Evening star., 1942-06-23
Final Action Sends
Sb,313,S51 D. {.
Bill 10 President
Carries Increases to
Meet Conditions in
Wartime Capitol

The s56,313,85l District appropri-
alton bill for the year commencing
July is ready to go to the President
for signature today, following ap-
proval of the conference report by
the House and Senate yesterday
afternoon.
Because of war conditions. COM
paratively few new public works
projects are provided for The
school building program, for ex-
ample, is held to s270,125, as against
81 1928, ,427 last year, but increased
amounts were allowed for repairs
and for furnishing and equipping
buildings. Unexpended balances
also were. continued available for
temporary structures.
In a number of municipal de-
partments. however, appropriations
for maintenance were increased to
help meet the problem of providing
essential services for the enlarged
wartime population.
One reason the total OF the bill Is
large despite the curtailed school
building program is that Congress
decided to require the District to
make a larger annual payment on
its debt to the Public Works Ad-
ministration in the coming year.
The District will repay $2.500 900 as
compared with $500 900 during the
past year.
Lump Sum at 1000, 900.
The Federal share of the cost of
maintaining and developing the Ma
tional Capital was held for another
year at the present lump sum figure
of $1,000 900. which means that the
remaining $50.3l3,85l will come from
local taxpayers, through general
revenues. water rates and motor
vehicle taxes.
The conference agreement ratified
yesterday retains the Senate pro-
vision of $4,000 for a new fire
engine house at North Capitol and
Crittenden streets, but eliminated
$4,000 for new police precinct
near Forty-sscond street and Ben
ming road NE.
Funds were allowed to reopen for
the war emergency the old Tubercu-
losis Hospital at Fourteenth and
Upshur streets NV.
The Senate agreed to restore the
cut it previously had made from
s9O, 900 to $4,000 in the fund al
lowed the public schools for
broader program of physical train
ing in the high schools, the need
for which has been emphasized by
the war. The Health Department
also authorized to employ five med
ical examiners at $1,000 each as
part of the physical training pro-
gram.
The Health Department also was
given funds for IL more inspectors
to extend its inspection service to
boarding houses, and the public
health nursing service was expanded
to a limited extent.
School Tuition Rejected.
The House lost it's annual battle
to require nonresident pupils here
after enrolled in District schools to
pay tuition.
The two houses agreed not to
sell any more securities out of the
Water Department reserve fund
for the time being to meet current
emergency requirements. The fund
was built up to meet future ex-
pansion of the system.
Under the highway program. the
bill carries $1,000,0 900 to begin work
on a new bridge across the Ana
costa River from the vicinity Of
South Capitol and P streets to the
northern end of the naval air sta
ton. When completed the bridge
will cost s4,500,OO0.
A Senate amendment, not related
to District affairs. but designed to
enable Government departments to
continue to pay the salaries of
employees loaned to congressional
committees, was eliminated in the
final agreement yesterday. It was
announced that the House Com
mittee on Accounts will begin hear
ings tomorrow on a resolution
seekinc to deal with that question