Evening star., 1942-06-07
House Hearings
Planned on DC,
Bill Changes
Committee Ready
For Inquiry When
Senote Takes Action
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

With Senate approval of the
District appropriation bill expected
tomorrow. members of the House
subcommittee on District Appro-
priations are prepared to inquire
Immediately into drastic changes
made in the measure since it was
adopted by the House.
The subcommittee, under Senator
O'Mahoney, Democrat, Of Wyoming,
made a net addition of slS5,11O to
the S56,126,131 bill, but various re-
ductions as well as increases were
made in the contents of the bill.
Prominent in the changes made
by the Senate group are those con-
corning the District Welfare De-
partment. subject discussed Fri
day by Mrs. Roosevelt with Senator
OMahoney, Chairman Mahon of
the House Appropriations Subcom-
mittee, Chairman Randolph of the
House District Committee, and other
congressional and District leaders.
The Senate Committee approved
restoration of the position of prin-
cipal assistant welfare director, at
a salary of $6,500, which the House
had abolished. This position is held
by Miss Gay Shepperson, and at the
White House conference the de-
STABILITY of retaining her and her
position was emphasized by Mrs.
Roosevelt.
Will Investigate Duties
The House District Appropriation
Subcommittee, under former Chair
man Caldwell of Florida, created
the position two years ago and
defined the duties of the Office. The
House subcommittee this year
claimed the incumbent was not per-
abolished the job because it was
forming the prescribed duties. The
Senate subcommittee hearings dis
1t was held that the prescribed
duties for this position we're not
logicalLand the present House sub
committee will inquire into this
phase of the situation.
Another matter into which the
House subcommittee will inquire
sharply before sending the bill to
conference has to do with the
Senate committee action in reduc-
ing by $4,000 the funds approved
for program of physical education
in the District schools to be a
model for the entire country. Rank
ing Republican member Stefan of
the House subcommittee personally
sponsored this appropriation for
hardening youth in the public
schools before they are called into
military service. He is disposed to
have the amount increased rather
than decreased and will insist on the
full program as recommended by
District school authorities.
Another important matter in con-
troversy between the Senate and
House is on the House provision
authorizing the sale of additional
water fund securities to meet the
1943 deficit of S664,895. The Senate
eliminated that provision, leaving
the prospective deficit hanging in
the air.
House subcommittee members feel
the Senate action is aimed at fore
ing the issue on increase of water
rates. The Senate report says:
The District Legislative Commit
tee of the Senate is making an in
vestigation of the entire water prob
lem in the District. Pending the
outcome of this investigation, the
Appropriations Committee does not
feel that further securities in the
water fund should be disposed Of"
Relief Limit Raised.
Several years ago the House
placed a ceiling on the amount any
one can receive in public assistance,
and set up a schedule of these
amounts. This year it was stricken
out of the budget and the House
reinserted it, but the Senate has
struck it out again. The justifica-
ton as given in the Senate hearings
says that the House does not con
template such simple recreation as
an occasional picture show" and
that "the present allowance must
be used largely for rent"
The Senate committee also struck
out a House provision requiring pay
ment of tuition by nonresident
children attending District public
schools, and the House subcommit-
tee will consider insistence on this
provision which would safeguard
District appropriations against car
petbagging" in District schools by
residents Of Maryland and Virginia,
an old controversy.
The Senate also knocked out the
motor vehicle parking agency
which provides for fringe parking.
Teh House subcommittee will inquire
into this, as to whether the action
results from the reduction of the
use of automobiles under gasoline
rationing.
Also, as an aftermath of Mrs.
RooSevelt's White House confer
(See D. C. BILL, Page A-16)