Evening star., 1927-02-17
S7,O)0,0]O BILL
FOR D. c. MAY PASS
IN SENATE TODAY
Commissioners Retain Power
to Select Corporation Coun-
sci for New Office.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
SHAKE-UP is EXPECTED
Phipps Predicts Approval of $780,
600 Item for Purchase of Pat
terson Tract.

With an amendment already agreed
to in committee OF the whole by which
the Commissioners would retain the
power of appointing the corporation
counsel, the District appropriation bill
may pass the Senate before adjourn
ment today carrying close TO $37.-
000, 900.
Senators In charge of the bill agreed
yesterday evening to strike out the
clause transferring power to appoint
the city's legal adviser to the Presi-
dent, but it was clearly indicated by
the debate that they expect the Com
to make a change in the
office of corporation counsel. which is
held at present by Francis II.
Senator Phipps of Colorado will en-
deavor to have the Senate resume con
sideration of the bill this afternoon.
Copeland to Resume Fight.
1t is understood that Senator
Copeland of New York will make an
effort today to have the Senate place
limitation in the bill to prevent the
Commissioners from erecting the
heating plant for the new Mckinley
High School. on the corner of Sec
ond and r streets northeast. AL
though work has been started on
the plant, Senator Copeland contends
1t is mistake to place ii on one
of the corners of the large tract
acquired for this high school He
believes the heating plant should go
on the interior of the site. near
where similar plant was erected
for the Langley Junior High School.
Senator Phipps is hopeful the
Senate will sustain the committee
amendment adding 100000 to the
bill for the long delayed acquisition
of the Patterson tract for a park and
playground in the Northeast.
The Senator pointed out today that
this may be the last chance the city
will have to acquire this park site
and that IL this land is devoted to
private uses within the next year or
two. there is practically no other
available place in the congested part
of the Northwest that could be bought
for park purposes.
Publish Sales for Taxes.
The Senate, in committee OF the
whole yesterday evening, agreed to
the amendment under which the Com
will be required to publish
in two local newspapers a complete
list of property to be sold for non
payment of taxes, in place of the past
practice of printing a pamphlet which
property owners can see only by going
to the District Building. The only
change made by the Senate from the
recommendation was to
stipuiate that the Commissioners shall
invite competitive proposals from the
local newspapers for the publishing
of the list.
This change is being made because
the Senator's felt owners of property
do not get from the pamphlet proper
notice of the tax sale, with the result
that in many cases property is sold
merely because the owner did not
know his taxes were overdue.
The Senate also approved yesterday
the committee increase from $19.360 10
S2S. $40 for salaries in the director
of traffics Office, together with an in
crease from $4,000 to $4,000 in the
item for traffic signal lights and other
devices.
The Senate will begin today wh.re
it left off last night. with the amsnd-
ment striking out the House item for
the paving of Thirty-eighth street
southeast, from Alabama avenue To
Suitland road and Suitland road from
Thirty eighth street to the District
line. Senator Bruce of Maryland is
to have this item re-
stored.
Members of the Senate appropria.
tions subcommittee stated during de-
bate Yesterday that they were not par
ticularly concerned over whether the
appointing power was given TO the
commissioners or to the President.
They said they felt satisfied the re-
suit they were after-a complete re
organ anization of the corporation .coun-
sells office-would be brought about
now without changing the appointiye
power.
Salary Changes.
The Senate amendment as modified
raises the salary to be paid
he corporation counsel after July i
rom Sc 900 to 81, 500, but reduces the
otal allotment for salaries i'm that
,ffice from SAC 900 to S42.360. There
ore. if the plan revealed yesterday os
Mr.. stephens and appointing
new corporation counsel at $500 is
'arried out. il may lead TO the dropping
f one or two other assistants in the
ffice in order to keep within the
llotment for salaries.
The Senate approved the amendment
the salary allotment in the
urcha sing division from S45. $50 to
81 700
When the corporation counsel
mendment was reached, Senator
'ess, Republican, of Ohio made
oint of order that the proposed
hange in appointive power from the
to the President was
ew legislation and. therefore, not in
rider In an appropriation bill.
Senator Moses, presiding at the
ime. overruled the point OF order.
which Senators Willis of
,hio. Bruce OF Maryland, Copeland
( New York and Bratton of New
fexico all spoke in opposition to the
hange in appointive power.
Phipps Explains Recommendation.
Just before he agreed to strike out
ne clause naming the President as
ne appointing power, Senator Phipps
made the following explanation OF
Inv the subcommittee recommended
ne change:
"The House committee, as at
smpted to say, thought, in the in
crest of the public welfare. that the
gal department of the District should
9 recast. They have expressed to
ST. want to modify my statement
mere in a little particular. because
mis- comes, perhaps, second hand
rom the District Commissioner
hat the service they have been get.
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