Evening star., 1944-05-25
Senate Hearinqs
On Budget TO
Be Called Soon
Added Items Sought
In $68, 500, 900 Bill
Passed by House
BY DON S. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
Hearings are expected to be called
soon by Chairman O'Mahoney of
the Senate District Appropriations
Subcommittee on the record-break-
ing $68,500,O00 supply bill for the
National Capital which went sailing
through the House yesterday with
out change or a dissenting vote.
Pleas for inclusion of a number
Of items left out of the House bill,
however, already were being pre-
pared for submission to the O'Ma-
honey subcommittee of the Senate. !
Among these are funds for en-
ployment of so housekeeper aides,
for designation of more teachers
for handicapped, shutin children;
for provision of housing for the
Children's Museum, now located in
the Villa Rosa Mansion, which has
been purchased by a private in
vestor; and for a separate PSYCHE
atric clinic for Juvenile Court.
Housing Inspection.
Col. Joseph D. Arthur, jr., Assist
ant Engineer Commissioner, follow
ing conference yesterday between
the Commissioners and number of
key municipal officials, said requests
may be made for more inspectors
to check on rooming and apartment
houses. The present staff, he said
was inadequate to permit speedy in
spections of buildings.
Elimination from the bill as passed
by the House of requested $50, ,0OO
to finance the Civilian War Services
brought protest from Joseph D.
kaufman, vice president of the
CWS Board, who said the Senate
subcommittee would be asked to re-
store the sum.
Il can't conceive of the board and
the tremendous number of volun-
teer workers consenting to the dele
ton without protest." said Mr.
kaufman.
Point to Draft-Aid Center.
1t was pointed out the Draft-Aid
Center here has attracted Nation
wide attention and was set up by the
division with the approval of the
War and Navy Departments, Army
and Navy Relief, the Red Cross and
Selective Service.
The War Hospitality Committee
officials said, receives it's funds from
the Community War Fund and
therefore Is not affected by the
Iroppior of tho r,yxyC f,,,,d
Affected by the cut are salaries of
nine employees totaling $25 200 and
a fund OF $4,000 for telephones and
supplies.
While two hours was reserved for
debate in the House yesterday be-
fore Representative Coffee, Demo-
crat, of Washington, chairman OF
the subcommittee in charge of the
supply bill, called for a vote, much
OF the time was devoted to other
subjects.
Both Chairman Coffee and Rep
resentatiye Stefan, ranking minority
member of the subcommittee, emf
phasized that with the growth of
the District appropriation total. the
portion of National Capital expenses
borne by the United States in the
continued $6,0O0,000 Federal pay
ment has dwindled to well below 10
per cent.
This $6,000,0O0 payment is offset
many times by the services the mu-
nicipal government contributes to
the United States" said Mr.. Coffee.
He and Mr.. Stefan called special
attention to the huge quantities of
water the District is providing free
for the Pentagon War Building and
other Federal institutions in and
near Washington
There were protests also that the
District is being charged for many
patients at St. Elizabeths Hospital
who should not be considered Dis
trict residents; that more authority
and responsibility should be centered
in the District Commissioners; re-
iterated criticisms of "laxity" in en-
forcement by the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board and the distressing"
oversupplv of traffic control lights.
Mr.. Coffee also agreed with Rep
resentative Rowe, Republican, of
Ohio, that the Board of Public We'll
fare should be converted into an
advisory body and its powers trans
ferred to the Commissioners.
Praise for the high caliber" of
the service rendered by the Com
missioners, Budget Officer Walter L.
Fowler, his deputy, William G. Wild
ing; by the police. fire and other
city divisions and Korhal Orescan,
Appropriations Committee clerk
handling the District bill, was
voiced by Mr.. Coffee Representa-
tives Voorhis, Democrat, of Cali
fornia; Magnuson, Democrat, of
Washington, and Majority Leader
Mccormack praised the work of
members of the Coffee Subcommit-
toe