Evening star., 1939-06-04
D. T.. Bill Report
Puts Lump Sum
AT $7,750,000
Senate May Take Up
SAG, 522, 1886 Measure
Tomorrow
By !, A, OLEARY.

tomorrow the 49,522 1886 District
Supply. Bill for the year beginning
July /, which came out of the Ap-
preparations Committee late yes
terday carrying many important
amendments, and with the Federal
share raised from $5,0O0O0O to ST.
75oOOO.
AS reported out by Senator Over
ton, Democrat, of Louisiana, the
Senate measure adds $2,607,778 to
the House total of S46,915 POT, main
ly for school improvements, relief
and public welfare, police, fire and
neaitn protection.
These additional items were made
possible by the S2,750,000 increase
in the national Government share
of the total
In revised form, the bill will give
the Capital City substantially
balanced budget. Without counting
on new tax legislation, which has
not passed either branch, the House
bill left a probable deficit of sl85, 900
Thus, the adjustment in the lump
sum comes within $4,000 of cover
ing this deficit and the additional
Senate appropriation items.
This is the first move the Senate
has made since 1886 to change the
s5,000000 lump sum payment, in
order to have the Federal Govern
ment meet a fairer proportion of
the cost of maintaining and develop
ing the National Capital.
High Lights of Bill
High lights of the Senate bill in
clude:
Addition of s859.55O to the school
building program to start long
range program of replacing small,
antiquated buildings with larger
structures. Counting items already
in the House bill, this makes ap-
proximately s2.400,500 for public
works for the school system, and
brings the school part of the total
budget up from s13,O03 ,606 to about
s13.890 900.
An increase in the relief fund
from 5000 900 to s1,5OO,00O, with half
of the added 5000 900 ear-marked for
employables who are out of work and
unprovided for by w. P. A. At
present the local relief fund is used
almost entirely for unemployables.
The committee authorized Chair
man Overton to offer an amend
ment in the Senate designating the
East Capitol street site, instead of q
location in the Southwest, for the
National Guard armory and allow
ing an additional s350,O0O to begin
construction. The House bill merely
made available $l50,0OO of an un-
expended balance to acquire South
west site. At the end of East Capitol
street the Government already owns
nearly all of the land that would be
needed. The Senate amendment
will therefore allow s50O,OOO in all.
with authority to prepare plans and
start construction. When completed
the armory will cost S2,750,0OO.
Library to Be Sought.
Senator Overton also was author.
lied to offer an amendment restoring
language stricken in the House to
enable the Commissioners to enter
into contracts up to limit of cost
OF S1l18 900 for the first unit of a
new extensible public library build
Ing on part of the municipal center,
Pennsylvania avenue. between John
Marshall place and Sixth street The
House bill made $35O,OOO available
to begin construction, but left out
the authority for the Commissioners
to make necessary contracts within
the ultimate limit of cost.
The Senate Committee reversed
the House decision to transfer
municipal Fairgrounds to the Com
munity Center department of the
public schools, taking the view they
should not be merged.
The police department was given
25 more men, which is in addition
to Is already approved by the House.
The Senate bill also doubled the
fund for new traffic lights, making
it $4,000.
In addition to raising the relief
fund, the Senate Committee liberal
lied the House restriction of $48 per
month to family on relief or re-
celving other forms of public as
sistance. The committee adopted
Senator Overtons suggestion to
make $48 the basic amount for
family of five or less, plus Sc for
each additional dependent.
An unexpected development was
the committees action in reducing
the salaries of Health Officer George
c. Rutland and his first assistant,
DR.. Daniel L. Seckinger. by $1,000
each, making them $500 and
$500, respectively.
At the same time the committee
restored several health department
positions eliminated by the House,
namely: Business manager, 5000;
secretary, superintendent of health
department housing and telephone
operator. The committee also added
$40, 100 for 10 additional health de-
partment nurses.
The committee struck from the
(See D. c. BILL, Page A-14.)