Evening star., 1933-06-09
D. c. SUPPLY BILL
GOES STOPRES|DENT
/ FOR SIGNING TODAY
Measure With DrasticaIIy Cut
Federal Share Completed
by Congress.
TOTAL TO BE EXPENDED
FAR BELOW 1888 FIGURE
Budget Director Given Special
Powers in Supervising Use
of Some Funds.

The 1894 District appropriation bill,
with total expenditures limited to $33,-
900, 900 and with the Federal share re-
duced to s5,7Oo,00O, was to go to the
White House today to be signed. Con-
gress put the finishing touches to the
measure last night when the Senate ap-
proved the conference report which the
House had adopted earlier in the day.
The regular, definite appropriations
in the bill amount to 30,375, 900. In
addition, the measure permits use of
surplus money in the gas tax and water
funds, If the budget director approves
such expenditures. The bill also makes
available unexpended balances of old
appropriations. These several items ag-
gregate approximately s3,000,000.
Even with these expenditures, how
ever, the total that may be spent under
the 1894 bill is far below the year now
drawing to close, in which appropria-
tions totaled $42, ,947, of which the
Federal share was $7,775,000.
Copeland Hits U. S. Contribution.
Just before the Senate adopted the
conference report on the local supply
bill, Senator Copeland, Democrat, OF
New York, expressed regret over the
diminishing size of the Federal contri-
button, declaring the District is not
getting fair deal from the Federal
Government.
Senator Copeland, who is member
of both the Senate District Committee
and the Appropriations Subcommittee,
also deplored the fact that the Senate
had to yield to the House In requiring
the District to pay back another $1,000
900 to the United States next year
toward money spent on the Cramton
park program. He pointed out that the
original law contemplated $4,000, 900
DEVELOPMENT, which the District would
reimburse the United States for at the
rate of one-sixteenth annually, but that
only small part Of the $16,000,000
has been advanced.
Referring to the new Federal con-
tribution Of s5,7o0,000 for next year,
Senator Copeland said:
Then, too, the lump sum appropria-
ton has been materially reduced under
ELl8L Ol 1dcb yCd1, WAASkA WoS ASoc sAA~~NA
that of the year before. ] am frank
to say that in my opinion the District
) of Columbia is not having fair deal
from the Federal Government real
ize how useless it is to protest at this
time and I know how nobly our con-
ferees have labored. also realize the
embarrassment under which they have
labored, because I have served upon
similar conference committee. can
see nothing for us to do except TO ac-
cept the report and to agree to the
amendments Of the House to the Sen
ate amendments, but I do feel that
voice ought to be raised at Least. In
protest against the abuse OF the Dis
trict.'
Special Power Given.
In adopting the conference report yes.
terday, the House and Senate approved
the action of the conferees in placing
In the hands of the Federal budget di-
rector special authority to supervise the
carrying out of several important sec
tionS of the bill.
He is empowered to pass upon the
construction projects TO De perlornaedd d
out of the $1,500,000 gas surplus ana
the $685., 900 water fund surplus: he
also was designated as the official to
approve transfer of funds from one
siibhead to another within certain
municipal departments Authority 10
make such transfers was put In the
bill at the instance Of the Senate 10
prevent hardships and difficulties that
would have occurred in trying to keep
essential activities going under the re-
duced operating expenses in the Dill.
Such transfers, when specifically ap-
proved by the budget director, may
4. ~, ho r1Iyhlic library system.
the public schools, Fairgrounds, Health
Department and public welfare services.
Projects Provided for.
Two projects are definitely provided
for out of the 81 100000 gas tax sur
plus. One is new Calvert Street
Bridge over Rock Greek; the other is
the widening and paving OF Constltu-
ton avenue from North Capitol to Sec
ond streets It is provided that s575. 600
OF this gas tax money shall be avail
able to begin construction Of the bridge,
but there is a further proviso that the
proiect shall not be started until the
Commissioners and the Fine Arts Com
mission have made a restudy OF differ
ent types of bridge.
By making available $570,000 OF un-
expended balances of Municipal Center
money, the bill provides for two school
buudlngS. vi LillS dInouu1 of'o'VoU ,S
to start the new Woodrow Wilson High
school. at Forty-first and Chesapeake
streets northwest, and the rest for ar
eight-room building in the vicinity Of
the Logan School.
Agree without Debate.
Senator Thomas, Democrat. OF Okla
homa, chairman of the Senate Subcom.
mittee on District Appropriations, called
ND the conference report last night and
1t was agreed to without debate.
The next important question is wha'
the Commissioners do regarding tht
real estate and tangible personal ia,
rate for next year. They are awaiting
q report from Auditor Donovan on thu
finances of the municipal government
before deciding this question. In re-
porting the bill two months ago, thu
House committee predicted the tax rate
could be reduced from $l.70 to $1.5t