Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-25
100000 ANNUALLY
IS PARKS
Chairman ZihIman of House
District Body Introduces
Bill for Appropriation.

Appropriation from the Federal
Treasury of 100000 a year to match
appropriations made by Maryland and
Virginia for extension of the park and
parkway system of the National Capt.
tai is proposed In a bill introduced
today by Chairman Zihlman of the
House District committee.
Under it's organic act, the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion is authorized to acquire .ands
in the environs of the National Capt.
tai in Maryland and Virginia, for ex-
tension of the Park and Parkway sys-
tenn of the Capital. Although it was
originally planned that the annual ap-
preparation for park purchases would
be 81 100000 or l cent per capita
for the entire population of the United
States, the appropriations thus far
have been entirely from District of
Columbia taxes to the amount of
100000 a year.
Maryland Proposes Fund.
Now Maryland proposes to set up
fund for the purchase of land in
Maryland to be co.ordinated with the
National Capital Park purchases, as
1t is obviously unfair that the District
taxpayers should be called upon to
pay for park areas IN neighboring
States.
The Zihlman bill provides that the
Federal funds should be spent only
after agreement had been reached be-
tween the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and the author
:zed officials from Maryland or Vir-
ginia as to each tract OF land, the
method of acquisition and the price,
and that in no instance should the
Federal Government pay more than
one-half of the cost.
In explaining his bill Mr.. Zihlman
said that provision is made that the
cost of the land shall be borne by the
Federal Government and the State in
which the land is located, and that
the Federal Government is strictly
safeguarded in the act against paying
more than so per cent of the cost.
Authorizes Necessary Lands.
He points out that the Park and
Planning Commission act Of Congress
authorizes the commission to acquire
such lands in Maryland or Virginia
as in it's judgment shall be necessary
and desirable for suitable development
of the National Capital Park and
parkway system, and "by such ar
rangements as to acquisition and pay
ment for the land as 1t shall determine
upon by agreement with the proper
officials of the States of Maryland and
Virginia" All agreements between
this commission and the officials of
Maryland and Virginia for the acqui-
sition or condemnation of such lands
and for the control of them is subject
to the approval of the President of
the United States.
The Legislature of Virginia is now
in session. Abill has been prepared
and agreed to by a committee ap-
pointed by the Governor of Maryland
and organizations throughout the
counties, and Montgomery and Prince
Georges, providing for early raising
of money in Maryland to be used in
buying and preserving park lands
near Washington.
Urges Special Fund.
Since all the funds appropriated for
use by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission are paid under
the present plan, very largely by tax
alton of the District of Columbia,
Representative Zihlman says 1t is felt
that fund should be provided en-
tirely from the revenues of the Fed
eral Government to use in combina-
ton with funds of Maryland or
Virginia for buying such lands out
side the District.