Evening star., 1938-06-12
SLUM CLEARANCE,
AND AIRPORT BILL
AWAITING ACTION
D. c. Measures Are Ready
for House Vote as
Adjournment Nears.
p. w. A. PARITY PLAN
ALSO TO BE CONSIDERED
Success Seen for Camp Springs
Project Which Has Approval
of Roosevelt.
By WILL p. KENNEDY,

wv blllo WHICH pIONlQe HlllllOllS OF
dollars for employment projects in the
District and the measure appropriating
$3o00,000 to establish the greatest air.
port in the world at Camp Springs
awaited action in the House last night
as the scramble began to adjourn
Congress.
During long day and night sessions
for the last 48 hours, Chairman Pal
misano of the District Committee and
Chairman May of the Military Affairs
Committee have sat expectantly in
the House ready to bring up these
bills when given signal by the
Speaker and House leader. They have
been assured repeatedly by Speaker
Bankhead that they will be given an
opportunity to get a vote on these
measures before adjournment.
Chairman Palmisano last night pre-
dicted that he will get a favorable
vote in the House early tomorrow or
Tuesday on the bill to permit the Dis
trict Alley Dwelling Authority to bor-
row from Sl0.000,00O to $4,000 900
from the Federal Housing Authority
to carry out an extensive program of
slum clearance and low-cost housing
improvements
P. W. A. Parity Proposal.
He also has been assured of a
favorable vote on the bill placing the
District on equal footing with the
States for financing P w. A. projects.
The District now finances its P. w. A.
undertakings with 70 per cent loan
and 80 per cent grant. while the
States are allowed a SIS per cent loan
and IS per cent grant.
Chairman May of the Military At
fairs Committee is equally hopeful of
prompt action on the King-Norton
bill. which passed the Senate in the
first session of the present Congress,
making a direct appropriation of
S3,000,000 to acquire the site and start
work on the development of an air
port at Camp Springs, Md. Repre-
sentative Jack Nichols Of the Con-
gressional Airport Commission, which
recommended this site after an ex-
tensive study of some 25 proposed
places, told the Rules Committee that
this will be made the greatest air.
port in the world" 1t is pet project
of President Roosevelt. who has noti-
fed Congress that this is one of his
must" measures. The Rules Com
mittee has granted a special order
giving this measure privileged con-
Eideration.
The House leadership has given def
mite assurance that the measure will
have solid administration support,
President Roosevelt told the leaders
at a White House conference that he
will provide funds from "other sources"
to take care of the removal of the
radio station on which a million dol
lars already has been spent in the
Camp Springs locality In view of this
action by the President, the Naval
Affairs Committee and the Public
Building and Grounds Committee with
. drew their opposition to the Camp
Springs site.
Three Amendments.
When the bill passes the House it
will carry three amendments, but Sem
ator King has given Representatives
May and Nichols his pledge that the
Senate will concur promptly in the
changes so that the measure can be
rushed to the White House for the
Presidents signature.
The amendments will provide that
$4,000 be paid from the lump-sum
appropriation to the Bureau of Stand
ards for the cost of removing its field
station from the proposed airport site;
that the airport when built by the
Federal Government shall be operated
under commission set up by the
civil seronautics bill, and that any
proceeds shall be placed in the Fed
eral Treasury to the credit of the Dis
trict of Columbia and later subtracted
from the s5,000,000 lump-sum con-
tribution by the Federal Government
toward the support of the Capital
City.
Another important piece of District
legislation which is expected to pass
before adjournment would require
Washington taxicabs to carry liability
insurance. The Senate has accepted
q conference report on the bill re-
quiring individual insurance policies
to be carried on each taxicab in the
District.
The Senate bill, sponsored by Sena-
tor Tom Connally of Texas, for a huge
auditorium in Washington to take
care Of inaugural ceremonies in in
clement weather, and other large
gatherings, has not yet been con-
sidered in the House and is not ex-
pected to be acted upon before ad-
fnaIrnn1ent