Evening star., 1933-05-04
The District Bill.

There are fewer and less important
dtHerences between the Senate and
House In this years District appropria-
taou bill than there have been for many
years. Generally speaking, the Senate
Committees consideration Of the bill
this year was guided by the primary
thought of maintaining the strict econ
ony represented in the Budget Bureau
and House recommendations. But the
Senate Committee, having the benent
Of careful analysis by municipal Off
eials and local citizens Of the direct
results in some municipal agencies OF
the heavy reductions ordered by the
Budget Bureau and the House. sought
changes that would modify obviously
undesirable effects. The Senate yes
terday approved the work OF its COM
unittee in record time. 1t is believed
tl,at the House and Senate differences
can and will be reconciled without un-
doing the remedial work represented In
Senate changes.
There have been no demands from
local citizens or from the municipal
of,cials who testified before the Sen
ate committee that there be radical
changes in the bill largely to increase
total appropriations or to upset the
Presidents economy program IN any
decree. In those cases where larger
actual outlays for municipal improve
pnent and construction have been rec
commended by the Senate the local tax
money to finance the projects Is avail
able, without any increased drain on
the Federal Treasury. If this money
ID not appropriated 1t will merely lie
Idle and earmarked in the Treasury,
denying men the opportunity to work
and indefinitely delaying necessary
local undertakings. In those cases
where the Senate has inserted legis-
lative amendments In the bill the pur-
pose has not been to increase expenses,
but merely to permit q greater lati-
tude to local oficial in trying to make
their limited funds cover the greatest
amount Of territory.
The increase recommended by the
Senate in the Federal contribution
fails by q quarter Of million dollars
TO increase the sum even to the level
recommended and approved by the
House last Winter. The lump sum has
not only been drasticaIly reduced be-
low previous totals. but Is still reduced
below previous House recommended
tons.
The Senate recommendation that the
District be allowed to postpone next
years milnon-dollar repayment Of
park and playground purchase ad-
vances merely extends to local tax
payers the same privilege that the
National Government has already as
sumed in its own behalf. 1t recognizes
that economy demands have halted the
program Of park and playground de-
velopment for the time being, and that
money ordinarily available for such
development must now be diverted to
other and more pressing uses.
The District bill Is still an emergency
bill, framed to meet existing extraor-
dinary conditions and setting no prece-
dents. It Is to be hoped that the House
conferees will approach its considera-
ton with the idea Of making the strict
retrenchment program represented in
the bills provisions not only as easy
u possible for local taxpayers to bear,
but in shape to inflict a minimum Of
injury upon the city's vital municipal
functions and upon the Capitals ade-
quate maintenance and essential de-
velopment.