Evening star., 1937-01-08

purchase by the District was pre-
ferred.
The same procedure was proposed
in connection with District land now
being used by the Federal Govern
ment, permitting the United States
either to rent or purchase the prop
erty involved from the District.
Reimbursement Of the War Depart
ment for the services Of the Engineer
Commissioner and his three assistants
also was recommended. The District
now applys only about $4,000 Of their
salaries and allowances, the balance
being paid by the United States en-
gineer Office Of the War Department.
An amendment to the traffic act
was proposed to compel the Federal
Government to pay the same rates as
private citizens for automobile permits,
tags and title certificates, and also to
have the Federal Government pay for
tags and permits issued gratis to
foreign embassies and legations.
The Federal Government also should
pay on q per diem basis for the de-
tention Of female witnesses and
prisoners committed by the Depart
ment Of Justice to the House of De-
tention. At the same time, the report
urged that the House of Detention be
transferred from Jurisdiction Of the
Police Department to the Board Of
Public Welfare, which has supervision
Of other correctional institutions.
Ex-Service Mems Home.
1t was recommended that the Vet
Grams Administration take over and
maintain the temporary home for ex-
soldiers and ex-sailors now maintained
by the Board Of Public Welfare.
Most Of the residents of the home, 1t
was pointed out, come here in con-
nection with pension, bonus and other
claims against the Federal Govern
ment.
Tuition charges for nonresident
pupils in the public schools also was
urged. The rate would be based on
the actual cost of educating the chill
dren. Free tuition, the report said,
should be allowed for the children of
Government employees. citizens en-
ployed in the District and residing
elsewhere, or children residing in en-
bassies.
1t was recommended that the cost
Of health work for nonresident pupils
in the public schools, now performed
free by the Health Department, be
considered in fixing the rate of tut
ton to be charged non-residents.
A statute to charge lirary fees for
nonresident borrowers was recon-
mended to help meet the cost of op-
Grafton of the free public library
system.
An amendment to the Haden-Cart-
wright act to permit the District to re-
ceive the benefits of Federal aid for
highways on the same basis as States
are helped was recommended. The
report recommended, however. that
the basis of ALLEGATION OF funds be
changed from the mileage of rural
delivery and star mail routes, as apply
in the States, since the District has
no rural roads.
Excess Park Maintenance.
1t was recommended that the Dis
trict reimburse the National Capital
Parks Office of the National Park
Service for the maintenance of the
excess park areas of the city.
Analysis of the comparative i'm
portance Of local and national use
of each park area has indicated an
ALLEGATION of 80 per cent Federal bene-
fit," the report said. Because of
inadequate factual data the above
percentage of reimbursement is rec
commended"
Transfer Of the National Geological
Park from the Smithsonian Institu-
ton to the District Commissioners and
the creation by statute of a board
of trustees for the Geological Park
to have control of its operation also
was recommended.
There is no specific administra-
tive reason for retaining the Zoo
under direction of the Smithsonian
Institution" the report said
The new set-up would subject the
Zoo budget to the review Of the Com
missioners.