Evening star., 1938-02-06
COPELAND PLANS
MOVE TO INCREASE
LUMP SUM FORD.C.
Senate Subcommittee to Be.
gin Hearings on Measure
Tuesday Morning.
CITY HEADS TO LEAD
LIST OF WITNESSES
S., 900 900 Federal Share Figure
Is Held 1nadequate-Defcit
Is Anticipated.

BY J. A. O'LEARY.

ny j. "A. " LEAh1.
Renewed efforts to obtain some in
crease in the s5,o0O,Ooo lump sum
Federal share Of the s45,076,522 Dis
trict appropriation bill for next fiscal
year were being planned yesterday by
Senator Copeland, Democrat, OF New
York.
Meanwhile, the District Subcom-
mittee Of the Senate Appropriations
Committee Is preparing to begin ex-
ecutive hearings on the measure at
10 am. Tuesday, with Chairman
Thomas of Oklahoma in charge of
the bill.
Commenting on the fact that as
1t came from the House, the bill
leaves deflcit to be met by added
local taxation of s2oOo,000 which may
be greater before 1t is enacted, Sena-
tor Copeland said:
Il believe that in the Senate calm
consideration will be given both to
the needs of the city in the way Of
expenditures, and also as regards the
amount Of the lump sum Federal
payment"
Present Figure Held Inadequate.
Indicating he expects to discuss with
his colleagues on the subcommittee his
views regarding the present state Of
fiscal relations between the Federal
and local governments in apportioning
District expenses, the New York Sena-
tor said he does not believe the present
lump sum figure is adequate in view
OF the activities carried on here of
benefit to the National Government as
we'll as the local community.
1t would be especially reasonab bic.
Senator Copeland said, to make some
addition to the Federal share if the
Senate finds it advisab BILE to increase
the net total of the House bill.
The Commissioners and Budget Off
Ger D. J. Donovan will be the first
witnesses Tuesday to give the sub
committee a general picture of the
bill before department heads present
detailed items. officials will be fol-
lowed by civic organiza tions the latter
part of the week or early next week
Fund Restoration Seen.
While the House total is technically
s45 076,522, the Senate Is sure to re-
store the S765,0o0 for street lighting,
either in the general fund or as
new charge against the highway fund.
House opposition to transferring this
expense to the highway fund resulted
in taking it out of the bill entirely
pending Senate action.
Where to put this street lighting
cost and whether to raise the 100000
unemployment relief fund will be two
of the major issues for consideration
in the Senate hearings.
Various other changes the House
made in budget estimates, resulting
in net reduction of about $500 900
in the total, probably will come in for
some discussion also.
The heaviest House reductions we're
S636,006 cut from several parts Of the
school budget and S424,l85 from public
welfare activities. Smaller items were
| trimmed in other parts Of the bill.
These reductions. however, still leave
the District facing necessity of rails
ing s2,oo0,ooO deficit by added taxa
ton. Chairman Thomas Of the Sen
ate subcommittee has said his pur-
pose will be to try to make the bill
as satisfactory to the District as pos
sible. He also has indicated desire
to hold the total down.
Deficit of S2,165,000.
If the street lighting cost Is put
back in the general fund it will bring
the deficit requiring tax legislation
to S2765.000. Some officials esti-
mate it would be close to the three
million mark. There was strong op-
position in the House. however, to
the transfer of lighting costs to the
highway fund. on the ground 1t would
constitute diversion. and might en-
danger future inclusion Of the Dis
trict in the Federal-aid highway Law.
which places restrictions on the use
of highway funds In States receiv-
ing Federal aid.
Under the heading of schools one
Of the major House reductions was
the cutting of s194416 from the ap-
preparation for teachers.
Another House change likely to
come up in the Senate hearings was
| the elimination of funds to start q
| new Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge
across the Anacostia River. and the
inclusion of traffic underpass at
Thor1as Circle, along with similar
underpass already in the estimates for
Dupont Circle.