Evening star., 1926-04-29
Appropriation Measure, Al
ready Agreed to in Senate,
Is Endorsed.
COMMITTEE PRAISED
FOR ACCORD AND WORK
Total of $33,918,517 Is Somewhat
Less Than Budget's-Six Amend
ments Accompany Plan.


trict appropriation bill for the fiscal
year beginning July / next, amount
ing to $33,91S,571, was agreed to In
the House today as it has already
been approved in the Senate. The
House conferees, however. next
brought to the House. in compliance
with the House rules, six amendments
for separate action.
AS to all of these the conference
committee was in exact accord, SO
that, although these six amendments
go back to the Senate for concurrent
action, the Senate conferees have al
ready agreed upon the same acton
trat was taken by the House today.
Representative Cranton, .Republi'
can, of Michigan interrupted consid-
Grafton Of the conference report to
pay a tribute to Chairman Funk OF
the House conferees and to his asso-
ciates on the subcommittee handling
the District appropriation bill. lie
said: Never has a District bill
brought before the House been better
considered and better balanced. Never
have the conferees come back from
the Senate with a better agreement. l
believe they are entitled to special
commentator IrOlH tuC AAouSO'
There was applause.
Sum Less Than Budget.
Mr.. Funk explained that the bill
as 1t passed the House carried appro-
priations totaling $33,759,291. This
sum was $293.7S1 below the budget
estimates. AS agreed to in confer
ence, the bill carries $33.918.57l. or
$134,451 less than the budget est.
mates.
Mr.. Funk explained that the first
amendment provides that the amount
of Federal aid may be advanced In Its
entirity on the first day Of the fiscal
year rather than in monthly install
ments. Unless this Is done. the COM
mittee was advised, the District may
be confronted with being without
funds at certain periods OF the year.
The House confereeS recedeu on this
Senate amendment.
Disagree on Street Phases.
With respect to street improve
ments, making specific provision for
paving certain streets, the Senate
included provision for IA items not
embraced by the House bill and struck
out 13 Of the items carried in the
House bill, The Senate conferees re-
ceded from z of the IA items inserted
by the Senate and agreed to restora-
ton of s of the 13 items which the
Senate has stricken from the House
bill. with the net money result that
the bill carries for such objects
$4,000 less than when passed by the
House.
On the amendment relating to the
indefinite appropriation for paving,
extending or widening streets, Wnlch
heretofore and in the bill as passed
by the House specifically excepted the
extension of Fourteenth street and
Piney Branch road, the Senate amend
ment proposed elimination of these
executions Fourteenth street now
stops at Montague street. which IS
several blocks out of the southern
boundary of the Walter Reed reser-
walton. Mr.. Funk reported that there
appears to be no reason why Four
teenth street should not be extended
nm to the southern boundary of the
hospital reservation, and the confcrees
have agreed to an amendment which
will make this course possible.
Agree on Repair Fund.
For repairing and resurfacing
streets, the Senate increased the
House allowance from 100000 to
81 .O0O. 900 and the House conferees
have agreed to the Senate action.
Not at Expense of Schools.
Mr.. Funk explained that the House
conferees were able to do this and
hold appropriations down, not at the
expense of the schools, but because
IL appeared in the light of information
supplied to the Senate that no funds
would be needed in addition to those
already available for continuing the
of the Mckinley Techni-
cal High School, and that an appro-
priation, smaller by 100000 than pro-
posed by the House, would suffice for
commencing the erection of a. Junior
high school to replace the present
net-Patterson School Building.
Explaining the amendments relat-
ing to street paving contracts. Mr..
Funk pointed out that the Senate
agreed to the restoration Of the House
provision requiring open competition
on street paving work and the House,
on his motion, agreed to the Senate
proposal that street paving contractors
shall be required to keep new pave.
ment laid by them in repair for one
wear and to bear the cost of repairs
occasioned by inferior work or defec-
tive material for a period of five years.
Agree to Senate Proposal.
In regard to Fairgrounds, Mr.. Funk
explained that the House conferees
agreed to the Senate proposal that
directors Of Fairgrounds shall be EN-
ployed throughout the year rather
than for 10 months. and to the SEN
ate provision for the pay of such di.
rectors for the additional two months,
or $3.50 in all.
The House conferees agreed to the
Senate proposal limiting the amount
which might be paid for electric street
lighting to not more than S71a per
cent of the rates heretofore establish
ed by law and for payment for cleo
tric current for new forms of street
lighting to not more than cents per
kilowat hour.
In regard to nonresident pupils, Mr.
Funk told the House that the Senate
inserted in the bill the usual provision
with respect to admissions to the pub
lie schools without the payment of
tuition. The House acted favorably
on his proposal to concur in the Sen.
ate amendment.
Limit on Land Prices.
with respect to the House proposal
in connection with the land d-purchase
item for school and playground pur-
poses, as we'll as acquisitions by. the
National Capital Park Commission