Evening star., 1945-03-22
Senator Tydings Asks Potomac River Dams
Increased Powers for Project Opposed by
D. {. Commissioners Committee Of 100

A proposal that Congress gran
the District Commissioners broade
authority to deal with municipa
problems was advanced late yester'
day by Senator Tydings, Democrat
of Maryland as he denounced tn,
present system of governing thu
100000 residents of the Nationa
Capital as IAN outrage"
Calling on the Commissioners tt
draft legislation to increase theil
powers so these municipal prob.
lens can be handled down there,
at the District Building, he volun.
teered to sponsor such a plan ano
work for its passage.
In response to the suggestion 8
study was begun today at the Dis
trict Building as TO what additional
powers would be desirable and pos
slble, spokesman for the city heads
said. Congress just last year ap-
proved bill, now law, delegatine
numerous additional powers to the
Commissioners over routine mu-
nicipal affairs.
Calls U. S. Share TOO Small"
During extended discussion of the
overall District government situa-
ton, Senator Tydings also declared
the long prevailing $6,OOO,00O Fed
eral payment toward National Cap
ital expenses was too small"
The Tydings blast at the present
system, under which Congress must
act as city council for the District
came at the end of two-hour hear
ing on ways to preserve the life OF
the Chiidren's Museum, now facing
eviction from the Villa Rosa man
sion in the 4200 block of Massachu-
sets avenue NV. Before him, as
chairman of a Senate District Sub
committee, was a bill by Senator
Capper, Republican. of Kansas to
have the District buy or condemn
the $4,000 property and make it
available for continued use by the
museum.
In the windup, the bill was pigeon
holed. Senator Tydings declared 1t
would be utterly futile" to attempt
to persuade Congress to pass the
measure. The property now is
owned by Samuel Fig, who wants to
build large apartment development
there after the war and his attorney
Louis Gutenberg. told the hearing
yesterday, The property is not for
sale"
Sees No Chance for Bill.
While praising the purposes ano
services of the museum and its
director, Miss Matilda Young, the
Maryland Senator protested there
was no chance of passing a bill
that would take property from one
private owner and turn it over tc
the use of another private enter
prise, under plan that was opposed
by the Commissioners. the District
Recreation Board, the school author.
tiles, the National Capital Park ano
Planning Commission and the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations.
"If I were to ask the Senate tc
pass the bill under such circum-
stances" he said, "it would not only
table the bill, but probably would
want to put me on the table along
with the bill"
Senator Tydings declared 1t was
unfair to the people of the Dis
trict" for some one to have to come
before committees of the House anc
the Senate and to await the action
of the President every time you
want to open street or buy a
house"
Lack of Foresight"
! 1t was through lack of foresight,
he said. that the District was moi
provided with a municipal govern
ment empowered to deal with its
own local problems
Yesterday the time of II mem
bers of the Senate District Commit
tee was taken to consider plea fol-
support for drive to get the streets
and alleys of Georgetown ano
other sections of the city cleaned
up," said Senator Tydings.
ut is an outrage that the people
I Va tiiC i|loOi III IldFC liz
government with sufficient powers
They ought to have that more thar
representation in Congress-"
The Maryland Senator protested
that many projects have been pro.
posed which will call for large out
lays of funds, and he mentioned the
proposed memorial stadium, slun
clearance and additional hospital
facilities, among others.
Recalls Other Proposals.
While declaring the present Fed.
eral payment toward the Nationa
Capital was too small, he said il
was difficult enough to get needed
funds for vital health and schoo
projects without considering a Ions
list off other things which may bt
desirable, though not essential as 6
governmental affair. In this con.
nection he recalled the proposal tt
buy the 100000 Temple Height.
tract on Connecticut avenue as {
site for a memorial to Civil Wa
veterans.
1t should be remembered, he said
that when the war ends the Fed
eral debt will be more than $500,
000, 600 900.