Evening star., 1934-04-27
SENATE APPROVES
2QEM|LL|ON P.W.A.
BILL FOR DISTRICT
Measure Allowing City to
Borrow for Projects
Goes to House.
NO OPPOSITION HEARD
AS KING SPEEDS ACTION
Repayment Plan Calls for An
nual Installments of 81 ,300,-
Oc0-Parks Are Included.

The Senate today passed the King
bill authorizing the District Commits
sioners to apply to the Public Works
Administration for a $40 900 900 public
works program. of which $4,000 900
would be for park development and
the remainder for / group of urgent
municipal construction projects.
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee obtained unanimous
consent to take the bill up a few
minutes after he had presented the
favorable report adopted by his COM
mittee last night. Under Senator
Kings guidance, the measure was ap-
proved and sent tc the House without
any opposition being voiced
The Utah Senator explained that
the projects contemplated. including
new tuberculosis hospital, are ur-
gently needed, and that the bill mere
ly allows the District to obtain funds
from P w. A on the same basis al
lowed to the States, namely. 80 per
cent as a Federal grant and 10 per
cent to be repaid over a period of
years.
After the bill had passed, Senator
King thanked Majority Leader Robin
son of Arkansas and other Senators
who co-operated in having the bill
taken up
Repayment Plan.
At the hearing yesterday Senator
King and his colleagues worked out
a compromise plan for repayment of
urhi
ended the delay caused by inability
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and the Dis
trict Commissioners to agree during
the past few days as to how much
the District government should be
required to pay back annually on
Federal funds advanced for park pur-
poses and for public works.
The park commission wanted the
District to agree to pay back at least
S500,000 a year on any Federal ad-
vances under the park program con-
templated by the Capper-Cramton
law. The Commissioners insisted that
reimburSements on park funds be
limited to $250,000 year, in view of
the new obligation the District is
works loan. Since the pending bill
will require the people of the Dis
trict to repay the loan for public
works at the rate of $l,000000 year
the total annual reimbursement would
have been 81 100000 under the park
commissions proposal, as compared
with S1.250000 a year under the
Commissioners program.
Compromise Reached.
After debating the problem with the
two groups of officials for nearly two
hours without getting any nearer to
a solution, the committee went into
executive session and fixed the total
reimbursement figure at sl,300,000
and reported the bill. Those who sat
with Senator King in working out the
decision were Senators Copeland of
New York. Capper of Kansas, Couzens
of Michigan, Davis of Pennsylvania
and Kean of New Jersey.
The bill does not actually make any
money available. but merely clothes
the Commissioners with legal author
ity to apply to Public Works Admins
traitor Ickes for s2O,O00,00 program
or the same basis allowed the States
and other cities. namely 80 per cent
as a Federal grant and the other 10
per cent to be repaid by the District.
If the full amount is made available
by Mr.. Ickes, S2,00O,O00 would be ear
marked for the park commission to
continue purchase of land for the park
system, leaving s18,000,0OO for list
of urgent municipal projects, includ
ing: A new tuberculosis hospital, an
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