Evening star., 1933-05-04
SENATE'S CHANGES
IN DISTRICT BILL
STUDIED BY HOUSE
Buchanan Delays Naming oil
Conferees Pending Arrival
of BIanton.
cUrs IN APPROPRIATIONS
EAsED BY AMENDMENTS
Four Schools and Calvert Bridge
Included in Program for ..
Next Year.

The House probably will send the
Aenate's revised 1884 District appropri-
alton bill to conference before the end
of the week, 1t was announced today
by Chairman Buchanan Of the Ap-
preparations Committee.
The Senate has asked for confer
ence and the House is expected to agree,
Mr. Buchanan said, because It is op-
posed to certain of the Senate amend
ments.
Appointment Of the House conferees.
according to Mr.. Buchanan, will be de-
layed until the return Of Representa-
i've Blanton, who is en- route to Wash
ington from his home in Texas. Mr..
Buchanan said he planned to name
Blanton as one of the five House con-
ferees because of his familiarity with
the District supply bill.
Amendments Ease Cuts,
The bill was passed late yesterday by
the Senate in record time, with amend
the deep cuts, made below current ap-
propriationS.
The Senate named its conferees, as
follows: Senators Thomas, De Nocrat, of
Oklahoma; Glass, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia: King, Democrat, of Utah; Nye,
Republican, Of North Dakota, and
Keyes, Republican, of New Hampshire.
Among the more important Senate
changes are the following: An increase
, in the Federal contribution from $5,-
TOO, 900 in the House bill to $6,250 900,
action to relieve the District from pay
; ing back to the United States next year
money spent on park development under
the Capper- -Cramton law, an increase
in the fund for emergency relief Of
families in distress from $l,250,000 to
81 500 900, authority to use 1916 900 Of
unexpended balances Of prior appropri-
ations for four school building projects
and authority to start construction of
Q new Calvert street bridge.
Total Put at S32, 100000.
The various changes voted in the bill
by the Senate Appropriations Commit
tee made the total carried as appropri-
ations s2s, ,5S5,so5. At several points in
the bill, however, the Senate made
available unexpended balances of prior
appropriations. These unexpended bal
ances of $l,005, 900, together with ST.
SOC, 600 OF surplus gas tax revenues and
$685., 900 of surplus Water Department
revenues which may be spent, make q
total Of about $32, 100000 which may be
spent during the coming year.
The local supply measure was before
the Senate only 20 minutes and was
changed in only two respects from the
form in which the committee re-
ported 1t.
One unexpected development was the
cutting out of $4,000 for installation
Of new traffic lights, after Senator
Couzens, Republican, OF Michigan,
~ Dn%r
American cities have gone completely
crazy in putting in these electric light
signals" The Michigan Senator
argued that motorists are being taught
to rely on signs instead Of their brains"
and he took the view Washington has
too many traffic lights.
School Clause Changed
Senator Bratton, Democrat, Of New
Mexico, obtained a change in COM
mittee amendment relating to the ap-
pointment of temporary teachers in the
school system. The committee recon-
mended the authorities be allowed to
appoint temporary teachers next year.
notwithstanding the existence of an
eligible list established by examination.
Senator Bratton had this changed to
require the appointment Of temporary
teachers from the eligible list.
The Senate approved, without debate,
the Thomas amendment to allow the
Commissioners to transfer funds from
one subhead to another within certain
departments In order to overcome din-
culties resulting from the sharp re-
ductions made In maintenance FUNDS
below the current law. Such transfers
could be made in the free Pubic Ii
brary system, Fairgrounds, schools lex
cept building items), bealth and public
welfare.
Another amendment was approved,
on recommendation of the committee, 10 10
give the new Commissioners who VIII
soon be appointed a slightly higher en-
trance salary than they would have re-
ceived under the classification law. Un.
der that law the new city heads would
have entered at $4,000, the bottom step
of their grade. The Is per cent pay
cut would have brought their pay down
to $500. The Senate amendment hxes
their basic salary at $4,000, to which
the IS per cent cut would be applied,
giving them $3.50.
Salaries Held Inequitable.
In bringing this proposed amendment
10 the attention to the Senate Com
mittee, District Budget Omcer Donovan
pointed out If the new Commissioners
are required to enter at the basic salary
of $1,000, with is per cent cut -ap-
piled to that figure, some Of the subor-
dinate officials would then be receiving
larger salaries than the city heads.
One Senate amendment restores $4,000
Of the amount which had been cut from
the fund for personal services in the
public library system. Thls Is snenViy
less than half the amount that had
been taken from this item. This in
crease, together with the general au-
thority to transfer funds from one
library item to another. will aid Off
cials in meeting the problem arising
from the budget cut in the item for pay
ment Of salaries.
Although the Senate added $500 900 to
the Federal contribution, this still leaves
Uncle Sans share less than the current
law, in which it was placed at ST.
775,000.
The action Of the Senate in relieving
the District from paying another ST.
100000 to the Federal Government
under the park development law next
year Is q recognition of the contention
that the District has been paying back
this money more rapidly than it should
in view of the fact that only $3,500, ,000
has been spent by the United States
on the program within the District
whereas the 81 ,000, ,000-a-year rate of re-
endorsement anticipated total ad-
vance Of 100000 900. Because Of eco
nomic conditions, Congress has dis
continued further Federal advances
toward the program, and the Senate's
action merely applies similar mora
torium to, the District on reimburse
ments.
Four Schools Included.
The House bill did not contain any
school building projects. The Senate
by making available $876,000, left un'
expended from Municipal Center ap
preparations In prior years. was able