Evening star., 1934-04-17
Commissioners and Park
Officials Reach Accord on
Bill for Congress.
81, 100000 ALLOTMENT
FOR PARKS PROVIDED
District Would Repay Not Less
Than 81, 900, 900 Yearly Under
Partial Optional Program.

! A proposed $20,UUO,O00 program Tor
public works in Washington, includ-
ing a 100000 allotment for pur-
chase of land for park expansion, will
be prepared for submission to Con-
sreSs as the result of a conference
today between District Commissioners
and officials of the National CAPITAL
Park and Planning Commission.
The bill is to be a separate meas
ure and not an amendment to the
| Capper-Cramton act, as originally
suggested by the Commissioners. 1t
was reported by Engineer Commits
sloner John C. Gotwals. at conclusion
OF the three-anda- half hour session.
Two important changes were agreed
upon in the plan for obtaining
grant from the Public Works Admin
lstration. One provision of the bill
Is to be that the District is to repay
borrowed Federal funds at the rate
| of not less than S1,000,00O a year.
The second important change is that
the Commissioners would be given au-
thority to decide whether to repay
the borrowed park funds or the bor-
| roWed construction funds or both, in
| any given year.
Permits Respite.
AS explained by Maj. Gotwals this
latter provision would enable the Dis
trict to hold up any repayment of
park development funds in any given
year If District finances would not
permit all obligations to be repaid in
such year. 1t would permit repay
ment of funds borrowed for construc-
ton projects. since the District would
have to pay interest annually on such
funds.
Funds advanced under the Capper-
Cramton act for the development of
parks and Fairgrounds and recrea-
tional centers do not call for interest
payments.
Frederic A. Delano, chairman of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. declined to discuss
any understanding reached at the
conference, but predicted that an
agreement satisfactory 10 all parties
concerned would be reached. He said
joint statement was to be prepared,
setting forth the understanding of
the commission and the planning
commission Of the new plan now in
prospect. He said such a statement
would be laid before the planning
commission at meeting Thursday.
Originally Sought S1s,oOc,o 900.
Originally the Commissioners had
planned an Sl8,00000 development
program. This was to provide for the
first unit of the Municipal Center, a
new adult tuberculosis hospital, an
addition to Galiinger Municipal Hos
pltal, modern sewage disposal plant
and school buildings costing between
S2,000,000 and 100000.
They sought an $18,000,000 grant of
the Public Works Administration, 70
per cent Of which was to be repaid
They planned to ask Congress to
amend the Capper- -Cramton act so
that the District would not be obli-
gated to repay more than 81 100000
year for borrowed funds. The effect
would have been to set aside the park
development program while the P. w.
A. funds were being repaid.
Plan Reached.
This plan was opposed by the Plan
ming Commission. At the conference
today a compromise plan was to
have been broached under which the
81 600, 900 annual payment would be
split between the two repayments,
that is the construction work and the
park development.
Out of the extended discussion came
a proposal by the Park and Planning
Commission that the program be
raised to a $2O,0O0,0OO project with
S2,000,000 of P. w. A. funds to be
expended for purchase of land for
parks and to be repaid along with
the construction fund on 70 per
cent basis.
There was considerable discussion
of inserting in the bill a limitation
upon the maximum amount of the
borrowed funds which should be re-
paid annually. but indications were
that this point had not been subject
to final agreement.
Ickes' Statement.
Meanwhile, Secretary Ickes an
nounced that he was opposed to any
interruption of plans for extension of
park and recreational facilities. In
statement issued today he said:
There seems to be an impression
that in my desire to help work out
with the District of Columbia a plan
by which certain worthy public works
projects can be financed I am advo-
eating the postponement for an in
definite period of the completion of
the park and recreation system for the
National Capital
GAS public works administrator, I
do not believe that it is up to me to
tell either the District or the Congress
how public works projects can be
financed for the District. That is a
matter for those who are directly re-
sponsible for the financial policy of
the District. I may say, however, that
as a firm believer in the fundamental
value of park and recreation facilities
for the great masses of the people, I
should regret to see an interruption of
plans so carefully worked out in that
connection for the District of Columbia.
Amendment Held Unnecessary.
"In order to finance desirable pub
lie works. it ought not to be necessary
for the District to seek an amendment
to the Capper-C -Cramton act. I can
see no reason whatsoever why the
District in common with other sound
municipal governments should not be
able to assume responsibility for
amortization and interest charged on
ton to the obligations to which it is
already committed under the Capper-
Cramton act"