Evening star., 1936-06-16
Lower Body Takes Action
in Effort to Break
Deadlock.
AMENDMENTS ACCEPTED
IN AGREEMENT MOVE
Thomas Indicates ANY Settlement
Of Sum for Less Than 100000
Would Be Refused.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


bill shifted back to the Senate today
as a result Of renewed move on the
part of the House itself to break a
conference deadlock that threatened
to force the municipal government to
operate on a bare subsistence basis in
the coming fiscal year under Q con-
tinuing resolution.
As conciliatory gesture, the House
voted TO accept so of the 81 Senate
amendments to the bill, one of which
eliminated legislative provision that
would prevent all District employees
with salary Of $2.400 a year or more
from engaging in outside" work, and
agreed to compromise the Federal
lump sum payment toward District
expenses at 81 200, 900. an increase of
81 100000 over its original figure. The
Senate has steadfastly insisted that the
Federal payment be fixed at SIS, ,700, 900.
Despite the action Of the House, the
ultimate fate Of the bill Is still in
doubt Senator Thomas, Democrat.
of Oklahoma, chairman Of the Senate
Conference Committee, has indicated
a willingness TO compromise to save
the District from the disastrous effects
Of continuing resolution, but in prior
conferences he has refused to agree
to a Federal payment lower than
IS, 900, 900.
Senator Thomas Silent.
No comment was forthcoming from
Senator Thomas on the renewed House
overtureS. He is now awaiting a
formal request from the House con-
ferees for another conference before
making public his views.
Unexpectedly, the move to break the
impasse over disputed items In the
bin was made by Blanton, who has
previously submitted report showing
that his group and the Senate con-
ferees had been unable to reach an
agreement. Blanton explained he was
motiyated by a desire to prevent the
District from losing a number of badly
needed Improvements. since a continu-
ing resolution would not provide any
capital improvements. He mentioned
specifically an addition to Eastern
High School, a new Police Court build
ing, reconstruction of Chain Bridge
and new equipment for the Fire De-
partment.
Blanton Proposal Approved.
The proposal Of Blanton to raise
the House figure on the lump sum
Federal payment from s2,700.oo0 to
$4,000, 900 was approved by a vote
Of 2l9 to 86. after q bitter debate.
Blanton and Representative Mary T.
Norton, chairman Of the District Leg
islative Committee, were the prin.
cipal participants. Equally as heated
was a discussion over the legislative
provision to prevent District en-
ployes from holding outside" jobs.
At one time Blanton and Repre-
sentative Focht. Republican, of Penn
sylvania, a former chairman of the
District Legislative Committee, ex-
changed language that was drowned
out by an uproar on the House floor.
Mrs. Norton argued that unrepealed
substantive law provides that the
Federal obligation toward District ex-
penses shall be 40 per cent of the
total cost of operating and maintain
ing the municipal government. She
also pointed out that a Federal pay
rnent of $2,700. 900 would be decidedly
unfair, and criticized Blanton for
constituting himself a committee Of
one" against District residents.
Mrs. Norton Aids Fight.
Mrs. Norton likewise took a lead
ing part in the fight for elimination
of the provision forbidding District
employees from holding outside" jobs.
9 provision aimed chiefly at justices
Of the District Supreme Court and
attaches of the corporation counsel'S
Office, who teach law classes at night.
as well as physicians. who have part
time assignments in the Health De-
partment.
She pointed out that even mem
bers of Congress receive fees for prac-
ticing law or lecturing, and asked
Blanton If a law firm in Texas did
not carry the name of "Blanton,
Blanton and Blanton." In explana-
ton Blanton said he was merely tax
ing care Of his two sons by permitting
them to use his name In their law
firm. He declared he received no
revenue from the partnership.
49 Amendments Approved.
Forty-nin of the Senate amend
ments approved by the House provide
$484, GOT for sundry new projects.
Outstanding among the Senate
amendments the House opposed Is an
item of $4,000 for continuation Of the
character education experiment in the
public schools.
The House conferees also were in
structed to insist on the following
items:
A reduction In the item for smoke
control, cut In the item for replace
ment Of the superstructure Of Chain
Bridge from $360,000 to $3.50, 900,
elimination Of funds to pay two new
assistants In the office Of the corpor-
alton counsel, q reduction Of $1,000 In
the fund for travelling, expenses Of
District employees, cut Of $4,000 N
an item for personal services for the
Public Library. a reduction In the gas
oline tax fund for street improve
ments, a slash in items for sewer.
playground and community center de-
partments; q cut In the fund for
transporting crippled and Ill school
children. elimination Of $165.000 for
an addition TO the Alice Deal Junior
High School. and $SS 900 for q sta