Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-14
Item for "a More Teachers
Is Left 0ut-Naming of
Corporation Counsel by
President Is Provided.
100000 Is APPROVED
FOR PATTERSON TRACT
Funds Voted for Purchase of Sites
for 3 More Schools and $4,000
for Plans Made Available Imme-
diately-Measure Is Largest in
History.

After recommending a heavy i'll
crease of $640430 above the House
figures, the Senate appropriation
committee reported out the District
appropriation bill today, carrying a
total of S36,856.l25. the largest
amount ever provided in local sup
ply measure.
The Senate committee made no
provision for the "a additional school
teachers asked for by the school au-
thorities, and which item also was
turned down by the House commit
tee.
One of the most important Senate
committee additions is an item or
5000 900 for purchase of the Patter-
son tract on the north side of Florida
avenue northeast. which local OrSani-
zations have advocated for many years
as a new link in the park system.
Another important provision is that
the corporation counsel of the District.
an office now held by Francis III.
Stephens, shall be appointed by the
President with the approval of the
Senate instead of by the District Com
missionerS.
Text of Clause.
The new clause inserted by the Sen
ate committee reads as follows:
Corporation counsel, who shall be
appointed by the President, by and
with the advice and consent of the
Senate, and who shall also act as the
general counsel of the Public Utilities
commission, 81 500, and other PERSONAL
services in accordance with the Clas'
sification act of 1928, $3i,S60, making
m all $42, 800"
The above language was inserted I'm
place of the usual provision providing
'or a corporation counsel at $4,000
year. If this change is adopted when
he appropriation bill becomes law, 1t
would give the President authority to
say who shall be corporation counsel.
Would Provide $4,000 at Once.
In increasing the school building
program total from S2,749,500 to 81
757 900 the Senate committee provided
that $4,000 should be immediately
available for the preparation of plans
for buildings in order to- expedite the
work. Otherwise this money would
not be available until July /.
The House bill had stipulated that
the last $500, 200 now remaining i'm
the Districts old surplus revenue
fund should be used toward meeting
the school building program. The
Senate committee has changed this
To provide that this balance in the
surplus be devoted toward the $780,
600 item inserted by the Senate com
mittee for the purchase of the Pat
terson tract for &ark in the north
east. This change is based apparent
ly on the theory that more of the
surplus should be used for parks. The
law under which the surplus was
made availab BILE several years ago di-
rected that it should .be spent for
both schools and parks.
While the Senate committee did not
repeal in its general applicat ton the
requirement that school and park sites
must be acquired within % per cent
above the assessed value of the land,
ii made a special exemption in the
case of the Western High School ath-
letic field. The Senate committee
recommends that the S125.000 con
tanned in the District appropriation
act of 1925 for this athletic field shall
remain available until June So 1929.
without limitation as 10 price based
on assessed value
May Reduce Park Size.
Senate committee also gave the
Commissioners more leeway i'm han
ding the House items for the pur-
chase of land adjoining the site pur-
ready owned by the District on Grant
road. The Senate committee provides
that if this land cannot be purchas sed
at a price satisfactory to the Com
they may sell or exchange
the land they already own. and I'm
such event they may use not 10 ex-
ceed 100000 plus the proceeds OF the
sale for the purchase of a. school site
in the vicinity of Thirty-sixth and
Davenport streets.
In providing for the purchase of the
Patterson tract, containing about 81
acres, the Senate committee author
the area to be acquired when. by
reason OF improvements constructed
or unreasonable prices asked, or for
other reasons. in its judgment the pub
lie interest may require
Another change made by the Senate
which will be OF great inn
portance to all property owners. il
sustained, would require the collector
of taxes to give more adequate
notice to persons whose property Is
about to be sold at public sale fer
of taxes. Heretofore IL
has been the custom to print large
containing the list. of all
delinquent property, but the taxpay
ers have been required to go to the
District BuiIding or buy copy Of the
pamphlet in order to find out if at
any time they have neglected to pay
their taxes on time.
Would Discontinue Pamphlet.
The Senate committee provision
would require the disseminating OF
this pamphlet and directs t.Xt fist
Of the property to be sold, showing
the amount due on each parcel. shall
be advertised in one morning and one
evening newspaper in the District.
1t is further provided that hereafter
the usual notice that Is carried in the
for three successive weeks
shall state that the detailed list OF
property to be sold has been published
In two newspapers, giving the name OF
each and the date of publication Of