Evening star., 1934-06-05

sentative MapeS and is TO Representa-
tive Cox, who are members of the
Rules Committee, and both Of whom
are opposed to this legislation.
Representative O'Connor, Democrat,
of New York, ranking ma ajority men,
Der of the Rules Committee, explained
that the committee had given careful
consideration to this bill more so than
to any other measure that had come
before it. He pointed out that the
Rules Committee felt the projects en-
compaSSed in the bill are necessary
The District has not the money to
carry out these public works, he said,
and so its only recourse is to borrow
from the Public Works Administra-
tion the same as other States and
municipalities are borrowing.
Without this specific authority the
District will be unable to borrow. Mr..
O'Connor emphasized.
Representative Mapes, former chair
man of the District Legislative Com
mittee, said the Rules Committee had
approved this measure only after the
amount authorized to be borrowed had
been cut almost in half.
II there Is any community in the
entire country which is able to take
care of its own needs without Public
Works Administration assistance it is
the District of Columbia, he said, call
ing attention that the tax rate of the
District is low and assuring his COL
leagues there is no reason why the
District cannot pay for these public
improvements out of its own resources.
Says Authorization Given.
Representatives Mapes said that all
of these projects had been considered
by the Appropriations Committee. and
that these projects already had been
authorized. This legislation. he told
his colleagues. makes the Rules Com
mittee an appellate court for the Dis
trict.
Chairman Bankhead of the Rules
Committee told the House that his
committee had approved this rule for
the purpose of giving the House
chance to consider this bill unan-
imously reported by the House Legis-
lative Committee after it had been
unanimously passed by the Senate on
its merits.
Representative DirkSen. Republican.
for the District against the prejudices
we'll known to be entertained by GER
tain House members. He stressed
that the District has needs the same
as Illinois. his home State, or other
communities throughout the country.
All of the projects included under
this bill, he declared, are necessary
and he pointed out that Secretary
Ickes. as head of the P. w A.. would
not have approved an appropriation
for $4,000 for a survey Of the sew
erage disposal needs of the District
unless the case was serious.
Dirksen said he did not see how
any one could oppose the bill on
account of its provision for elimina-
ton Of pollution of the Potomac
River.
In reply to a statement from Rep
resentative Mapes that the District
has been articulate on this question
Representative Dirksen said that the
District has to be articulate in order
to wake up Congress to its duty hav-
ing exclusive Jurisdiction over the
National Capital, where the people
have no voice or vote in legislation
under which they must live.
Representative Cox called this bill
"a grab on the part of the District"
Cochran Defends Bill.
Representative Cochran, Democrat,
of Missouri. chairman of the House
Committee on Expenditures and au-
thor of a special bill providing for an
S8,00O,0O0 sewage disposal plant for
the District. explained that the peo-
pie of the District pay into the Fed
eral Treasury in taxes more than "a
States in the Union, which are bor-
rowing from the Public Works Ad-
ministration. while the District is de-
MED the right to borrow from the
public works funds.
He objected to Interruptions from
Representative Blanton and asked the
Speaker to protect him from such
interruptions. He explained that he
had made a close study of the need
for a sewage disposal system and said
that the Public Health Service in re-
sponSe to a resolution. had reported
the urgent need for protection of all
Government officials and the residents
in the National Capital from the dan
ger of an epidemic as result of pol
luton of the Potomac River Aroused
by this public health report. Cochran
stated. the chief of the Public Works
Administration had allocated $4,000
for a special study to be made by
the three best sanitary engineers in
the country. who unanimously re-
ported that the health of every person
IN the District is jeopardlzed. He
said that the officials of the District
Government have appeared before the
Rules Committee and urged this leg
islation
Bianton Statements Refuted.
Acting Chairman Palmisano of the
House District Committee made
strong argument for the bill and re-
futed statements by Representative
Blanton. saying that he himself had
a record in the House of having op-
posed wholesale grants for the Dis
trict.
Representative Smith took the floor
in an effort to give a fair minded
view of the situation to his colleagues
and TO wipe out what he called
'preiudiced statements" by Repre-
sentative Blanton and others.
Representative O'Connor supported
Representative Smith in this state
ment.
Smith said that this bill gives the
District Commissioners only the right
to go before the Public Works Admin
istration and seek an ALLEGATION for
projects if their need can be shown.
He declared the House could not deny
to the Nations Capital the same
rights that it grants to the Virgin
Islands, Puerto Rico, Alaska and
Hawaii
Smith Explains Needs.
Representative Smith explained the
need for a tuberculosis sanitarium be-
cause of the demonstrated made
quacy of present facilities. He ex-
planned the need for walled inclos-
ure at the Lorton Reformatory since
the Federal Government has required
the District to take care there of
dangerous criminals convicted of the