Evening star., 1935-04-23
DC. HOSPITAL LOAN
IS VOTED BY HOUSE.
Authority to Use P. W. A.
Cash for Courts Building
Also Granted.


Senate q bill giving the Commission
ers authority to use the unexpended
balance Of an authorized 80, 0,750. 900
p. w. A. loan for construction Of
new courts building In Judiciary
Square and to allocate 100000 to
Children's Hospital for its rehabilita-
ton and extension.
The Senate passed the measure
several weeks ago, but 1t was sent
back for approval Of q House amend
ment authorizing the 100000 ad-
vance to the hospital.
The p. w. A. loan bill was one Of
five District measures passed by the
House late yesterday in Q brief but
| speedy session. Three Of these bills
we're minor In character.
The cost Of the proposed new minor
courts buildings Is estimated by Dis
trict officials at between $2,s00. 900
and $3,000,000. This would leave the
total cost Of all building construction
now planned under p. w. A. financ-
ing well within the total Of SO, ,750,-
900, the limit set In the original Dis
trict p. w. A. act, authorizing the
District to apply for the loans.
Grants to District.
To date, the District has received
grant Of 100000 for the sewage
disposal plant and $500, 900 for the
adult tuberculosis hospital, making Q
total Of $5,500,00 so far obligated
under the $10,750,0 900 authorization.
The District proposes to build in
TrrIs nd ta~v 4avs
Municipal Court, q new home for
Police Court and q new building for
Juvenile Court, the latter to include
provision of quarters for the recorder
of deeds.
Aside from the P. w. A. loan bill,
the other important measure passed
by the House yesterday is designed to
simplify court reviews Of actions Of
the Public Utilities Commission and to
reduce the duration Of litigation
arising from such proceedings. This
bill was drafted by william A. Rob-
ertS, peoples counsel, and its passage
had been successfully blocked for more
than two years.
The three minor bills, passed with
| out debate, will grant permission to
the Smoot Sand & Gravel Corp. to
construct petroleum pipe lines In the
Buzzard Point area, permit the e. s.
Droop g. Sons Co. to revive its charter
( of Incorporation and authorize the is
suance Of congressional automobile
tags to the assistant parliamentarian
Of the House and the journal and tally
clerks.
Adoption of the amendment to ad-
vance 100000 to Children's Hospital
was preceded by an impassioned plea
by Chairman Norton Of the District
Committee. She declared the money
would do more good than any 500. 900
ever appropriated by Congress"
Mrs. Norton also paid tribute to the
work Of the hospital, its superin-
tendent, Miss Matte Gibson, and the
Junior League, which is furnishing
four qualified social service nurses to
the institution.
EHenbegen Sponsor.
The 100000 amendment was spon.
sored by Representative Ellenbogen,
Democrat, Of Pennsylvania, who also
extolled the work at Children's Hos
pital. He pointed out the amendment
would give permission to the District
to enter into contract with the hos
pital for the clinical examination Of
children suspected of being tubercular
and to pay to the institution 500, 900
to make the needed improvements.
Only SIS members Of the House were
on the floor when the District cal
endar was called up by Mrs. Norton,
and before the five bills were passed,
the attendance had dropped to 40. In
fact so little interest was manifest in
the District legislation, that the pub
lie utility bill, with its far-reaching
provisions, passed with only q brief
discussion between Representative
Smith, Democrat, Of Virginia, and
Representative Carpenter, Democrat,
Of Kansas. Smith merely questioned
whether the committee had DETER
mined the constitutionality Of certain
provisions.
During consideration of the Dis
trict bills, several members, including
Chairman Norton, Representative
Randolph, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia, and Representative Mcleod,
Republican, of Michigan, paid tribute
to the late Frederick N. Zihlman, who
at one time was chairman of the
House District Committee. Mcleod
said Zihlman was lone of the finest
examples Of q self-made man have
ever SEEN"
The Dirksen bill, intended primarily
to abolish Washington's so-called
hidden bars" one of the most con-
troversial measures on the calendar,
was not called up because Of fear it |
would be defeated. Opposition to
the measure has increased steadily
since it was favorably reported from
the committee several weeks ago.
Mrs. Norton indicated an effort |
might be made to have It Withdrawn |
from the calendar,