Evening star., 1939-07-01
President Raps
Failure 10 Pass
District Bill
Orders Essential
Public Services
Carried On
BULLETIN.


Louisiana announced this after
noon he would not introduce a
continuing resolution to provide
expense money for the District
government pending Anal con-
gressional action on the supply
and tax bills. He said that by
custom and tradition such a
resolution should originate In the
House. A continuing resolution
cannot be introduced in the
House before Wednesday because
Of the absence of Chairman Col
Inns Of the House Subcommittee
on District Appropriations.
President Roosevelt in letter to
the District Commissioners today,
commenting on the failure of Con-
gress to enact an appropriation bill
for the District at the close of the
fiscal year, declared it was "un-
thinkable" that Washington es-
sential public services should be in
terrupted, and directed that the
normal functions of the local gov
ernment be carried on until the sup
ply measure is approved.
The President wrote:
Owing to the unfortunate delay
In the enactment of the annual ap-
preparation bill for the District Of
Columbia for the new fiscal year, be-
ginning today. July l, 1899. I'm in
formed that no funds are legally
available for the current expendi-
lures of the District government.
while this is indeed an awkward
situation, it is unthinkable that es-
sential public services in the Ma
tion's Capital should be interrupted
and the residents of the District of
Columbia be deprived for even a
brief period of such modern necessi-
ties as police and fire protection,
health and hospital services, water,
lighting, courts, ETC., etc.
Ordered to Continue.
For the time being, therefore,
during the existing emergency and
until otherwise advised. you are
authorized and directed to maintain
and carry on in the usual manner
the normal operations of the GOV
ernment of the District and incur
such expenditures and Indebtedness
as may be necessary and proper for
that purpose"
Meanwhile, no checks went cut
from the Public Assistant Division
OF the District to the aged, the needy
blind. dependent children and relief
clients because the division md
neither funds nor an order from
congress to send out checks.
Miss Essie-Marie Ross, acting
director OF the P. A. D., explained
that the checks are sent out on a
monthly basis. She said her diyi.
sion was "heartsick" about its in
ability to send out the money and
said she feared what would happen
Wednesday when her Office reopens
after long holiday. She said the
needy might be able to last a dav
or SO, but no longer without their
checks.
She added that she feared land
lords would go in for wholesale
eviction If the needy aren't taken
care OF with their regular checks.
Large Group Affected.
Affected by the missing appropria-
uon are 3,273 aged. 216 needy blind
$50 mothers and children and 1,7OO
general relief families, averaging
three people to a.family.
Failure of Congress to pass a con-
tlnuing resolution before it ad-
Journey last night actually left the
Dlstrlct government operating in
technical violation of law, with the
District appropriation and tax bills
still deadlocked at the Capitol by
House unwillingness to compromise
on the amount of the Federal obli-
cation to the expenses of the city.
The business privilege tax expired
at midnight by its own terms and
" employees engaged in its enforce
ment are on furlough.
Although the House will convene
today, it is expected to hold only a
brief session. 1t could not take any
effective action looking toward a
continuing resolution, since the
Senate adjourned shortly before 2
am. until next Wednesday.
Since appropriation bills originate
in the House, a temporary continu-
(see D. c. BILL, Page A-6J