Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-03
DEFICIENCY BILL
CONSIDERED AGAIN
Senate and House Approve
$2,7O0,OO0 Item to Com
pIete Mt. Vernon Boulevard.

With the $2,70O,O00 item for compile
ton of the Mount Vernon Boulevard
definitely approved by both House and
Senate. the, second deficiency appropria-
ton bill goes back to conference this
afternoon with 10 provisions still in
controversy, following House action on
conference report late yesterday.
The bill carries an item of $34, 800
for setting up in the District govern
ment a new department of vehicles
and traffic to- take the place of the old
Traffic Bureau. That particular item
has been approved by both houses, as
have also several other items in which
Washington is particularly interested,
among which are:
For eliminating fire hazards at the
Senate end of the Capitol, 100000;
for expenses of the local George Wash
ington Bicentennial Commiss on, $780,
900; for two experimental radio sta
lions for the Bureau Of Standards,
SAT, 900.
The increase Of the Mount Vernon
Boulevard appropriation from $780,
900, which has already been extended
to $7,200,000 with a proviSo that this
must meet all costs of completing the
highway, and in which House amend
voked heated discussion in the House
and opened the way for vigorous ex-
preston of views by half dozen men,
bers on the veterans disqualification
bill.
Treadway Made Protest.
Representative Treadway of Massachu-
sets first protested against further ap-
preparations, since the Bureau Of Public
Roads has exceeded the amount allot-
ted for construction Of the highway.
He protested against spending $780,
900 to build most elaborate highway
in honor of George washington which
leads to a turnstile at privately owned
property, where admission charges will
be made" He declared that in the next
Congress he will press vigorously the
bill which provides for Government
ownership of Mount Vernon.
IF I have any knowledge of the
patriotic fervor of the American peo-
ple," he said, "I think that they will
not deSecrate Mount Vernon as we are
told they viii II it Is thrown open TO
the public"
Representative Byrns Of Tennessee
declared that the cost at $426,000
mile for the boulevard is outrageous"
but he outlined how this money had
been spent. He emphasized, however,
that the purchases of land include
Gravelly Point, which Is to be developed
for a municipal airport and near which
the Department of Commerce is locating
its radio beacon. Mr.. Byrns asked by
what right the Bureau of Public Roads
is developing a municipal airport out
of money appropriated for boulevard
in honor of George washington. He
said that the municipal airport should
be provided by the City of Washington,
as are municipal airportS in other cities
throughout the country.
Holds Completion Necessary.
In conclusion, however, Mr.. Byrns
said: 1T do not see anything for Con-
gress to do but continue the Job and
complete this road. If we, fail to make
the appropriation, we simply lose the
$4,500,000 already spent. No matter
what we think of the extravaganza of
those In charge, I believe it would be
very unwise not to adopt this amend
ment."
At this point Representative Hola-
time he Is opposed to this expenditure
when the ex-service men of the coun-
try are being told that Congress can
not supply them with needed hospital
facilities. Representative Cramton, Re-
publican of Michigan, emphasized that
one proposition does not depend on the
other, but they are definitely distinct,
and that II this appropriation is not
made it will not mean that more hos
pitfalls are built, and if 1t is made it will
not mean that fewer hospitals will be
provided.
The debate on the disqualification
legislation continued for some time,
among the speakers being Representa-
tice Schafer, Republican, of Wisconsin;
Connery, Democrat, of Massachusetts,;
Rogers, Republican, OF Massachusetts,;
Chairman johnson of the World War
Veterans Committee and Representa-
tive Rankin of Mississippi, the ranking
Democratic member.