Evening star., 1934-04-22
D. c. SUPPLY BILL
VIEWS TOBE GIVEN
Senate Subcommittee Will
Hear Officials and Civic
Leaders.

The Senate Subcommittee on Dis
trict Appropriations will begin early
this week, probably Tuesday, hearing
the views of District officials and
spokesmen for local organizations as
to changes they believe should be
made In the 1885 supply bill, which
came from the House carrying a total
less than the Budget Bureau allowed,
and with the Federal share slashed
from SIS, 100000 to $4,364 ,295.
Senator Thomas. Democrat, of Ok
last night he hoped to begin work on
the bill Tuesday, and that the Com
missioners would be the first wit
nesses. He has invited them to sub
NIT any recommendations they may
have for amendments after studying
the House provisions. While a def
mite time has not been set, Senator
Thomas hopes to start the hearings
Tuesday.
Predictions Avoided.
OiClA tAlC LCdiIllso dlC IClU, SIldI
man Thomas and other subcommittee
members are avoiding predictions as
TO what the subcommittee may rec
ommend. Chairman Thomas also will
refrain from expressing his personal
views OH how the total should be ap-
portioned between the Federal and
District governments for next year,
and other essential features OF the
measure.
There are strong indications. how
ever, that the Senate will place the
Federal share at more equitable fig
ure and restore some of the estimates
left out in the House. Some of the
Senate subcommittee members began
yesterday studying the House bill in
dividually in preparation for the hear
ings.
Several members are known to be
giving particular study to the school
section OF the bill to see if educational
requirements are properly provided
for.
Difficult Fiscal Question.
Ever since the House began 10 years
ago the practice of substituting an
arbitrary lump sum as the Federal
share, in place Of the 60-40 ratio
called for by substantive law, the two
branches of Congress have faced a
struggle almost every year to agree
on the size Of the lump sum. with
the Senate striving to keep the Fed
eral contribution at a more equitable
level. And, for the past few years
the House has proposed making it
lower and lower
This year the House Appropriations
Committee recommended a continual
ton Of the $5,700.000 figure in the
current appropriation act. but on the
floor of the House this was cut TO
S4364.29
The Budget Bureau in January had
District down to S33 asa, 843. which.
on the present tax rate would have
left the District with approximately
$4,000 900 Of unobligated revenue at
the end of next year. The House
Committee decided to recommend that
the tax rate be reduced instead of al
lowing for additional expenditures.
But, after the proposed change in the
tax rate had been ruled out on a
point Of order in the House, more
than Sl,300,0 900 was taken off of the
Federal contribution This meant
placing a greater part of the total
called for in the bill on District tax
payers.
S5.70O,O00 Possible Low.
There is every reason to believe.
however. that the Senate will not go
lower than the budget figure of S.
100000 as the Federal contribution.
Without stating definitely at this
time what he thinks the Senate
should do, Senator Copeland, Demo-
crat. of New York, a subcommittee
member, expressed hope yesterday
that it will be possible to work out
the bill in way that will apportion
the cost more equitably between the
Federal and District governments.
1t is expected that amendments
considered in the Senate will raise
the total Of the bill above the House
total as passed by the House of
s32, 2,650, ,65794.
A.