Evening star., 1940-02-29
Appropriations
Chairmen Report
Revenue 10 Be Guide
Overton and Caldwell
Address Dinner Guests
Of Motor Club Units

ana senate APPROPRIATIONS SuDcOm-
mittees which handle the District
budget last night reminded officials
and civic leaders that District ex-
penditures will have. to be governed
by anticipated revenue.
They spoke at a dinner at the
Sulgrave Club in honor of members
OF Congress dealing with District
affairs under the joint auspices of
the Women's Safety Committee of
the Advisory Board of the District
Motor Club of the American Auto
mobile Association.
Senator John H. Overton of Loui-
slana, chairman of the Senate sub
committee, reiterated an earlier an
= nouncement that he and Repre-
sentative Caldwell, chairman of the
House subcommittee, had agreed
there would be no controversy this
year over the s6,0O0,OOO Federal pay
ment to the District.
Mr.. Caldwell minced no words in
taking civic groups to task for their
work in behalf of many "unessen-
tial' items which they were not
Wiling W pay lOT.
Suggests Accord on Program.
Congress wants to do all you
want to have done and will pay for"
he told the approximately 80 guests,
adding "it might not be amiss for
civic groups to get together and
present a program for which the
District will be willing to pay"
Representative Jennings Randolph,
chairman of the House District
Committee, paid brief tribute to
members of the committee, pointing
out that there used to be numerous
vacancies, but now none existed.
, Senator King of Utah, chairman of
the Senate District Committee, was
unable to attend.
In connection with his remarks
on the Federal payment to the Dis
trict, Senator Overton declared en-
phatically he regarded it a national
obligation to make adequate con-
tribution to upkeep and maintenance
OF the Nations Capital
Cites National Significance.
II do not look upon the District
as community by ITSELF" he de-
clared. Il look upon it as the capital
OF the greatest nation in the world
He referred to the recent criticism
of some District institutions by Mrs
Roosevelt and said there were many
institutions that needed improve
ment. He pointed to some of the
old school buildings as other ex-
amples.
Il tried to get an increase in the
Federal payment to take care of
some of these things" he declared
Senator Overton's remarks were
addressed primarily at legislative
program outlined to the group by
Washington I. Cleveland, manager
Of the District Motor Club.
Mr. Cleveland's report urged:
l. Authorization for the Commits
sioners to establish off-street park
ing facilities.
Would Extend Driving Courses.
2. Extension of the driver training
course in the Abbot Vocational
School to the Phelps (colored)
Vocational School, Mckinley High
School and Armstrong (colored
High School by increasing the pres
ent appropriation from $4,000 to
'S6,4O0.
8. Assigning of one Police Court
Judge to exclusive handling of traf-
f1c cases.
4. Extend provisions of Safety Re-
sponsibility Act to cover reckless
driving conviction. This would car
ry automatic suspension or revoca-
ton of permit by the traffic di-
rector
5 Opposition to 1-cent increase
in gasoline tax and diversion of its
proceeds to the general fund.
6. Increase in the appropriation
for snow removal.
7. Support of a bill now pending
In Congress to set up in the Office
of the director of vehicles and traf-
fic an Office to record liens on
automobiles and automobile acces-
sories.
8. An increase in personnel of Po-
lice Department as recommended
by Supt Ernest w. Brown, in
cluding 40 new motorcycle patrol
men.
Senator Overton indicated he was
not 100 per cent for this program
but indicated objection only to the
snow removal item. He said in this
case he thought the appropriation
ought to be adequate to meet emer-
gency needs.
Indorses Off-Street Parking.
He gave hearty Endorsement to
the off-street parking proposal and
suggested an increase in the gaso-
line tax to pay for it. He also
agreed with the stand against di-
version of the gasoline tax for
other purposes.
AS a champion of the introduc-
ton of the driving course to the
Abbot, he expressed the hope it
might be extended to five or six
schools. He also approved the meas
ure IN connection with auto liens.
Th~ Louisianan expressed the
conviction that the Senate ought to
have District day the way the
House now has, when District legis-
lation could be disposed of by ma
jority vote and not held up by a
single vote the way it can be now
to place on the calendar.
Mr.. Caldwell, who said he planned
to return to private life at the end
! of his term, said he "marveled at
the success of the District in an
tagonizing Congress-" This he at
tributed to tendency on the part
of District groups to lionize those
who agree with them and give the
cold shoulder to those that don't.
Praise for the work of the Ad-
. visory Board and the Women's