Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-20
CONGRESS PASSED
ONLY CIVIC CENTER
MEASURE FOR D. c.
Passage Due to Efforts of
Chairman Simmons, Who
Went Direct to President.
HOUSE FAILS TO PASS
AIRPORT APPROPRIATION
Measure to Improve Retirement
and Salary Laws Held Over
for Action in Fall.

The only important legislation for
the District of Columbia passed In the
extra session of Congress, which was
signed by the President several days
ago, authorized the expenditure of s3.-
600 900 from the accumulated surplus
to the credit of the District in the
Federal Treasury for acquisition of
site for the new municipal center north
of Pennsylvania avenue to Judiciary
Square between Third and Sixth streets
northwest.
The passage of this measure was due
to the initiative and determined efforts
of Chairman Simmons of the House
subcommittee on District appropria-
tions, who saw in this way an oppor-
tunity not only to save considerable
amount for District taxpayers In ac-
quisition of this property, but to expe,
dite the erection of the new municipal
buildings which will dominate the
development of the north side of PENN
sylvania avenue Just as the Federal
building program wipes out eyesores on
the south side Of the Avenue.
Went Direct to President.
When the Budget Bureau expressed
an unwillingness to send in this estl-
mate Chairman Simmons went directly
to President Hoover and had confer
ences with House leaders, both Repuo-
lican and Democratic, with the result
that the President directed the bureau
to submit the estimate and the pro-
posal went through the House by unani"
NOUS consent.
This measure was urged as an emer-
gency, because several units OF the Dis
trict government have been ordered out
of their present quarters, while other
units in the Municipal Building are
cramped. Representative Simmons ad-
vised his colleagues In Congress tnat
there are several buildings on the site
for the new municipal center which can
be used for emergency housing Tor
District activities until the new munich
pal center has been erected.
Fail to Pass Airport Bill.
The Joint resolution sponsored by the
Joint Congressional Airport Commits
sion, after extensive hearings, at which
Col. Charles A. Lindbergh and the
greatest aeronautical engineers OF the
country urged the need for Immediate
| action by Congress, in order that the
| National Capital might be provided
with a model airport equal to any In
| the world, adequate for the needs OF
Government departments as well as the
| District municipality and commercial
8VlHDIOn, WIS dIIUMEu W 16A la JAZZ
House, where the first effort was made
to have it approved. House members,
particularly on the Democratic side, in
sisted that they should be told the
exact location which 1t was proposed to
acquired under the 10000 approprta-
ton of Federal funds which the resolu-
ton authorized. Representative Under
hill as a member of the joint commits
sion. stated the attitude of the commits
sion was hat It, desired o have funds
available o acquire whatever site could
be secured most adyantageously, and
| that no site would be selected until after
the appropriation was made. so as to
avoid having the price on land run up
by real estate speculation. Up TO the ohy
of adjournment 1t was hoped that 90
lection would be Withdrawn, so that
this measure might pass under unant-
nous consent, but Minority Leader
Garner stated that there we're too many
Democrats who insisted upon knowing
Just where the money would go before
they agreed to 100000 Federal APP
preparation.
Salary Action Held Over.
The Senate civil service committee
made start during the special session
on measures to improve the retirement
and salary laws for Government en-
ployes, but action was not obtained in
calendar, however, for early action in
the Fall. One is the bill to liberalize
the retirement law and the other Is TO
correct inequalities in the Government
nav scales established last year.
Under resolution which the Senate
passed during this session the District
committee will make a study in the
Fall of the need for new laws to regu-
late the sale of stocks. bonds and mort
cages on real estate or otherwise, and
to govern foreclosures on deeds of trust
and mortgages.
Another development during the ses-
sion was the proposal Of Senator Kean,
Republican, of New Jersey to have the
Senate District committee study auto
mobile parking conditions here. Senator
Hastings, Republican. of Delaware,
chairman of the traffic subcommittee,
does not plan to begin this study until
the Fall.