Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03
SENATE EXPECTED
TO ALLOT DISTRICT
OVER NINE MILLION
Appropriation Bill viii Be
Reported Tomorrow or
Tuesday.
TEACHER COLLEGE PLAN
ADOPTION HELD LIKELY
Higher Percentage of Preference
for Normal School Graduates
Is Anticipated.

The District appropriation bill will be
reported to the Senate tomorrow or
Tuesday and there are strong indica-
tions that it will provide for an increase
in the lump-sum contribution of the
Federal Government over the $9,000,000
allowed by the House.
Until the bill is reported, it will not
be known definitely what changes are
to be recommended, but it appears
likely that the Federal share In the ex-
penses of the National Capital for the
next fiscal year will be raised from
$4,000, 900 to somewhere near SIC, ,O0O, 900.
1t also seems probable that the Sen
ators will make some modification in
the new provision written into the sup
ply bill by the House this year, under
which only IS per cent of the grad
yates of the local normal schools would
be given a preference in appointment
as elementary teachers, leaving the re-
naming IS per cent to compete with
outside graduates. The House stipulated
that this innovation should take effect
after July, 1881.
Procedure Is Uncertain.
1t is not certain just now how the
Senate committee will handle this
question, but it is probable that the re-
quest OF school officials for establish
ment OF a teachers college, together
with an increase in the percentage re-
ceiving preference, will be approved.
If the Senate follows this course it
would put the entire subject into con-
ference between the two Houses for
adjustment.
The subcommittee handling the bill
In the Senate, headed by Senator Bing-
ham, Republican, Of Connecticut, will
go out early tomorrow morning on a
tour OF inspection of some additional
streets that have been suggested for
paving and to view some of the land
being considered for purchase. Mem
bers OF the House subcommittee have
been invited to join in this tour to get
hrst-hand information.
AS soon as they return from this
trip the members of the Senate sub
committee will resume the marking of
the bill Tor changes, and 10 Is hoped to
complete the task tomorrow. The
measure then will be submitted to the
entire Senate appropriations commit
tee for approval, and Immediately
thereafter will be reported to the
Senate.
Action Expected This Week.
The bill is practically certain to be
taken up for action in the Senate this
week, and as soon as the Senate acts
the bill viii be entrusted to conferees
OF the two housese for adjustment of
differences.
In view of the fact that Senator
Bingham, the new chairman of the
District subcommittee, recently an
nounced, after studying the fiscal rela-
tlons report Of the Bureau of Efficiency,
that he favored adding $500, 900 to the
Federal share of Capital upkeep, there
is every expectation that his committee
will support an increase of approx
mately that amount above the S9,OeO,-
600 House provision.
The Senate last year voted BY q sub
Stantial majority in favor of returning
to the substantive law of 1922, fixing
the 60-40 ratio. but the House corlferees
stood fast to the 100000 lump sum,
and as the last session drew to O close
the Senate receded.
The action of the Senate committee
on the question of salaries in the Dis
trict service also is being awaited with
interest. The House decided not to In
clude this year the item of $165, 900 for
a second installment of the two-year
program inaugurated last year to raise
the level of pay in the municipal de-
partmentS. It Is not known at this
time whether the Senate subcommittee
will change the bill in this respect.
Paving Item Changes Seen.
It is probable that the bill as re-
ported this week will contain some
changes in street paving items, and
possibly some amendments relating to
the school building program.
AS passed by the House 10 days ago
the bill carried total of $38,213,150
for all expenses of the municipal Gov
ernment for the fiscal year beginning
July /. next. It Is possible that changes
being made in Senate committee viii
add to this total, but the final outlay
for maintenance of the District Gov
ernment next year will depend upon
the adjustments made in conference
The purpose Of the school authorities
in recommending teachers college as
an alternative TO the House provision
to restrict the preference rights Of local
applicants for teachers positions Is to
afford local normal school students the
four-year course of instruction available
in most other places.
This would enable local applicants
to compete fairly with outsiders in the
examinations for teachers. At present
the normal school course here Is only
two years, and this Is to be extended
to three years in the near future.
When the Senate subcommittee met
yesterday morning 1t received petition
from the citizens Joint committee on
fiscal relations between the United
States and District of Columbia, re-
newing its former appeals for q return
to the definite proportionate basis Of
appropriating for the National Capital
and urging that the lump sum be sub