Evening star., 1941-11-28
Eight D. {. Bills
Win Approval
OF Senate Group
Water Survey and
Public Works Fund
Are Favored
BY J. A. O'LEARY.


A thorough investigation Of the
District water system, a S6,O00,000
Federal Works Agency authorization
to meet emergency needs in WASH
ington and six other local bills were
by the Senate District
Committee today in record time.
The water resolution asks the
Senate for $4,000 to enable the Dis
trict Committee to make a complete
survey of the needs and method of
financing the water service to deter
mine whether higher rates to private
consumers are justified in view Of
the heavy burden Federal requires
ments are placing on the water
system.
The Federal Works Bill, which
also has been reported favorably
from the House District Committee,
is to make the District eligible to
share in the benefits of the Lanham
Act, under which the Federal Gov
ernment is helping to build munici-
pal facilities in communities facing
rapid expansion due to the defense
program.
Hopes for Larger Fund.
The Federal Works Agency has
indicated it may be able to allocate
$4,000, 900 to the District out of the
original S150,000,000 in the Lanham
Act. Meanwhile, House committee
is considering a furthur authori-
zation of 300,000,0O0 for use under
the Lanham Act, from which the
District hopes to get furthur allot-
ment.
The water investigation was pro.
posed by Chairman McCarran sew
eral months ago, after local officials
announced the rates of private water
users would have to be increased to
meet growing needs for expansion
of the system.
Although the improvements to
the system are made necessary
largely by the defense program. with
many new Government buildings
going up in and near Washington,
the Federal Government receives
all its water free.
This question Of fiscal equity be.
tween the Federal and District gov
ernments in the furnishing of water
is expected to be one of the major
points analyzed in the survey.
In the early days of the National
Capital the water service was started
as Federal undertaking to supply
the few Government buildings then
in existence and the small local
community. Later the District gov
eminent was made a partner in the
development and upkeep Of the
| system.
Transferred to Consumers.
AS time went on, however, more
and more of the cost was transferred
to the private water consumers, and
about IL or 13 years ago the entire
cost OF operating both the supply
and distribution was transferred to
the fund obtained from private
water rates.
Since the water fund is handled
separately from the general tax fund
Of the District, no part of the annual
lump sum payment made by the
United States toward the general ex-
penses of the city goes into the water
service. At the same time, the por-
| tions of the system which the Fed
eral Government helped to finance
are now the oldest and most de-
preciated parts.
OF the six other bills reported
favorably by the committee today,
five have already passed the House.
namely:
To clarity and strengthen the law
governing condemnation Of un.
wholesome food.
To establish courses in ground
training for aviation in the senior
high schools, and authorization Of
$4,000 for six teachers
To fix penalties for persons con-
victed of smuggling drugs or
weapons into District penal insti-
| tutions.
To increase the powers Of the
Board of Public Welfare in dealing
with children needing public care or
protection.
To confer additional authority to
sign papers on some of the assistant
clerks OF the District Court.
Welfare Merit System.
One other bill approved today, to
establish a merit system for en-
ployes of the Welfare Board, has
not passed either house.
In the absence from the city Of
Chairman McCarran, the meeting
was conducted by Senator Tydings,
Democrat, of Maryland. R. F.
Camalier, committee counsel, had
conferred with other absent men,
bers on the bills to be taken up for
action
Corporation Counsel Richmond
B. Keech agreed with suggestion
by Senator Tydings that the time
has come to draft new general
definition of property of non-prof1t
organizations that should be exempt
from local taxation.
During the past year the District
has been putting many parcels OF
exempt property of hospitals, re-
ligious and other societies back on
the tax rolls as the result of re-
study of the existing law. Mr..
Keech said the whole subject OF re-
vision of the law is now before tho
Commissioners for study.