Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-10
.POSTPON|NG Of DAY
CENTER MARKET TO
BE CLOSED SOUGHT
Smoot Plan, Pending in
House, Would Gust Deal
erS on July /.
THREE Representatives
APPEAL TO TREASURY
Move to Replace Mart by Private
Enterprise Still Is Under Way.
Developments Lacking.

The closing date for Center Market
was hanging in the balance today as
q result Of several developments in the
Federal building program.
The Treasury Department had I'M
der consideration an appeal from Rep
resentative r. Walton Moore of Vir-
ginia, Stephen w. Cambria of Mary
land and Frank L. Bowman of West
Virginia, a member of the House Dis
trict committee, for .postponement Of
the closing date, fixed at July /, by
resolution pending In Congress.
An early answer has been requested
by the Representatives, and it was I'M
derstood that Assistant Secretary Of
the Treasury Heath, in charge of the
public building program, was planning
to reply some time today.
A resolution, introduced by Senator
Smoot, chairman Of the Public Build
ings Commission, has passed the Sem
ate, been reported out In the House,
and now is pending on the House CAL
endar to GUST all dealers from Center
Market July next.
Capper Bill Hearings End.
Meantime, hearings were completed
last Friday on the bill by Chairman
Capper of the Senate District conn
mittee, to authorize the Government to
replace Center Market elsewhere in
Washington by public funds. The Senate
District committee has not yet made q
report on the bill.
Another move to replace Center
Market by private enterprise, headed by
the Downtown Market Co.. Inc, also is
still under way, but no new develop
ments could be uncovered today.
The Government, according to present
plans, VIII put the new building for the
Department of Justice on the site Of
Center Market. Tentative plans have
been drawn, and 1t had been the plan
Of the administration to ask for ap-
preparations following the expected
passage Of the Keyes- Elliott bill au-
thorizing $115,00O 900 for construction
In the District Of Columbia.
Situation Is Complicated.
There was no indication at the Treas
ury today as to what kind of an an
swer might be forthcoming as to the
plea for postponement, but it was I'M
derstood the whole situation was con-
sidered somewhat complicated by diff
ferent factors.
Department Of Agriculture sources
indicated that appropriations for con-
tinuing Center Market had not been
obtained from Congress, but that there
was still time to present the estimates
in deficiency bill, should 1t be decided
to continue. Furthermore, it was point
ed out, Congress enacted legislation
specifically authorizing the market to
be operated here, and this organic act
was interpreted as being of sufficient
authority to cause the Department to
incur deficit If necessary, to keep the
market open.
It win require an act of Congress of
force equal to that organic act estab-
fishing the market, it was pointed out,
to close it.
In their request to the Treasury to
postpone the closing Of the market the
three members Of Congress asked what
time has been finally determined for
beginning construction of the Depart
nent Of Justice Building on the site.
Full and accurate statistics which
we have obtained" they wrote, mot
only show that the revenue which &C
crues from the operation Of the market
Is very much In excess of expenditures,
but that many hundred farmers, some
of whom were at one time accommodate
ed at the Farmers Market, are now
afforded facilities at the Center Mar
ket Of which they viii be deprived when
the market Is closed"