Evening star., 1936-05-15
ALLEY AUTHORITY
/ HOPE IS REVIVED
Compromise May Employ
Use of Unexpended Funds
80
in District.

today for congressional agreement on
h compromise proposal that would
Keep the Alley Dwelling Authority
Tping during the next fiscal year oy
using its unexpended balances OF PRIOR
appropriations, together with receipts
derived from its own operations.
ZAppearing before the Senate Sub
committee on the deficiency bill yes
terday afternoon, officials of the
authority decided to forego asking. for
the new appropriation Of 100000,
which the House had turned down,
and to stress, instead, the proposal 10
continue available funds arising from
previous appropriations. The Senate
subcommittee will not reach a deci-
sion until late today or tomorrow.
Since members of the House already
had indicated they would accept a
provision involving no new approprla-
tion at this time. 1t is believed the
Senate will insert some amendment
along that line in the deficiency bill.
Would Halt Suspension.
While this will not enable the
authority to go forward as rapidly next
wear as was contemplated when the
1o-year program of alley reclamation
was started in 1894, it will remove the
threat of a complete cessation OF the
work during the next fiscal year.
Senator Capper, Republican, OF
Kansas, co-sponsor Of the law under
which the authority was set up TO rlo
the National Capital of alley slunas by
re-developing such areas for residen-
tial or other purposes, went before the
Senate Subcommittee yesterday ana
gave a strong Endorsement of the ac-
complishments Of the authority thus
far. Senator Copeland, Democrat, OF
New York, another member OF the
District Committee, also supported the
alley improvement program.
John Ihlder, executive officer OF the
authority, and James Ring. admins
trative assistant, were present to give
the subcommittee detailed informa-
ton on how the program has been
carried on.
About S250,000 Available.
It was estimated that the provision
authorizing use of uneXpended bal
snces on hand and receipts during
the year would make available about
$250,00O for the IL months commenc-
Ing in July.
Before reviewing what the authority
has accomplished during the II
months of its existence, Senator Cap.
per made the following statement
II would like the record of this
hearing to show that the Alley Dwell.
ing Authority has the united support
Of the people of Washington. Ii
evidence, I submit editorials from
the Post, The Star, the News and tht
Herald, representing all shades o.
opinion and all asking for inclusion
of the Alley Dwelling Authority''
appropriation in the deficiency bill
Out of consideration for the limited
time Of this committee, the authorit!
Is making no effort to bring before
you at this time representatives O.
civic organizations, which have ex
pressed a determined wish that tn,
work Of the authority may continue
Witnesses Ready.
However, I am authorized to stat
TO you that representatives Of th'
following organizations we're in tn,
committee ante-room yesterday, ane
were prepared to await the pleasure
Of the committee today, for the pur.
pose of testifying to their approval o.
the work already done by the author
tty, and to their desire that this gooc
work shall 90 on:
Washington Committee on Hous.
ing, DR.. Anson Phelps Stokes, chair
man; Washington Council of Socia.
Agencies, Mrs. w. A. Roberts, secre.
tary; Monday Evening Club. Walter
s. Ufford, past president; Socia
Hygiene Society, Ray Everett, secre.
tary; Instructive Visiting Nurse So
ciety, Miss Janet B. Houtz, Legisla-
tive Committee; Federation of Citizens
Associations, Thomas E. Lodge, presi-
dent; Northeast Washington Citi-
zens' Association. Evan H. Tucker
president; Federation Of Churches, DR.
w. L. Darby, and tuberculosis Asso-
citation Of the District, Mrs. Ernest
r. Grant, managing director"
Rufus S. Lusk, representing the
Washington Taxpayers Association
favored continuation of funds, but
proposed restriction on the amount
Of street-frontage property adjacent
to the alleys that could be acquired
He suggested an amendment under
which the authority would be limited
to purchasing 5 per cent of the prop
erty in a square outside of the alley
proper.
Ihlder Explains Purchases.
Commenting after the hearing on
Lusks contention that the authority
should buy less street-front property,
1hlder explained that, of the 10
squares in which the authority has
bought property, in squares no street
property was acquired. In the other
6 squares the authority bought varying
amounts Of street frontage. In 2 of
these 6 cases, he said, the street prop.
erty was part Of the alley property
and that it would have cost almost
thoSh Ny oIFlouis ~ DIS py &C
curing 1t as q whole.
In some localities, where it is practi-
cable to develop garages, Ihlder said
the authority can eliminate the in
habited alley without buying any
adjacent property in the square. In
other sections Of the city, he said
purchase of some of the property
adjacent to the alley dwellings is
necessary to an effective replanning
and reh ahilita tio,,