Evening star., 1938-06-17
%,0D0,0lO VOTED
F0RTWOFEDERAL
BUILDINGS IN D. c.
Social Security and War
Structures Approved at
Last Minute.
BAN AGAINST DISTRICT
IN P. w. A. is OFFSET
Deficiency Bill Carries $500, 900
Jefferson Memorial Fund
as Starter.

as Starter.
Appropriation Of $4,000, 900 in ths
last deficiency bill to begin new
buildings for the War Department
and the Social Security Board ir
Washington was one Of the final acts
Of Congress before adjournment last
night.
The conferees put appropriation
for both structures back in the bill
after the Senate had eliminated
them few days ago, but killed 9
third proposal to make $1,250. .00O
available to start work on new
Army Medical Labrary and Museum
here to replace the present one at
Seventh and Independence avenue.
In restoring the War and Social
Security building items. the conferees
directed that the 100000 to start
each structure" be taken from the new
1866, 100000 P. w. A. fund in the
work relief bill, and turned over to the
procurement division OF the Treasury,
which handles the regular public
building program.
Offsets Discrimination.
This last-minute action in the de-
ficiency bill had the effect of off,
setting discrimination against the
District of Columbia in the big work
relief bill, in which it was stipulated
that any p. w. A. money set aside
for Federal projects could be used
only outside of Washington. While
that ban remains in the relief bill rs
to any other Federal projects, the
deficiency bill definitely earmarks S.
100000 of the p. w. A. money for these
two buildings.
The $S,oo0,0o0 War Department
allotment is to acquire a site and erect
the first unit of a building layout, the
ultimate cost OF which is to be $10,-
$4,000. The War Department de-
velopment win extend from Twenty
first to Twenty-third, c to E streets
NV.
The ultimate cost OF. the Social Sc
eurity structure, which also will house
the Railroad Retirement Board, will
be $14,250,000. The site contemplated
for this building Is on Independence
avenue from Third to Fourth streets
southwest. e...
Fund for Memorial.
The deficiency bill as finally passed
also carried the $500 900 fund to start
work on the Thomas Jefferson Me-
mortal. Despite widespread contro-
versy over the proposed plans and
Tidal Basin site, the Senate wednes-
day refused to modify the measure
to require Fine Arts Commission ap-
proval of the site and design. with
the rejection of the amendment in
the Senate, the item was not subject
to further discussion in conference.
AS finally passed, the deficiency
bill contains about $915, 900 to meet
various needs Of the District govern
ment that have arisen since enact
ment Of the regular District appro-
priation act. Included in this Dis
trict section Of the bill are funds to
keep the National Training School
Tor Girls and the Children's Receiy-
ing Home open for the coming fiscal
year. This rescinds the decision of
conferees on the regular District bill
to close the Training School by July
and the Receiving Home January
l. Meanwhile careful study will be
made by welfare experts to determine
how the inmates Of these institutions
should be cared for after next year.
The deficiency conferees made only
one change in the list of local items
in the bill, and that was to reduce the
fund for the new Lunacy Commission
from s14,s2o to $4,000.
Principal Local Items.
The principal local items in this
last supply bill include: For the
Districts sponsor contribution to W..
P. A. projects, $189,500; to construct
two testing stations for the mechan-
ical inspection of automobiles, start
ing next year, $154,720; payments to
Federal penal institutions and to St.
Elizabeth's Hospital, $141,s60; addi-
tional expenses incident to the new
tax law, $101,175; to carry out the
new zoning bill, $500; Health De-
partment expenses, $2,512; Juvenile
Court, s35,900, and a number of
smaller miscellaneous items.
For Improvements at the WASH
ington Navy Yard the deficiency bill
contains $515,000. The bill also pro-
vides more than $35.O00,00O for a
naval shipbuilding program, includ-
ing the starting of two new battle
ships and an aircraft carrier.
The bill also makes $4,000 avail
able to add story to two wings of
the Navy Department Building here.
The conferees approved $4,000, 900
to start the program of Federal aid
TO the States to fight venereal disease.
For administrative expenses Of the
United States Housing Authority. the
conferees compromised on $780,
600. The House had allowed only
$2,25o,0o0, while the Senate voted
for $4,000, 900.
Congress agreed to the appropria-
tions for the War Department and
Social Security Board in the belief
that bringing together the scattered
units OF these two agencies would
promote economy and efficiency. The
War Department now occupies 10
buildings and the Social Snr,,rity