Evening star., 1938-06-01
LOCAL 7. P.W.A.B BILL
PUSHED IN HOUSE
Committee Backs Plan for
D. c. Program of
S18,5OO,0OO.

Speedy House action on a compre-
hensive improvement program for
Washington was assured today as the
District Committee, at special meet
ing, favorably reported bill authoriz-
ing the Commissioners to borrow $18,-
100000 Of w. P A. funds under the
As per cent grant terms enjoyed by
the various States. An identical meas
ure is on the Senate calendar.
The committee also rushed to the
House calendar four other bills, one of
which is designed to modernize and
increase the efficiency of the tax as
sessing and tax collecting machinery
at the District Building.
The other bills favorably reported
follow: ezsrss.ss ~ ,sgs .s
I. Directing the Commissioners to
reinstate former Policemen David r.
Thompson and Ralph s. Warner. who
were dismissed six years ago following
their conviction before the Police Trial
Board on charges of accepting bribe.
2. Amending the coming act to per-
NIT erection of 110-foot building on
the southeast corner of Thirteenth
street and Massachusetts, avenue NV.
The present height limit on this site
is 80 feet.
3. Amending the act incorporating
the Society of American Florists and
Ornamental Horticulturists, permit
ting it to increase its personal estate
in the District to $1,000
Seal Urges Quick Action.
Elwood H. Seal. corporation counsel,
appealed for quick action on the P. w.
A. local authorization bill, pointing out
there are number Of urgently y-needed
projects in the District for which the
$l8,l50,00 would be used. These in
clude buildings for the Municipal and
Juvenile Courts, the recorder of deeds,
public schools and sewers.
Mr.. Seal explained that under p.
w. A., provisions of 1894, the District
spent $6,375,000 Of the $10,750, 900
authorized on 10 per cent loan and
80 per cent grant basis. The new
bill, he said, would cancel the re-
mainder of this authorization and
make future P. w. A. loans available
as IS per cent loan and As per cent
grant.
The bill designed to increase eff
cheney in the tax collecting and tax as
sessing offices is the outgrowth OF an
intensive study made last year by a
special committee appointed by the
Commissioners. This measure also
contains several provisions to relieve
hardships on property owners in con-
nection with special assessments.
Amendment Move Lost.
Representative Hull, Progressive, of
Wisconsin made futile effort to have
one section of the bill amended which
would have reduced the present pen
atty on delinquent tax payments from
to one-half Of per cent month.
He claimed a per cent interest 'is
excessive in these times" His amend
ment, however, was rejected by 80
vote.
A favorable report on the bill direct
ing the Commissioners to icinstate
former Policemen Thompson and
Warner was urged by Representatives
Randolph OF West Virginia and
Jenckes of Indiana, both Democrats,
who served as members Of special
subcommittee which made an exfaus-
tive investigation of that case.
Mr.. Randolph declared the two men
were convicted on the testimony of
colored bootlegger who had been arr
rested As times and had served num-
Der of prison sentences. "It's destruc-
tive to the morale of the Police De-
partment," he said, "to allow these
men to stand convicted on the testi-
rnony Of criminal"