Evening star., 1939-05-30
0verton 10 Ask
Lump Sum Hike
For School Jobs
Senator Seeks Sturt
To Replace Buildings
He Calls q Disgrace
BY J. A. OLEARY.

Declaring that some of the city's
old school buildings are "a dis
grace to the Capital City" Chairman
Overton OF the Senate Subcommit-
tee on District Appropriation said
today he will strongly urge the SUBJ
committee to make start on re-
placement program in the pending
1910 supply bill.
He reiterated at the same time
that he will urge an increase in the
100000 lump sum Federal pay
ment to more equitable figure to
help meet these and other improve
ments considered during the Senate
hearings.
His observations regarding the
school construction program we're
based on impressions gained yester-
day, when he and Senators Nye of
North Dakota, Capper of Kansas
and Chavez of New Mexico accom-
panied school officials on tour of
inspection.
Il am more convinced than ever"
Senator Overton said, that I was
right in asking the school officials
to submit during the hearings a list
of some of these old buildings that
should be replaced"
The Senator said also he is of
the opinion that replacement should
be accompanied by consolidation,
that is, by erecting one large struc-
ture in community to take the
place of two or three antiquated
eight ht-room buildings in the same
neighborhood.
May Hinge on U. S. Payment.
1t was indicated early in the hear
ings that the subcommittee PROBABLY
would consider including in the
pending bill four white and two
colored school replacement projects
from the top of longer list of
building needs submitted by Supt.
Frank w. Ballou at the request Of
Senator Overton.
How far the subcommittee will be
able to go, however, will await de-
liberations starting Wednesday on
the relative merits of increases
asked for in House allowances for
many District activities
The amount the subcommittee
adds to the bill for all purposes is
likely to depend directly on the
decision reached regarding the
amount of the Federal payment.
because as it came from the House
the bill already exceeds anticipated
District revenues for next year, if
new tax bill is not agreed upon.
Even if the Commissioners con-
tinue the temporary sl.75 rate on
real estate and tangible personal
property, and a new tax program
is not passed by Congress to replace
the expiring business privilege levy,
the House bill calls for about $685.
900 more than prospective revenues.
Donovan Is Asked for Data.
Senator Overton has asked Dis
trict Budget Officer Donovan to pre-
pare for the subcommittee state
ment of how the S5,0000O0 Federal
lump sum compares with what the
District now does toward upkeep
and development of the National
Capital.
During the last Is years the
Federal share of maintaining the
Capital has dWindled from 40 per
cent, under the fixed ratio estab-
lished in 1922, to approximately II
per cent, under the $4,000, 900 lump
sum payment. The substantive law
fixing the 60-40 ratio was not re-
pealed until last year. although it
had been departed from annually
by lump-sum practice since the fls-
cal year 1925. Senator Overton has
a separate bill pending in the Sem
ate District Committee to re-estab-
lish a new fixed ratio. based on the
percentage of the land acreage of
the city required for national pur-
poses. At present this formula would
make the Federal share 20 per cent
of the general fund expenses of the
city. or about S8OO0000.
While establishment of this new
formula is entirely separate from
the pending appropriation bill,
there would be nothing to prevent
the Appropria tons Subcommittee
from recommending an adjustment
of the lump sum for the coming
year, pending action on the separate
fiscal relations bill