Evening star., 1938-01-29
D. c. SUPPLY BILL
PASSAGE SEEN At.
MONDAYS SESSION
Collins Predicts Measure
Will Be Approved Without
Major Changes.
AMENDMENTS EXPECTED
TO BE OFFERED ON FLOOR
Representative Voorhis Appeals
for Relief Fund Increase
During Debate.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Unconcerned over threats of vari-
Gus House members to attempt to
riddle the 1889 District supply bill
with amendments, Chairman Collins
OF the Subcommittee on Appropria-
tions, which framed the measure,
today predicted it would pass Mon
day without any major changes.
Il don't expect any trouble" said
Mr.. Collins confidently.
General debate on the bill. which
started yesterday, has virtually been
completed. Mr.. Collins expects to
use the remainder of the time him.
self explaining various features,
Since the House is not in session to-
day. final action cannot be taken
until Monday.
At least a dozen members, many of
them serving on the District Legis-
lative Committee, already have indi-
Gated they would attempt to have
many changes made in the measure
when it is read for amendments.
Their efforts will be directed chiefly
to raising the Federal payment toward
municipal expenses from $5,0O0OO
to $9,000,000 and increasing the ap-
preparation for direct relief.
Asks Increase for Relief.
A forerunner of the impending
battle over the relief fund came dur
ing general debate yesterday, when
Representative Voorhis, Democrat, of
California claimed the 100000 rec
commended for the coming fiscal year
would be totally inadequate to care
for the unemployed and appealed to
the House to increase the figure.
Mr.. Voorhis, incidentally, was one
Of the three members who mentioned
the supply bin or the District during
4 hours and As minutes of general
debate, which covered a variety of
subjects ranging from the birthday
anniversary of William Mckinley to
President Roosevelt's latest message
on national defense. The Others were
Representative Schultz of Indiana
and Bigelow of Ohio. both Democrats
and both members of the District
Committee.
In fact, so little interest was shown
by the House in the appropriation bill
or the other subjects discussed that
the attendance never exceeded 40.
Throughout the day there was a fluc-
tuation between the 40 maximum and
a minimum of 13.
Hits Transfer of Girls.
Although Mr.. Voorhis directed his
attack primarily on the 100000 re-
lief fund, he took time to condemn
the bills proposal to transfer inmates
OF the National Training School for
Girls to the woman's penal colony
on the workhouse reservation at Oc-
coquan, Va, and to place children
now cared for at the Children's Re-
ceiving Home under the Police De-
partment
Mr.. Schultz joined Mr.. Voorhis in
plea for increased relief funds and
denounced the bills proposal to raise
the Police Departments special fund
for employment of "undercover" in
vestigators from $4,000 to $4,000.
The $4,000 would be used, Mr..
Schultz said. to pay stool pigeons"
who represent the lowest form of
degeneracy." ''Take that money
away from the Police Department"
he said, land give it to the needy
children"
Asks Single Tax System.
Mr.. Bigelow renewed his plea for
a single tax system for the District,
pointing out q 4 per cent tax on
land values instead Of the present
method of assessing both. land and
improvements would aid the small
home owner.
Near the close of debate Represent
ative Nichols, Democrat, of Okla
homa, chairman of the Fiscal Affairs
Subcommittee of the District Com
mittee. which IS developing a tax
increase program, conferred with Mr..
Collins on the floor regarding the
supply bills plan to force motorists
to pay the $765,000 street-lghting bill
in the coming fiscal year. Mr.. Mich
OILS has threatened to offer an amend
ment to shift the street-lighting bill
from the gasoline tax fund back to
the general revenues, fearful that
such diversions" might deplete the
gas tax fund and force an increase
in the gasoline tax.
THAT can't happen" Mr.. Collins
is said to have told him. There will
be more revenue in the gas tax fund
than the District needs for years to
come"