Evening star., 1942-03-06
Appropriation Bill
Limits New j. :. Autos
To Three Agencies
Only White House,
Army and Navy Given
Right to Buy Cars

Prohibition against purchase or
exchange of passenger automobiles
by Federal agencies other than the
White House and the military and
naval establishments, without spe-
cific approval of the Secretaries of
War and Navy, is contained in the
War Department civil functions ap-
propriations bill reported to the
House today.
Chairman Snyder of the subcom-
mittee in charge of the bill empha-
sized in his report that production
of passenger automobiles
of the smaller types and possibly OF
other types, has ceased.
1T is reasonably certain that the
need for passenger carrying vehicles
by the military and naval forces,
particularly the former, will severely
tax the supply. 1t is felt that such
IS may be available should be re-
served for defense uses, and that
all Federal agencies should be re-
uuired to get along with the equip
ment presently in USE" the report
said.
Soldiers Home Fund.
The bill carries 1857 ,531 for main
tenance and operation of the United
States Soldiers Home here. This
is an increase of $16l ,464 over the
appropriation for the fiscal year
1912.
Representative Snyder's report
explained that an increase of $64,-
214 has been requested by the Budg-
ct Bureau on account of growing
cost of food, clothing. fuel and other
commodities. The bill makes this
amount available Immediately
Mr.. Snyder also said additional
compensation for employees of the
home has become virtually man
datory." A per capita increase Of
Sll8, increasing the annual average
to 1864, is allowed as step toward
approximating the grade minima
fixed in the Classification Act. The
home is supported out of the con-
tributions of the benehciaries, and
for that reason the general policy
has been to exercise unusual care
in holding costs down.
Maj. Gen. F. w. Coleman, governor
Of the home, told the subcommittee
the original estimate for next year
submitted to the Budget Bureau
had been for 1923 030 more than
the estimate reported The addi-
tional amount was largely for en-
largement of a building, Gen.
Coleman explained.
War Halts Building Plan.
Referring to the program OF
building improvements which had
been planned, the governor said:
The building ought to be out at
this time. We can not justify it in
view of the national emergency
which has arisen since the estimate
was submitted"
The population Of the home on
February %. the day Gen. Coleman
was before the committee, was l 1,267.
In 1941, he said, the average num-
Der was 1872.
This drop in population" said
Gen. Coleman, "is one of those tenn
porary matters. A good many OF
my men who are physically capable
Of doing something are out helping
the Government by guarding build
ings. The Government finds it ad-
vantageous to employ these reliable
ex-service men to guard public
buildings. They will return to the
home just as soon as they get
through with their jobs"
While the population has de-
creased somewhat since last year.
the Governor reported. the food al
lowance has been increased. on rec
ommendation Of the inspector gen.
eral of the Army. This cost has
averaged 80 cents and a fraction a
day for each soldier.
Gen. Coleman said he could not
arrive at the exact increase in terms