Evening star., 1941-05-12
Overton
Continued From First Page)

This bill would remove all that
controversy"
Plea for Simple Justice" Made.
Debate on the bill opened with q
plea by Representative Hunter,
Democrat. of Ohio to perform
simple act of deserved justice to
the District and pass it as the
Senate did about a month ago with
out a dissenting vote.
Chief opposition to the measure
came from Representatives Mahon.
Democrat, of Texas, chairman Of
the subcommittee in charge of the
District appropriation bill. and
Dirksen of Illinois, ranking minor
ity member of the District legisla-
tive committee.
Aroused by the House attitude
toward the legislation, after hours
of debate Representative Randolph
declared:
There is spirit Of filibuster
here today. I know because certain
members have told me so. But I
know it doesn't come from members
of the District committee
Mr.. Randolph then read excerpts
from an editorial in The Sunday
Star of yesterday emphasizing ths
responsibility of the House toward
the District, and said:
Il am firmly convinced that the
Federal payment toward the District
at the present time is inadequate.
My feeling is that Congress should
give q greater amount than is now
paid. The Senate without dissent.
ing vote passed the bill and ths
House District Committee approved
it after careful consideration. Presi-
dent Roosevelt had such an interest
in the bill he asked for an amend-
ment which was adopted by the
committee.
Plea Made for Committee.
THE District Committee is en-
titled to better treatment of bills il
brings before this body. The com.
mittee is attempting to do the best
it can. All I ask is that measures
reported by the committee be con-
sidered on their merits and voted
either up or down"
Representative Dirksen argued
that adoption of the Overton
formula would make permanent
the ratio of the Federal payment
toward District expenses and
"divest" Congress of fixing the
amount in the future unless it re-
pealed the legislation.
He pointed out that as ths
Government acquisition of property
here increases, so will the Federal
payment under the Overton plan.
The formula" he declared. rs
like the jumping frog of California.
1t will Jump a little each year.
Mr. Dirksen also asked: ''1f the
formula is applied here why not in
other sections of the country where
there large Federal holdings?"
Formula Held Fallacious.
Mr. Hunter argued that the Fed
eral Government now maintains the
vast National Park areas in the
States, but does not provide streets.
sidewalks, water and other services
for the Government buildings IN
Washington.
IF this bill is rejected. and hope
it will be-" declared Mr.. Dirksen,
there will still be the power In
Congress to provide Federal pay
ment. The bill contains faulty and
fallacious formula which ought to
be rejected"
Representative Mahon told the
House he is opposed to treating the
District like stepchild," but he did
not believe the Overton formula
would settle anything"
1T will" he added, establish q
dangerous and indefinable precedent.
1t is a most unfortunate plan" -
Mr.. Mahon contended that taxes
here are lower than in most cities
Of comparable size, that the Federal
pay roll here amounts to $3.50 900 900
to s340, 900 900 a year, and that a.
400, 900 tourists come here every year
to aid business. These favorabls
conditions, he declared, allow for
two cars in every garage"