Evening star., 1937-08-20
SENATE APPROVES
|FUNDFOR HOSPITAL.
Committee Amendments to
Last Deficiency Bill
Quickly Voted.
BY ]. A. OIEARY.

g. Ehs ~
The Senate today quickly approved
committee amendments to the last
deficiency bill to make $500, 900 avail
able to start the new Naval Hospital
and $4,000 for study Of the District
tax structure during the recess.
1t also approved s68 900 Of miscel-
laneous items for various branches of
the District government that were al
ready in the House bill
The entire bill, carrying sl3s.oOo.-
600 for all Government agencies, is ex-
pected to pass later in the afternoon
senator Thomas, Democrat, of Okla
homa, failed in an effort to prevent
curtallment OF the building program at
the Government Printing Ofice. The
committee last night struck out
House item of 1900 ,00o to cover con-
tlnued work on the new annex to the
big print shop. Thomas urged the
Senate not only to restore the item
but to increase it to the Budget Bu-
reau's recommendation of S2.798,OOO,
which would make the ultimate cost
of the project s8,798 900. He was voted
down, however, and the committees S
action sustained. There will be an
other opportunity in conference, how
ever, to restore the 81 100000
Cancer Institute Fund Voted.
The Senate also approved an item of
100000 for the new National Cancer
Institute, established by a recent law
sponsored by Senator Bone, Democrat.
of Washington. The institute is to be
established in Montgomery County,
Md OF the initial appropriation,
5000, 900 is for purchase of radium.
The Senate committee turned down
the budget estimate of $4,000 to buy
site for a District National Guard
armory at the end of East Capitol
street. but an effort may be made to
have it included on the floor.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Missouri
opposed raising the contract authori-
zation limit of the Maritime Commits
sion from 100000 to $3.50 900 900
for new merchant marine ship con-
struction, but the increase was ap-
proved.
In urging the District National
Guard Armory appropriation at this
time the Budget Bureau stated that
recently private development has been
started on the site District officials
and National Capital planning agen-
cies have in mind for the armory. The
bureau contended, therefore, that it
would be wise to acquire the site now
even though the District may not be
able to begin construction
Of the building in the near future.
The hospital appropriation is the
hrst installment toward DEVELOPMENT
Of a $4,850,000 Naval Medical Center
to replace the present Naval Hospital
at the foot of Twenty third street
northwest
Meanwhile, President Roosevelt said
at his press conference today he has
not yet decided on a location for the
new hospital. Mr.. Roosevelt indi-
Gated he would inspect two more pro-
posed sites before making a final de-
cision.
Tax Study Authorized.
Several years ago Congress au-
thorized erection Of new buildings at
present location, but Navy Department
ohdcials decided it would be advisable
to lay out the new hospital at some
other location in view Of plans for the
erection of new Federal ofice buildings
in the vicinity Of the present hospital.
This view was concurred in by Govern
ment planning agencies, and Congress
\ few weeks ago increased the origi-
nal authorization and broadened the
law to provide for a new site. A few
days later the budget approved the
Initial estimate Of $500 900 to start the |
project.
The $4,000 for the local tax survey !
was authorized in the Districts new
IS, 100000 revenue law. Recognising
The haste in which some OF the new
axes had to be mapped out to meet
The city's current deficit, Congress
imposed some of them, such as the
gross receipts business tax, for one
year only.
Meanwhile the Commissioners are
directed to study all existing forms
If taxation here and report to Con-
rress IN January any changes they
osletve should be made next year. The