Evening star., 1934-04-19
PARKS BODY ASKS
CHANGE IMP. WA.
BILL FOR DISTRICT
Votes for DeIetion of Land
Clause as Congress
Speeds Measure.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
STUDY JOINT SESSION
King and Mrs. Norton Both Favor
Rushing $2O,Ooo,oo0
Aid Grant.

While congressional leaders sought
to speed action on the $4,000, 900 Dis
trict public works bill by arranging a
Joint meeting by the Senate and
House District Committees. the Ma
tional Park and Planning Commission
today voted to urge that all park pur-
chasing provisions be eliminated from
the legislation and that such purchas-
ing proceed under the existent Cap
per-Cramton act.
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee, an ex-of1cio member,
voted with the commission on this ac-
ton
AS introduced in the House and
Senate yesterday the bill would have
vested in the District Commissioners
discretionary power to allot $4,000, 900,
or any part of that sum. to the Park
Commission out of the $40 1000, 900 for
resumption of land purchasing for
parks, Fairgrounds and recreation
centerS here.
Conference Today.
Senator King and Chairman Norton
to confer during the afternoon to de-
termine whether the joint committee
meeting can be arranged to expedite
the legislation.
With both chairmen known to be
favorably disposed toward this plan,
this course appeared likely.
Since Congress is preparing to ad-
journ, if possible. by May Is, Mrs.
Norton stressed the fact that haste
must be made. She will poll members
of the House committee Immediately
to see if they agree with her concern
ing joint meeting
Mrs. Norton said she hopes any
hearings can be kept very short and
that she expects consideration of the
bill can be started the first of the
week.
The public works bill seeks to
authorize the District government to
obtain funds from the P. w. A. on
the same terms applying to other
cities-namely 80 per cent as en- out
right grant and 10 per cent to be re-
paid over period Of years.
Authority Is Needed.
This bill is necessary because the
District cannot borrow money with
out specific authority by Congress.
The construction planned under the
bin includes a first unit for the
municipal center. new adult tuber-
culosis hospital modern sewage dis
posal plant, a large addition to
Gallinger Hospital and school build
ings
Senator King said he would pro-
pose amendments to delete the parks
provision from the bill at the joint
committee meeting If his plans 60
through.
The Parks Commission also voted
today to indorse the District public
works program
Upon convening today the commits
sion went over the measures as intro
duced yesterday and also discussed
the statement of Secretary Ickes that
he saw no reason why the Capper-
Cramton funds should be hamstrung
Dy linking this up with a District
public works program. Senator King
then voted with other members of
the commission to eliminate all ref
erence to hte Capper Cramton act
in sections and of the measure
introduced yesterday.
The commission took the stand that
the Districts public works projects
can stand on their own feet, ire
spective of any land purchasing for
parks here; that the District govern
ment should obtain authorization from
Congress to borrow money and then
go to the Public Works Administra-
ton and secure it.
Interference Opposed.
The commission felt there was no
need to drag in the Capper -Cramton
act at all, and vigorously opposed any
interference with it. 1t appointed its
legislative committee, comprising the
chairman, Frederic A. Delano, and its
executive officer, Arno B. Cammerer,
director of the National Park Service,
Interior Department, to appear with
Thomas S. Settle, commission secre-
tary; John Nolen, jr, director Of plan
ming. before congressional committees
to urge action along the lines adopted
today. Although Mrs. Norton is also
an ex officio member of the commits
sion, she was not present at today's
session
Thus far the commission has ex-
pended about $5,000,000. out of the
$16,000,000 authorized under the Cap
per-Cramton act, but no new money
has been appropriated recently. The
commission, by today's action, shows
itself anxious to start spending i'm
mediately part Of the balance Of SILL
0000 authorized.
At the suggestion of Maj. John c.
Gotwals, Engineer Commissioner of
the District, a member of the COM
mission, a committee was appointed
to go over modified plans for the
Municipal Center. This will consist of
the major, Mr.. Delano, Mr.. Noien,