Evening star., 1930-06-21

I NOOAibhiuCQ
Thomas P. Littlepage, Robert ]. Cottrell,
Dorsey Hyde and Frank Coleman.
Senator Bingham today reiterated his
belief that the House should be willing
to compromise with the Senate on the
Federal contribution.
"Inasmuch as the $9,000,000 figure
now in effect was originally the result
why the new figure should not be
compromise now" Senator Bingham
said.
Recalls Figures of Past.
He had reference to the situation five
years ago, when the House at first pro-
posed to make the lump sum $S,O00,0o0,
and the Senate advocated $4,000, 900.
The 100000 lump sum was finally
| agreed upon.
At the present time the House is in
sisting upon the So, 900 900 figure, while
! the Senate voted for $12,000,000. The
Senate conferees, however, are not in
sisting upon their figure, but have in
dicated they would accept any reason
able compromise.
Appeal Put in Record.
House Leader Tilson has had printed
in the Congressional Record the appeal
submitted to Speaker Longworth and
to the majority and minority leaders
OF the House yesterday appealing to
Congress not to adjourn without pass
ing the District appropriation bill.
When the delegation waited upon
Speaker Longworth, by appointment in
MS of1ce, he assured them of his
interest in the matter and his desire
to see the District appropriation bill
passed. He said that he would have
their appeal as presented to him in
writing printed in the Congressional
Record for the perusal Of members OF
the House.
The gathering who saw Mr.. Long
worth included merchants officers of
the city'S leading banks and trust COM
panieS, representatives of organized
labor, the responsible officers of the
city's most active trade and CONNER
cial organizations and professional men,
They spoke for larger gathering
which had met yesterday morning to con-
slider what steps, If any, could be taken
to bring about passage of the District
appropriation bill and to avoid the Seri-
Gus situation which would result II the
bill failed.
Presented in Writing.
The appeal, as presented in writing
to the Speaker, was, in part, as follows:
This gathering resulted from deep
concern over the certain failure of the
pending District of Columbia appropria-
ton bnl for the fiscal year beginning
July l.
las result of that concern, and of
the discussion caused thereby, the un-
dersigned committee was designated to
present to the Congress the following:
I'VE urge:
81. A resumption Of conferences be-
tween the two houses for the purpose
of making further effort to bring about
the enactment Of the above mentioned
bill, including the appropriation Of the
sums which. in equity and fairness,
should be borne, on the one hand, by
the national Government, and on the
other by the taxpayers of the City
of Washington.
Gain in IdIeness Seen.
"2. That earnest and careful con-
sideration be given to the extremely de-
plorable effects Of the failure OF the
pending legislation, not only locally In
the City of Washington, but nationally
"3. That the Congress of the United
states do not adjourn, in this time of
widespread unemployment, leaving un-
enacted legislation the failure of which
would increase unemployment.
I'VE directly and earnestly invite your
attention to the fact that If the regular
appropriation bill for the District OF
Columbia for the next fiscal year is
not enacted. but that the running ex-
penses Of the municipality are merely
provided for by legislation continuing
the ordinary appropriation of the cur
rent fiscal year, the following will re-
suit:
There would be failure Of appro-
priations for greatly needed additions
to and repairs in the public schools of
the City of Washington. Entirely aside
from the importance of ef7iciently main
tanning the public schools, this would
deprive several hundred men engaged
in the building trades of employment
For projected improvement, such as
the Public Library Building, extensions
and new equipment in the city's sewer
and fire departments, and for the new
buildings and extensions to buildings
needed to carry on the work OF public
welfare, including a children's tubercu-
loSis sanitarium, the pending bill car
rleS appropriations. Here, again, needed
employment will be unavailable, unem-
ployment increased, If these appropria-
tons fail. and this entirely aside from
the deplorable consideration of mark
ing time when work Of this vital nature
should be going forward.
Street Work Involved.
THE bill provides for important
street Improvements. Among no class
is the present problem of lack of work
so vital as among the laboring men,
Of whom 1t is estimated from 1900
| to 1900 would fail Of employment If
this work of street improvement is not
carried on in the Capital City during
the ensuing IL months. We stress, as
we think should be stressed, the hard
ships which would result from this un-
employment, but we do not overlook, as
We submit it should not be overlooked,
the resulting condition Of disrepair and
OF failure TO provide the street improve
ment which will confront the Capital
during the period Of the contemplated
Washington Bicentennial.
THE greatly increased future cost Of
highway work following a period of
neglect is as obvious at It is Inevitable.
The unemployment which would result
among laboring men who, should the
pending bill be enacted, would work on
the public streets, cannot be made good
by legislation enacted at the next regu-
lar session Of Congress for as 1t is we'll
known, that character of work cannot
be done In cold weather.
I'VE are informed that a provision
for the District of Columbia expenses
for the ensuing fiscal year is made by
continuing resolution, rather than by
the pending bill, approximately $l4,.
100000 less will be available.