Evening star., 1945-06-13
|MoreU. Funds
For DC. Backed
By Senate Unit
O'Mohoney Group
Seeking Formula
To Settle Problem

10 Setfle problem
General agreement that Federal
payments toward District expenses :
should be increased has been reach
I'd by members of the OMahoney
appropriations Subcommittee of the
Senate, it was reported today, fol-
owing a meeting of the group.
Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming said the subcommittee was
seeking a means of achieving a def
mite settlement of the fiscal relations
question by adoption of some for
nula under which the Federal pay
ment automatically would be ad-
justed each year.
Immediate action, however, is not
being suggested by the group, since
1t is thought legislation authorizing
a change would be desirable and
the subcommittee has indicated its
recommendations will be referred
to legislative committees.
Want Comparative Figures.
Members of the O,Mahoney SUBJ
committee today devoted an hour
and a half in executive sessions to
consideration of the report of three
Federal investigators who made an
extended study of fiscal relations.
Senator O'Mahoney said the re-
port was being sent back to the ex-
perts for further consideration and
for the inclusion of additional fac
tual data. These would include
comparative figures on tax revenues
of other cities.
The three investigators, John F..
Feeney and Harold E. Merrick of
the General Accounting Office and
Thomas j. Scott of the Justice De-
partment, recommended adoption
OF a formula which would call for
Federal payment having the same
ratio to general fund tax revenues of
the District as federally-owned land
IN the District bears to the total
land area of the District. This is
similar to the formula sponsored
several years ago by Senator Over
man, Democrat, of Louisiana, which
was backed by the Senate.
Study Not Finished.
In reporting the deliberations Of
the subcommittee today, Senator
OMahoney said:
We have not finished our study,
but can say there seems to be a
general feeling among members of
the subcommittee that the present
Federal payment is not sufficient. 1t
should be increased and there
should be developed, if possible. a
definite and logical formula for
fixing the Federal payment which
would apply at all times and under
all circumstances.
I'VE are seeking a means for
making definite settlement of the
issue.
1T is quite evident the amount
OF land in the District utilized for
strictly Federal purposes is steadily
increasing, while the boundaries of
the District are definitely fixed.
If the District could add subur
ban areas to its territory, as the
normal. growing metropolis does,
the problem probably would not
exist. Sources of tax revenues would
increase with expansion of the
boundaries. That, however, does
not operate here.
Federal Holdings Expand.
"A constantly larger proportion
OF the land area is being taken for
Federal use with a consequent in
crease in demand for services, such
as the water service. The water
service alone is large and growing
obligation.
Likewise, wear and tear on the
streets of the District by Federal
autos is all out of proportion to
tnat existing in any other part of
the country"
Meanwhile, the Districts s65, 900. =
600 appropriation bill today was
headed toward a review by Repre-
sentatlves Of the House and Senate
to compromise differences between
the two bodies as to outlays proposed
for the next fiscal year.
Without a ripple of opposition
and within IS minutes, the Senate
late Yesterday adopted the munici-
pal supply bill as written by its ap-
preparations subcommittee. headed
by Senator OMahoney.
Senate Conferees Named.
At the request of the Wyoming
Senator, also, the Senate insisted
on its amendments and named con-
ferees to iron out differences with
the House. After this bill is for
mally reported to the House today.
the House will name it's conference
representatives and negotiations will
ensue.
Named as Senate conferees on the
pending supply bill were Senators
O'Mahoney, Glass of Virginia, Over
ton of Louisiana, Thomas of Okla
homa and Bilbo of Mississippi, DEM
ocrats, and Senators Burton of Ohio.
Ball OF Minnesota and Willis of In.
diana, Republicans.
AS passed by the Senate, the bill
calls for an outlay of s65, ,703 ,280, or
$715, 200 more than passed by the
House. The increases added by the
Senate are largely for school and
hospital items.
LANCER Asks Questions.
Several questions were asked by
Senator LANCER, Republican, of
North Dakota, but he appeared sat-
isf1ed by answers given by Chairman
O'Mahoney. Senator LANCER in
quired particularly as to whether
adequate wages were being paid
school custodians and janitors and
if adequate grants were being made
for the needy aged.
The staff of the Senate Appropri-
ations Committee handling the Dis
trict bill was given high praise by
Senator Burton, Republican, of Ohio
and Chairman O'Mahoney.
Truman Says Stettinius'
el>l. l.