Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-14
District Committee Indicates
Approval of Plan to Set
Up Commission.
STREET CAR MERGER
DISCUSSION DELAYED
City Officials Move to Settle Claim
Against Surety Company Is
Referred to Group.

showed its approval of the bill spon-
sored by Representative Moore of Viz
ginia, for the appointment of a COM
mission to determine and recommend
periodically to Congress the amount OF
contribution the Federal Treasury
should pay toward the expenses Of the
District of Columbia, but at the re-
quest of Representative Tarver, Demo-
crat, Of Georgia, went into executive
session and decided to hold a hearing
on this measure next Tuesday in order
that Chairman Simmons of the sub
committee on District appropriations
or any others who have stated that they
are opposed to the legislation, might
have an opportunity of expressing their
objections.
E. w. Thomas, representing the
corporation counsels Office, explained
to the committee the bill submitted by
the District Commissioners for author
ity to settle for $1,000 a claim against
the Globe Indemnity Co., surety fol
the Commercial Coal Co., which de-
faulted on a bond in December, 1916
to the amount of $4,000. He explained
that it cost the District $4,000 to buy
its coal In the open market. The meas
ure was referred to the subcommittee
on the judiciary for further study.
Merger Hearings Continued.
Representative Reid. Republican, oi
Illinois, moved that hearings on the
street car merger measure be continued
a week from today and this was agreed
tn hy Of q -
Representative Moore explained his
bill for creation of an unsalaried COM
mission of nine to study the fiscal re-
lations and to report periodically to
Congress how the expenses of the Ma
tional Capital shall be shared. His
bill proposes that this commission be
composed of thu chairmen of the Dis
trict legislative committees in both
House and Senate. the chairmen Of the
appropriations committees of both
House and Senate. one of the District
Commissioners, the director OF the
Budget Bureau and three actual resi-
dents of the District Of Columbia OF
capacity and experience. who are will
ing to serve without compensation ano
who shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent.
Moore Reviews History.
Representative Moore reviewed thu
history of the fiscal relations between
the Federal and District government
pointing out that in 1874 the $3.50 pro
portion was determined by act of Con
gress. and that in 1921 the proportion
was changed to 60-40 in an appropria
ton bill with legislative effect, and thai
later a rigid 1ump-sum appropriation O
100000 was carried in the appropria
ton bill.
Representative Bowman. Republican
of West Virginia, emphasized that thi
iump-sum appropriation lis in violation
of a statute" Representative Moor
confirmed that opinion, and Repre-
sentative Bowman expressed a desir'
that the bill under consideration Shoult
carry a provision which would hereafte
prohibit the House appropriations com
mittee from continuing to thus violate
statute.
Representative Moore reviewed thu
lump sum item in the pending Distrfc
appropriation bill. where the House ha'
written in 100000 lump sum anC
the Senate has changed that amoun
to $12 1000 900. Mr.. Moore said that n
does not see how it will be possible TX
reconcile the difference between TIT
Senate and House and to be fair to TIT
DcODIS Oh LIle DLStIlIb NAIA1Oh0 q AoSp
finding board as provided in his bill
He is unable to see how any claim o.
unfairness can be made considering thu
proposed makeup Of the commission
of nine who would make the study.
Reid Wants More Members.
Representative Reid argued that Their
should be more members of the HOUSE
and Senate on the proposed commission
since it would be the Congress which
finally would take legislative action a!
a result of the study to be made. Mr.
Moore replied that he was not concerned
with the personnel of the commission
but to have a fair study made OF TIT
facts, with an authoritative report Il
Congress.
He declared that he has no convic'
ton of his own as to what particular
percentage of Federal contribution there
should be and that his main objective
is to get a consideration of the fact or
which to base fair and just decision
He told the committee that the citizens
associations generally are demanding
some study and that there IS no known
objection to his plan, which has peer
widely approved.
REPRESENTATIVE Bowman declared thai
the 100000 lump sum is absolutely
ridiculous" and that there is nothing
to show why the Federal contributor
should be 100000 rather than any
other amount.
He called attention to the objection
made by Chairman Simmons OF the
subcommittee on District appropria-
lions against the bill to increase the
salaries of police and flremen in the
District which has unanimous support
from the Commissioners, the Federation
of Citizens Associations and the Bust
ness organizations of Washington. He
pointed out that Mr.. Simmons had Is
sued fat that the increases IN salaries
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