Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-06
HOUSE PASSES D. c.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Nearly $45, 900, 900 in Meas
ure, Including Item for
Municipal Center.

The House today completed consider
alton of and passed the District appro-
priation bill for the fiscal year begin
ming July /, next, which totals approx
imately $45 $780, 900. There were no
important changes in the items in the
gill during consideration by the House.
The largest item in the measure,
which now goes to the Senate, was
$13,518,000 for public schools.
Representative Simmons, Republican,
of Nebraska, in charge Of the measure
sang his swan song as chairman of the
subcommittee drafting the District bill
He said that it was his sixth and
probably his last District appropriation
bill; that he believed it was the best
bill that has been passed during his
connection with the Appropriation
Committee, and that it had come to his
committee in the best form from the
District Commissioners and the Budget
Bureau.
In conclusion" Representative Sim
mons said that to-day District affairs
are greatly improved over the condition
in years that have passed"
Schools IN the District are in better
condition than ever before, due to the
services of Chairman Simmons, Repre-
sentative Holiday of Illinois, who is tc
succeed him as chairman, declared in
the House today.
Sees Extravaganza Ended.
He said he spoke the appreciation not
only Of himself but of the entire SUBJ
committee in saying that under the
Craftsmanship Of Mr.. Simmons during
the past four years 1--WE have ended
maladministration and extravaganza in
the school system" Representative
Holiday said that because of Mr.. Sim
mons study and application to the
finances Of the District that he is better
acquainted with the financial and bust
ness affairs of the District than any
other member of Congress Friend
and foe alike will say that the District
Is better by reason of his services" con-
cluded Mr.. Holiday.
The bill calls for an appropriation OF
81 100000 TO be made Immediately
available for work on the new $22. 900,
600 Municipal Center, between Third
and Sixth street north of Pennsylvania
avenue. The project is expected to be
completed within five years.
Replying to a series of questions by
Representative Stafford of Wisconsin
regarding the Municipal Center, Rep
reSentative Simmons, in charge of the
bill, stated that "for the last two years
$3,000,000 a year has been carried
toward purchase of the land It is
hoped that by the end of next fiscal
year the larger part of the ground
will be purchased. They have now
SO per cent of the ground purchased
in the four blocks. We have appro-
priated $4,000 900 out of the total cost
that is understood will come less than
$1,000, 900.
"At no time in the next five years
should that amount exceed 81, 500, 900 per
year. AS a Set-off against that there
will be the conversion cost credited to
the District for the present Municipal
Building, which is estimated at some
thing between $4,000, 900 and $4,000, 900,
so that the cost of the municipal cen
ter hereafter each year should be less
than 1t has been during the past two
years."
Loading Platforms Cost.
The House defeated an amendment
offered by Representative Stafford, Re-
publican, of Wisconsin to saddle on the
people the cost of installing and main
tanning loading platforms for the street
railway companies. The bill carries a
provision which forbidS the expendi-
ture of any of the taxpayers money for
construction of such platforms.
The situation was explained by Rep
resentative Simmons, as follows:
Il think it is common knowledge in
Washington that the street-car systems
are not overly burdened with excessive
operating costs. They have recently
had an increase in rates. Naturally
every public utility desires to transfer
every cost it can to the public. But our
opinion is that when the public pays
for transportation it pays for the IA
cilitieS necessary to that transportation,
including the loading platforms. You
might as well argue that the public
ought to build railroad stations for the
use of the public in going to and from
the steam trains as to require the pub
lie to furnish the companies with load
ing platforms.
Obligation of Companies.
1.-The proviso does not deny loading
platforms for the safety of the people.
The company can build the loading
platforms, and they can operate and
maintain them"
Representative Cannon, Democrat, Of
Missouri, paid tribute late yesterday to
the services rendered by Chairman
Simmons of the subcommittee in charge
OF the District appropriation bill, who
is relinquishing the Craftsmanship at the
rI0ca Of the YreSant session