Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-20
BINGHAM DEFENDS
| HIGHER LUMP SUM
VOTED BY SENATE
Challenges Simmons View
Measure Would Not Give
Taxpayers Relief.
CITES LARGE PROJECTS
PLANNED FOR DISTRICT
First Meeting Of Confesees Is
Expected to Take Place
Within Few Days.

Defending the District appropriation
bill as it passed the Senate, with the
Federal share placed at $12,000,000 in
stead of 100000, Senator Bingham,
Republican, of Connecticut, expressed
surprise today over the argument ad-
vanced in the House yesterday by Rep
resentative Simmons, Republican, Of
Nebraska, to the effect that the Senate
measure would give no relief to the tax
payers.
When the question of appointing con-
ferees came up in the House yesterday
afternoon Representative Simmons
pointed out. in answer TO one OF his coll
leagues. that the Senate had accepted
the House provision that taxes shall
not be reduced in the District during
the next fiscal year. Commenting on
this, Mr.. Simmons added, 80 that the
proposal of the Senate to increase the
Federal contribution from $9,000,0 900 to
$l2,0O0,O00 will not reduce the tax.
payers bill next year. That ID out OF
the question"
"I was rather surprised to read Mr..
Simmons remarks that the Senate Dill
would not give relief to the taxpayers,
Senator Bingham observed today. u
have understood from his previous re-
marks that the taxpayers were faced
with an increase in taxes in the near
future"
Large Projects Cited.
Senator Bingham called attention to
several large improvement projects being
planned for the District. including the
municipal center, the park development
program, an airport, the police and fire.
mems salary increase, the need Tor larg-
err school building expenditures and the
building Of bridges to eliminate railroad
grade crossings.
The Connecticut Senator said the mtl-
nicipal center plans will call for is or
20 millions, and that an airport will
call for a substantial outlay whether 1t
goes where the Chamber of Commerce
wants 1t or where the Board Of Trade
wants It,"
1--WE are still short on schools" sena-
tor Bingham continued. There are
about 1000 children on part-time or In
portables."
Taking the situation as whole, SEN
ator Bingham said: II am rather sur
prised that it is emphasized that there
Is no relief for the taxpayers" under
the Senate bill.
"As a matter of fact" the Senator
continued. sit would give relief to the
taxpayers by enabling them to have
these necessary improvements without
an increased tax rate"
Those who were named to serve with
Mr.. Simmons as the House conferees
are: Representatives Holiday of ILL.,
nois, Thatcher of Kentucky, Cannon
of Missouri and Collins Of Mississippi.
Early Meeting Expected.
In addition to Senator Bingham, the
Senate conferees are: Senators Phipps
Of Colorado, Capper of Kansas, Glass
of Virginia and Kendrick of Wyoming.
No date has been fixed for the FIRST
meeting of the conferees. but it is ex-
pected to take place within few days.
The question of the Federal contribu-
ton is expected to be the outstanding
issue in conference. There are many
other important items to be ironed out
including the rates to be charged for
water service and the amount to be
expended next year for going ahead
with the Municipal Center.
When Chairman Simmons made the
motion in the House to appoint con-
ferees, Minority Leader Garner insisted
that IS per cent of the membership on
the Democratic side Is opposed to the
Senate amendment for increasing the
Federal contribution of $9,000,000 and
asked that before the conferees con-
coded on this amendment they should
come back for vote In the House.
Thinks Group Backs Garner.
Representative Simmons said that he
believed Mr.. Garner understands his
own views, which I think are shared
by the members of the subcommittee
who will probably be named as con-
ferees."
Representative Crisp, Democrat, of
Georgia, then engaged in the debate,
asking: Can the gentleman state what
per cent of the taxable property IN the
District of Columbia Is owned by the
United States Governemnt?"
Representative Simmons replied, IF
the Government were paying taxes on
the Federal property in the District OF
Columbia, It would be somewhere be-
tween 100000 and 100000 at the
current tax rate"