Evening star., 1937-04-04
D. c. BILL HEARING
TO OPEN IN SENATE
At AN EARLY DATE
Thomas Asks Commission
ers to State Desires on
House Provisions.
FAVORS CONTINUATION
OF $5,OOO,OOO SUM
Thinks Lump Payment Would
Give Later Opportunity for
Better Fiscal Plan.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.


Senate hearings on the 1888 District
appropriation bill, which passed the
House Friday carrying approximately
$45.117,O00, will start at an early
date, possibly within a week, Chair
man Thomas of the District Appro-
priations Subcommittee, made known
yesterday.
The Oklahoman announced he has
written to the Commissioners, invit-
ing them to present any changes they
wish to recommend in the detailed
provisions of the House measure, with
statement of the justification for
proposed changes.
Senator Thomas refrained from
commenting in advance of the hear
ings on any of the specific appropria-
ton items or the series of legislative
riders and limitations of the House
committee, some of which were
knocked out, while others were re-
tanned in the bill in the House.
Favors Present Lump Sum.
With regard to the Federal share,
Chairman Thomas repeated the state
ment he made at recent gathering
of District officials, that he personally
favors continuing the present $5,000,-
900 lump sum for another year. Fol-
lowing his speech on that occasion
he pointed out this course would give
those interested in the problem the
10 oF1 1r{. J.,
work out better fiscal relations for
mula for presentation to Congress
next year.
AS it comes from the House, the
bill already contains the S5,000,000
Federal payment, agreed on by the
House subcommittee when it decided
under the leadership of Representa-
tive Collins of Mississippi, that the
formula in the Jacobs report was un-
sound, both from the standpoint of
equity and workability.
District officials will be busily en-
gagged for the next day or two de-
Gliding upon the changes in the House
text they will suggest in response to
the notice sent them by the Senate
subcommittee chairman. 1t is ex-
pected the Commissioners and depart
ment heads will be the first wit
nesseS.
May Begin This Week.
Senator Thomas indicated he would
begin the hearings this week if ar
rangements can be made with the
other subcommittee members. They
are Senators Glass of Virginia, Cope
land OF New York, Overton of Louisi-
ana, Burke of Nebraska, Duffy of Wis
consin, Hitchcock of South Dakota,
and Green of Rhode Island, Demo-
Gratis; Nye of North Dakota and
Bridges of New Hampshire, Republic
cans. The three eX-officio members
assigned to the appropriations group
from the District Legislative Commit
tee are Senators King of Utah and
Tydings OF Maryland. Democrats, and
Capper of Kansas, Republican.
The Senate subcommittee undoubt-
edly will be asked to clarity several
sections of the bill, the status of
which was affected by some of the
points of order raised in the House
against legislative provisions that had
been written in by the appropriations
group.
For instance, in striking out clauses
designed to make the expenses of the
Department of Vehicles and Traffic, and
the cost of motor vehicle Identification
plates a charge against the gasoline
%av ,ctn nf
fund, the bill was left without funds
for these two purposes. This amounted
to about $4,000
Transfer Proposal Eliminated.
Although the House knocked out the
language proposing to transfer control
over Gallinger Hospital and the Tuber-
culosis Sanitoria from the Board of
Public Welfare to the Health Depart
ment, the money for upkeep of the in
stitutions remained in the Health De-
partment appropriation item. 1t also
was explained yesterday that as the
bill stands the Health Department
would pass on admissions to the hos
pitfalls because it was given the permit
ONCE, together with the items for
medical charity cases in other hos
pitfalls.
While most of the riders were strick-
en- out, some were retained in modified
form
On the basis Of the House total,
with the Federal share continued at
$5,00000o, the District is facing def
cit of about 100000 900 that would have
to be met by added taxation. A series
Of new tax bills have been introduced
In the House, but 1t is estimated by
some officials these measures would
raise between $4,000 900 and $12, 2,OOO,-
900 more revenue from local residents,
Chairman King of the Senate District
Committee, and Senator Capper rank
ing minority member, have both gone
on record as urging that the new tax
program be kept down to the amount
actually needed for the pending
budget.