Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-09
SENATE HEARINGS
ON D. c. SUPPLY BILL
OPENED TO PUBLIC
Committee to Study Methods
of Acquiring School and
Engine House Sites.
FIRST, SECOND, THIRD
CHOICES SUGGESTED
Several Days Expected to Be Con-
sumed Before Completion
of Data.

Methods followed in acquiring sites
for FIRE engine houses and schools fur.
nished the highlights at the opening
OF hearings on the District appropria.
ton bill for the next fiscal year before
the District subcommittee of the Sen.
ate Appropriations Committee today.
The hearings, presided over by Sem
ator Bingham, Republican, of Con-
necticut, probably will continue for sew.
eral days. Senator Bingham and other
subcommittee members inaugurated a
new policy in the consideration of the
Dlstrlct Dill this year by making the
hearings open instead of executive.
senator kendrick, Democrat, of wy.
oming declared that the municipal au-
thorltleS should present a first, second
and third choice instead of concen-
trating on one location when thew are
asking for neighborhood sites for Dis
trict activities,
Would Concentrate Duties.
Another suggestion, advanced by Sen
ator PhlppS, Republican, of Colorado.
was That one District official should car
ry on negotiations with property owners,
contending that negotiations cannot be
carried on successfully by two or more
officials in different departments.
The first question which arose in con.
nectlon with purchase of sites resulted
from request by the commissioners that
the Item In the House bill for q site for
fre truck house in the vicinity Of
Twelfth street and Rhode Island avenue
northeast be increased from $4,000 to
SzO,OOO. In response to questions of
committee members, the District of1cials
testlned that the price being asked for
tne ste the nre chief has in mind is
approximately $4,000 and that the as
seSsed value is approximately $4,000.
committee members commented on
the difference between the assessed val
ue and the proposed appropriation of
SZO,OOO. Later, however, Commissioner
Crosby explained that the site the Fire
department has in mind, between -Four.
tenth and Fifteenth streets. on Rhode
Island avenue northeast, is part of a
large tract, and that the assessment
was made considering the tract as q.
whole, whereas the District proposed to
take Tor the FIRE station only part Of
which would have a commercial value
to the owners in the subdividing of the
tract. Some of the committee members
said that appeared to be reasonable
explanation.
School Site Is Questioned.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota, raised question regarding the
ACCESSIBILITY of the proposal for a new
school site in the vicinity of Thirty
ninth and FeSSenden streets, which, he
said, would be only 1900 feet away
from the Ben Murch School develop
ment. The Senator asked the SUBJ
committee to visit this locality before
reporting the bill.
The Commissioners had only a few
changes to suggest in the bill as it
passed the House last week, carrying a
total OF $45 .600,0 900, exclusive of trusts
and special fund. Commissioners
Reichelderfer. Crosby and Gotwals asked
the Senate Committee to make the fol-
lowing items, which are already in the
House bill, Immediately available in
stead of on July l.:
For the widening and repaving of B
street from Fourteenth street to Vir-
ginia avenue, S101, 100; for completing
the new klingle Bridge on Connecticut
avenue, $250,000; for rearranging cleo
trical conduits in connection with the
public building program in the triangle,
SIC, 600; for changing the telephones in
police patrol boxes to connect them
with other precincts when the first pre-
cinct in the triangle area is abandoned,
1925. and for drawing plans immedi-
ately for new cottages at the Industrial
Home School for Colored, $1,000.
School Testimony Tomorrow.
Chairman Bingham announced that
the committee would hear school off,
Gals and representatives of the Once
Of Public Buildings and Public Parks
tomorrow morning.
On Wednesday morning the Subcom-
nittee will make tour of inspection of
proposed sites to be acquired and street
improvements. Commissioner Reichel-
1erfer opened the hearing by explain
ng that the bill is predicated on con-
,lnuing the present tax rate for next
year and also continuing for another
year the Federal contribution of So
100000. Senator Bingham announced
several days ago that he favored allow.
ng the $9,500,000 Federal contribution
20 remain unchanged for the coming
year, in view of the fact that the MapeS
committee in the House has not yet
completed its study of fiscal relations.
In response to question by Senator
Bingham as to what steps have been
AIKEN regarding sale of the present Dis.
riot Building to the Federal Govern
nent for inclusion in the triangle de-
elopment, Commissioner Richelderfer
aid letter has been written to the
Secretary of the Treasury, asking him
o take under consideration a cash al.
owance for the District Building, with
he understanding that the District will
ontinue to occupy it until the Municiple
;enter development enables the city
oyernment to move.
Subdivisions Are Criticized.
In the course of the hearing, Senator
ling, Democrat. of Utah, criticized the
manner in which some new subdivisions
ave been laid out on the outskirts of
suggesting that those who
re subdividing new areas should make
revision for park and playground
PAGES.
Senator Copeland, Democrat, of New
FORK, asked DR.. George S. Wilson. di-
ector of public welfare, if ne could
ubmit an estimate of the cost of the
roposed building for adult tuberculosis
atients on the same site recently
cquired at Randall Station, Md, for q
h1ldrens' tuberculosis Sanitorium.
Mr.. Wilson pointed out that the
for the adult institution
as not yet become law and suggested
hat the estimate for beginning the
reject go over until next year.