Evening star., 1936-03-13
$167,OlO PROVIDED
RIVER WORK HERE
Senate Adds $50, 900, 900 to
House Figures in Army
Appropriation Bill.
BY J. A. OLEARY.

If the War Department appro-
priation bill becomes law as reported
to the Senate yesterday, the Army
Engineer Corps will be in position
to spend $167,0o0 from its river and
harbor fund to begin two Potomac
River projects, along with others
throughout the country.
BY adding s5O,O0o,0oo to the House
figure for rivers and harbors, the Sen
ate Appropriations Committee raised
the total for this purpose to $ls8, ,000-
900. OF this amount, $38,000,0 900 Is
for general maintenance, leaving $780,
900, 900 for harbor improvements.
While specific projects are not men,
toned in the bill, the committee re-
port. filed by Senator Copeland of New
York, contains q list showing the
work that could be done during the
year commencing July /, If the $780,
| 000, 900 is available.
S152,00o Dredging Work.
This list shows that $152,000 could
| profitably be spent on dredging the
channel opposite Washington, and
$4,000 to make a start on the north
side of the Washington Channel water
front. opposite Potomac Park.
These two Potomac projects were
authorized at the last session in an
omnibus river and harbor act, but
that measure carried no funds to
begin the work.
The s152,000 in the current War
Department bill would be part of an
| ultimate expenditure of S325, 900 to
make the Potomac River channel "a
feet deep and 400 feet wide from
Giesboro Point to Key Bridge, includ-
| ing dredging in the Anacostia and
Washington Channels. The completed
project also calls for a turning basin
opposite the navy yard. This would
be entirely Federal undertaking.
The total cost of improving the
north side of Washington Channel
was estimated last year at $3.50, 900,
toward which $4,000 could be spent
to make a start. under the War
Department appropriation bill. The
total authorization calls for four yacht
piers for District government actiY-
tiles, and bulkheads.
AS originally drafted in the House
| last year, the enabling act would have
placed half the cost of this project,
or s825,000, on the District. The
Senate amended the measure, how
ever and, as finally enacted. it fixes
IA iOf' nf hn fnfo "
at s389,000, representing the cost Of
the Improvements for the benefit Of
the municipality. It was pointed out
at that time that title to the water.
front property is in the United States,
and that the Improvements are in
line with the program to beautify
the Nations Capital.
S603,230,604 Total Amount.
For the entire military establish
ment, the bill as reported by Senator
Copeland appropriates s6o3, 3,23O,6O4.
a net increase of S58,004,286 over
the House total
While most of the increase is for
river and harbor work to relieve un-
employment, the Senate committee
| also voted to boost the enlisted
| strength of the Army. The committee
added more than $4,000 900 to raise
the enlisted strength from 147,0oO
to 1850 men.
While increasing the enlisted
strength of the Army. the Senate
committee reduced by $6,725 900 the
House allowance for sea coast defense.
The bill as reported exceeds appro-
priations for the current year by
$50, 0,334134, according to the COM
mittee report. 1t probably will be
taken up for consideration In the
Senate early next week.