Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-12
P. v. A. DEAD[|NE
WARNS D. {. ON
LOSING BENEFITS
Liberal Loans and Grants
Barred Unless Borrowing
Act Is Revised.
FACES 15PER CENTLOSS
ON CASH GIFT ALONE
Local Government Also Required
to Repay 100000 Yearly
Under Present Terms.

A tentative deadline set for receiv-
ing applications under the new billion
dollar Public Works Administration
program which Congress is now shap-
ing. served today as a warning to the
commissioners to speed amendments
to enable the District to benefit from
more liberal terms on loans and grants.
Administrator Ickes has set August
81 as the deadline in accordance with
provisions of the House resolution con-
tlnulng the P. w. A., which provide
that no new applications for non
Federal projects shall be received or
considered after that date There is
q possibility that the deadline may be
advanced to September 80 in the final
stage of enactment.
The District of Columbia will be
left out in the cold entirely if the
Commissioners don't send in their new
applications for projects before the
deadllne passes, it was said today at
the P. w. A. BY that time it was ex-
pected practically the entire billion
dollars will have been obligated.
FolHt 10 UnllDeraIlZed Act.
Officials pointed out also that the
District would have to continue re-
payment at the rate of $l,OO0.OOO a
year on the old basis of 80 per cent
grant and 10 per cent loan unless its
own P. w. A. Act of 1884 is liberalized
In the future the P. w. A. will con-
tinue to make grants and loans on
$3.50 ratio and Congress is expected
10 provide an alternative plan for
financing projects on even more IA
,vorable terms.
Two weeks ago the Commissioners
appointed committee to redraft the
Oistflct s borrowing act SO as to place
this community on a more equitable
basis. No report has been made as
yet. Whatever recommendations are
made to Congress within reason are
assured of strong support.
The District has borrowed 81. 462 600
from the P. w. A. and in four years it
mas repaid S4000,000 Administrator
lckes said recently he thought the
commissioners justified in seeking
terms on parity with other iuris-
dlctlons and it was believed he would
give his support to the necessary
amendments to accomplish this pur-
pose.
Burdens Jeopardize ADVANTAGES.
With the additional burdens imposed
! by the new tax law, the Commissioners
I"ould be hard pressed to assume any
other obligations under a P. w. A. pro-
lgram unless the requirement of re-
kpaying S1,000,OO0 annually out of
axes is eliminated or greatly modified
without amendment of local borrow
ZIG act, 1t was considered very doubt
fFl II the District could afford to 90
deeper into debt for the much needed
ADDITION to Gallinger Hospital and two
new court buildings.
With tentative deadline set bv Mr.
1ckeS. States, counties and municipali-
ties have been notified to lose no time
In sending their applications for prof.
ects to the P. W. A. field Offices at
New York, Chicago, Atlanta. Omaha.
Fort Worth, San Francisco and Port
land, Greg. These comprise the region
al set-up for the entire country
Maryland applications will be re-
eeived in New York and Virginia's at
Atlanta. Applications also may be
sent direct to Washington.
4,o69 New Projects Sought.
Reports received from five of the
regional offices embracing "a States,
listed 4,o69 projects at a total esti-
mated cost Of S1,554,8Ol. These new
potential projects are in addition. it
was said, to the 2,7l4 already filed and
approved by the examining divisions
put Tor which no funds are now avail
able.
Allotments for the 27l4 approved
projects would result in Sl.OO7, 44O 600
worth Of construction, with applicants
bearing SIS per cent of the cost. The
new pump printing" funds, of course.
Will be insufficient to provide for all
these needs.
For this reason, P w. A. officials
pointed out, the District should hasten
to revise its financing arrangement if
1t is still in the market for Federal
assistance in building municipal i'm
provements.