Evening star., 1938-03-15
FINAL AGREEMENT
ON $47,0()0,0DOD. c:
BILL DUE TODAY
Estimated Total Depends on
Action of Conferees on
Few Items.
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
BRIDGE SEEN RETAINED
Health Center May Be Dropped.
Broadening of Terms on
Relief Forecast.

Relief Forecast.
With most Of their differences ten
tatively ironed out, House and Senate
conferees hope to reach a final agree
ment late today on a 1899 District
appropriation bill totaling about Sat-
100000. The exact total depends on
remaining issues awaiting settlement
today, but the conferees are reported
to have trimmed at least 100000
from the Senate figure of $48,166, 900.
When the conferees adjourned late
yesterday, indications were the $780,
600 item for a new Pennsylvania
avenue bridge across the AnacoStia
River would be retained. 1t previously
had become known that the Thomas
Circle traffic underpass and the K
street grade separation project at
Rock Creek and Potomac parkway
were slated for approval, but the Du-
pont Circle underpass labeled for re-
lection. A list of new street-paving
items approved by the Senate also
are understood to have been elimi-
mated.
Whether the Senate item for a new
bridge across Rock Creek and Potomac
parkway at Massachusetts, avenue will
be approved may depend on how much
money is found to be left in the high
way fund as result of other adjust
ments already worked out One of the
reasons the conferees adjourned with
out finishing yesterday was to check
up on the balance in the highway
fund.
May Restore Library Item.
The conferees are believed ready
to restore the House item Of $685.
to prepare plans for new Public
Library Building. with the under
standing that funds to erect the struc-
ture will not be appropriated in the
immediate future In addition to
authorizing the plans the House pro-
vision definitely sets aside part of the
municipal center area as the site
when Congress is ready to proceed.
It is understood that instead of re-
storing the House item for acquisition
of Homeopathic Hospital as health
center, the conferees will recommend
the proposed health center for that
neighborhood be dropped entirely for
the coming year. Last year Congress
authorized construction of a health
center on the site of the Jones Ele-
mentary School at First and l. streets
NV, but in passing the pending bill
the House voted to make the sl65 900
unexpended balance of that appro-
priation available to buy Homeopathic
Hospital as an alternative solution.
The Senate struck out the House pro-
posal, and the conferees are disposed
to postpone the whole project.
The conferees are expected to keep
the Children's Receiving Home in op-
Grafton for the remainder of this cal
endar year, instead of closing 1t July l,
as proposed by the House. The con-
ferees have not yet decided whether
to retain the National Training School
for Girls, which the House also voted
to abandon and send the inmates to
Lorton.
Playground Transfer Seen.
The House group is reported to
have been successful in retaining
transfer of jurisdiction over school
Fairgrounds during summer months
to the Community Center Department
OF Public Schools The Senate wanted
to leave control with the Municipal
Fairgrounds Department.
1t is reported the House also has
had restored its provision for six full
time resident physicians for Gallinger
Hospital, but they will not be desig-
mated department heads, as originally
proposed. The Senate struck out the
item for the doctors and sought to
have the money used to employ more
nurses.
While the conferees probably will
not call for a report on the proposed
relief investigation in time to raise
the 100000 relief fund before Con-
gress adjourns, it is believed they will
broaden the terms of the bill to enable
the Welfare Department to spend
more than one-twelfth of the fund
each month to avoid possibility Of
hardship before Congress reconvenes
in January. A decision could be
reached then as to whether more
money should be appropriated for the
second half of the fiscal year. based
on the findings of the relief investi-
cation.
Armory Site May Be Lost.
While the $150,000 Senate amend
ment to acquire a site for National
Guard armory is undetermined, it is
likely to be eliminated.
The Senate added funds for IS ad-
ditional policemen to help improve
crime conditions, but it is not expected
the conferees will allow more than 10.
The conferees are understood to have
been informed a number of members
of the force are assigned to non-police
duties. It was intimated a sugges-
tion may be made to police officials
that the entire authorized strength
Of uniformed personnel be assigned to
police work. It was reported the con-
ferees had received some anonymous
communications in this connection.