Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-24
CONFEREES AGREE
ON DISTRICT BILL;
PARK FUND RAISED
S60,500 Item for 81 More
Teachers Cut Out When
House Group Ba|ks.

With the proposed increase in the
teaching force for the public schools
eliminated. but carrying 100000 in
stead of the customary 100000 for
purchase of parks, the Senate and
House conferees today completed
agreement on the District appropria-
ton bill for the fiscal year beginning
July /.
The House conferees refused to
yield to the Senate on the Harrison
amendment. which would have allow
ed the public schools an increase Of
$60,500 for the employment of 81
additional teachers to meet in part
the request of the Board of Education
which had asked for "a additional
teachers.
The conferees also struck out the
specific Senate provision which would
have made 100000 available to buy
the Patterson tract for park purposes
at Fifth street and Florida avenue
northeast, but they increased the
lump sum for the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission from
5000 900 to $780, 900 as compromise.
While the bill as agreed to in confer
ence makes no direct provision for
the Patterson tract, it was pointed
out that the park commission can use
the lump sum to acquire any park
area it deems desirable. This leaves
the purpose of the Patterson tract up
TO the park commission to negotiate
for if it sees At out of the lump sum.
viii Be About $36.000,000.
The conferees had not revised their
final totals early this afternoon, but
indications were that the measure in
it's present form will appropriate close
to S36, 600 900, which would be the
largest sum ever made available for
the District in the annual supply bill.
II believe this is the best District
appropriation bill have had anything
to do with," said Senator Phipps of
Colorado, chairman of the Senate con-
ferees. I'VE tried to follow the wishes
of the people of the District as far as
we felt we could.
The conference report provides a
compromise figure of 100000 for i'm
proving, the appearance of Meridian
Hill Park, which lies between Fifteenth
and Sixteenth streets north of w
street and which has been in an un.
finished condition for a number of
years. The House had allowed $23..
900 in addition to an unexpended bal.
ance from last year, and the Senate
had raised the item to $165, 900. The
conferees took a middle course on this
project
Counsel Measure Favored.
The House conferees accepted the
Senate provision designed to bring
about reorganization In the corpora
ton counsel's office by increasing the
salary of the corporation counsel from
Sc 900 to $500, but reducing the total
amount for salaries in that Office.
The House conferees also agreed to
the Senate amendment, for a new
method of advertising property before
it is sold for non-payment of taxes, the
purpose being to give property owners
better chance to learn that their
real estate is about to be sold. The
provision agreed to abolishes the tax
sale pamphlets which property owners
in the past could only see by going to
the District Building and directs the
Commissioners to publish in the news
papers a complete list of all properties
to be sold for taxes.
The Senate conferees also convinced
the House managers that they should
retain the $42 500 for a water main to
the District line in Alabama avenue
southeast. which will serve the com
Continued on Page 2, Column ~