Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-06
COOLIDGE GUIDANCE
SOUGHT TO REPAIR
|. F|L|BUSTER LOSSES
Army, Pensions and Seed for
Farmers Chief Problems
Left by Congress.
FEW HARDSHIPS SEEN
OVER DISTRICT ITEMS
Hope Held That Way May Be
Found to Aid Teachers, Retired
Firemen and Police.

eral Government began to take stock
yesterday Of the wrecked plans left
In the wake Of the last stormy hours
OF the late Congress. and to lay new
ones, under the guidance Of President
Coolidge, to repair the damage result
ing from the failure Of the second de
ficiency appropriation bill, in so far as
that Is possible under the law
In the first flush Of the rehabilita-
ton movement. three problems doomed
as Of paramount importance. These
were the apparent inability Of the War
Department to maintain a standing
Army of liz, 900 men on existing
funds. the lack of money to pay 500,
600 national dependents their pen
sions for two months and the absence
Of funds to purchase seeds for farmers
in the stricken crop-failure areas of
the country.
Other activities Affected.
Besides these, countless Govern
ment activities of less outstanding mn
portance face possible curtailmenG r
not complete abandonment until the
funds for the forthcoming fiscal year,
which begins July 1. become available.
dtAOA6 ttiCOC 10 TIC 4 VSt
Office Departments ambitious build
ing program. Postmaster General
New was hopeful, however, that part
Of this might be salvagGd.
Hope was held out last night that
some way yet may be found to pay
annuities to school teachers and pen
sions to retired policemen and flremen
during the remainder Of this fiscal
year, despite the failure Of the de-
flciency bill.
While District officials were not pre-
pared to say how the situation might
be met, they pointed out that in the
case Of pensions there Is the element
of emergency to be taken into consid
Grafton In seeking solution.
District Auditor Donovan plans to
60 thoroughly into the question to-
morrow. - ~.
Commissioners at Capitol.
Commissioners Dougherty, Bell and
Taiiaferro were at the Capitol yester-
day afternoon comforting with Senator
tive Funk of Illinois, who handle Dis
trict appropriations In Congress.
While the conference was primarily on
certain features Of the regular appro-
priation act for the next fiscal year,
the problem of meeting the deficiencies
in pensions for this fiscal year was
discussed incidentally.
Senator Phipps said nothing definite
was brought out regarding the def
ciences, but he indicated also that it
is possible the municipal authorities
may find way Of meeting the situa-
ton.
With regard to the main purpose
of the conference. Senator Phipps said
1t was to get an exchange of views be-
tween the Commissioners and those
having charge of appropriations as to
what plans the Commissioners have
for the expenditure Of certain funds
in the new appropriation law in which
they were given discretionary power.
Under the highway division, for
example. there are certain lump
the streets specifically authorized to
be paved. This discussion was en-
tirely apart from the question of
deficiencies arising between now and
July 1.
Carried 100000 for ID. C.
Although the deficiency bill which
failed to pass carried nearly $500 900
for the District of Columbia, most of
the items were for purposes that can
be deferred without hardship,
Aside from the teachers annuities.
amounting to $4,000. and the police
fire pension item of $135, 900, the only
other fund lost In the second deficiency
bill that Is causing concern to Dis
trict officials was the proposed $4,000
for the care Of children committed to
the Board Of Public Welfare by the
Juvenile Court.
The "-esent situation with regard
to these particular items Is somewhat
different from the condition which
arose several years ago when a def
cheney bill failed to pass at the last
moment. In that instance the bill ear.
rted the amount Of money needed TO
pay certain salary increases to police
men, firemen and school teachers The
same session OF Congress which failed
to enact the deficiency bill. however,
had just previously enacted substan-
tive law authorizing higher salaries,
and on the basis of that fact the in
creases were paid until the new ap.
preparation act became available.
Lord and Davis See Coolidge.
Gen. Herbert M. Lord, director OF
the Bureau Of the Budget. and Secre-
tary of War Davis were closeted with
President Coolidge at the White House
for more than an hour yesterday dis
GUESSING the situation the Army faces.
Shortly after leaving the Presidents
Office they returned Tor a second con-
ference. Before departing they made
no attempt to conceal the gravity OF
the situation.
Although Gen. Lord expressed a
belief that some way OF getting
around the situation. may be found,
he declared bluntly that no legal All.
thority existed whereby the Army
could create a deficiency.
Unless a loophole Is uncovered, Sec
rotary Davis admitted that most
cut In the strength OF the
standing Army must follow It il
that $1,000 men would
have to be discharged In order to keep
within remaining funds.
Gen. Lord pointed out that there
have been emergencies where the
Army was permitted to create a de-
in order to feed and clothe
its men and to provide necessary
medicines. Whether these presidents
would At the present situation. Gen.
Lord said he was not in a position to
at this time. He said sew.
eral days would probably elapse be-
fore decision was reached.
Secretary Davis added that another
point under consideration was
the Army could any more
legally discharge men with whom 1t
had contract for service than Ii