaDIy
have to wait until next year.
Status in Senate.
Although the exact date for taking
IN the buildings bill in the Senate Is
not definately known, there are only
two or three major questions sched-
uled to be considered ahead OF II.
namely. the disposition of Muscle
Shoals. the long and short haul rail-
road bill and the Italian debt settle
ment. +.
The Muscle Shoals legislation is
expected to be called up early TINS
week, and the Italian debt settlement
NAV follow Immediately after that on
g l,n L
this program is followed the buildings
bill is not likely to be reached during
the coming week, but Senator Fernald,
in charge of the measure. VIII Ell
deavor to have 1t considered at the
earliest opportunity. Senator Fernald
has been ill during the past few days
but II was said yesterday he is I'M
proying rapidly and hopes to be out
some time this week.
The public buildings commission, OF
which Senator Smoot of Utah is chair
man, will not make known It's plans
for carrying out the Washington por
ton Of the building program until the
bill has been finally acted upon. After
that IS accomplished, however. the
commission will lose no time in formu-
lating a definite plan of procedure as
to the location of buildings and the
departments which should have their
housing needs met first.
AS passed by the House, and in
dorsed by the Senate committee, the
bill authorizes a total of S115, 100000
for the Nation at large and $50,000,-
900 for the District of Columbia. OF
the former sum not more than $25.-
600 900 Is to be spent annually. and
of the Districts total not more than
$4,000 900 is to be appropriated each
year.
The Senate committee has added
another amendment designed to bring
about a fair distribution of the money
to be spent outside the District. 1t
provides that not more than $4,000,
900 shall be spent in any State in one
year
Uncle Sans housing problem is
probably more serious in the Nations
Capital than in the States, because so
many Government bureaus are using
the temporary war buildings, in which
valuable records are constantly eX
posed to the danger of loss by fire
Income tax records, for example, are
kept in one of these temporary build
ings.
While those in charge of the bill eX
pect some opposition in the Senate,
they believe the bill will pass. There
are no important differences in the
measure as passed by the House and
as reported to the Senate. There I'M
doubtedly will be minor changes, how
ever, that will necessitate conferences
between the two branches of Congress.