Evening star., 1933-06-16
FUND CUT AND BEER
HEAD LOCAL LAWS|
Tax Rate Slash Authorized.
Alley and Gas Merger
Bills Sidetracked.

tions for the coming fiscal year, carry
ing authority for reduced tax rate
and a measure legalizing the sale of
80 beer and wines, were the principal
legislative enactments for the National
session of the new Congress which
ended early this morning.
The two major local bills left un-
finished were the Capper-Norton alley
improvement proposal, which passed
the Senate, but was held up in the
House committee, and the measure to
authorize merger of the Washington
and Georgetown Gas Light companies,
which failed to get through either
branch after being reported from both
Senate and House committees.
The local appropriation act was signed
by the President today, carrying total
In definite appropriations of approx
mately $30,375, 900 and with the Fed
eral contribution slashed from the cur
rent figure of S7,775, 900 to SIS, TOO 000
In addition to the above total the bill
contains authority for other expendi-
lures amounting to about $2,7O0,00O to
be taken from surplus gas tax and
water revenues of the city plus some
unexpended balances of old appropri-
ations. This total is made up Of ST.
100000 from the gas tax, $685., 900 from
the water fund, $4,000 of an unex-
pended Municipal Center balance and
$4,000 of an uneXpended work house
appropriation. AS to the S2,135, 900 of
gas tax and water money, however au-
thority to make expenditures for con-
struction work will have to be obtained
from the director of the budget before
these funds can be used. The Munci-
? pal Center money is definitely available
Tor school building construction and the
work house balance will be spent at
the work house and reformatory.
Included In Highway Aid.
Although the total Of the District bill
and the Federal share were cut deeply
below the current year, Congress in the
closing days of the session took steps
which will offset somewhat the effect Of
these reductions by placing the District
on a parity with the States in the FED
eral highway program to be carried on
as part of the industrial recovery
scheme. The recovery act authorizes
the use of 100000 900 on the highways
OF the Nation and while quotas re-
main to be worked out, it has been un-
officially estimated that about S2,0O0,-
600 will be spent in the District. The
same law includes Washington along
with the rest of the country in the sec
tion providing for partial grants and
loans for other types of public works,
but the extent to which this may ap-
ply locally has not been determined
i The recovery act also authorizes the ad-
miniStrator of public works to make
available the $1,000, 900 needed to 90
ahead with the Federal project for a
Library of Congress annex for which a
site has been acquired just east Of the
present building. Still another section
of this law opens the way for complet-
ing an approach to the Arlington Me-
mortal Bridge to the Lee Highway by
allowing the Federal Government to
make available strip of the Fort Myer
reservation needed for the purpose.
The session just closed also recog-
niged the justice Of giving the District
the same treatment as the States In
FEDERAL emergency relief Of unemploy-
mant. This measure provides for quar-
terry distribution of funds equivalent
to one-third of the amount spent locally
during the preceding three months. Half
OF the s50o,ooo,ooo National Relief
Fund is to be expended on this basis.
The balance of the fund would be al
1ctted by the relief administrator on
the basis Of urgent need, where he finds
that the combined funds from all
sources are still inadequate.
Rent Probe to Continue.
The Senate and House District Com
mittees both took steps during this ses-
sion to launch inquiries or various
subjects. The House Committee sought
comprehensive study of fiscal rela-
tions, rents, real estate problems, evic-
tions. and related subjects. A subcom
nlittee was appointed with Representa-
tive Palrnisano of Maryland as chair.
b,,f tot 10
for paying the expenses OF these men,
bers during the time they might be at
work on the investigation during the
recess of Congress. Chairman Pal
misano does not expect TO get far with
the studies without some funds The
Senate passed two resolutions. One
directed the District Committee to in
vestigate prices of milk and other
dairy products, which is going forward
under a subcommittee composed Of
Senators Austin, Vermont; King, Utah,
and Copeland, New York The other
requested the Public Utilities Commis-
sion TO continue during the recess a
study Of rental and housing problems
and to report in January. An effort
10 provide the commission with $2500
for this purpose in the last deficiency
bill failed.
Chairman King of the District Com
AlAbecC Atd0 a 4CoOluClO14 ANOPtCo Wy lllC
committee under which District Auditor
Donovan and Assistant Corporation
Counsel Roberts have been put to work
studying the various branches of the
District government to provide the COM
E1ittee in January with information re-
lating 70 possible reorganization and
economies in the municipal administra-
ton
More than two score Of local bills on
variety of subjects were introduced in
both the House and Senate, but since
the session was one dealing with emer-
gency legislation for national recovery
only, all these local measures were side
tracked until the next regular session.
The 1884 appropriation act provides
for beginning the new Woodrow Wilson
High School at Forty-first and Chesa-
peake streets, and an eight-room build
ing in the vicinity Of the Logan School
1t also makes possible the building Of
the new Calvert Street Bridge out of the
gas tax surplus. but requires the Com
nissioners to restuoy various types Of
bridges before the project can be started
The appropriation act removed the
restriction which has been imposed on
the Commissioners for several years to
prevent them from changing the tax
rate and under this authority the city
heads have Just announced a reduction
In the rate for the coming year from
$40 10 $l.50 per 500 Of aS5essc5 'ue