Evening star., 1946-08-04
C.toContinue
Fight for More
Federal Funds
Formula to Increase
Government Aid Will
Go to Next Congress
By Harold B. Roqers

BY Harold B. Rogers
The vital issue of fiscal relation
between the Federal and Distric
governments will be brought be
fore the new Congress in January
when proponents will launch a NOV,
for enactment Of the proposed nev
formula to establish a more equita.
BILE Federal payment towards sup.
port of the National Capital.
This was learned last night from
associates of Senator Overton. Dem
ocrat, of Louisiana. and Senate
OMahoney, Democrat, of Wyoming
co-authors of the formula. Botf
have left Washington for their hom,
States.
Legislation to establish the new
fscal yardstick, based generally OF
the amount of taX-free land in the
District to the whole area, wa.
passed over in the congressional ses-
sion which closed Friday. It's spon.
sors realized there was little ust
In attempting to get it through dur
Ing the final hectic days of con.
gested legislation and did not pres,
for its passage. It was pending ir
the Senate District Committee.
But both sponsors are strongly II
favor of the proposal, and hope i
may be favorably considered by the
new Congress. Senator Overton
who is not up for reelection, indi.
Gated he definitely will bring the
matter up in the new Congress
Senator OMahoney has left Wash.
ington for Wyoming to campaign
for reelection. Before leaving. he
told friends he still was strongly
in favor of a more satisfactory
financial arrangement between the
Federal and local governments.
District Needs Funds.
The District, "stone broke" anc
about to run into the red despite
an increase in the Federal payment
for the present fiscal year, is con-
sidering new sources of local taxa
ton. But still 1t faces serious flnan-
cial problems, which, officials say
emphasize more than ever the neeo
for better balance between Fedora.
and District support of the Ma.
tional Capital.
Another important project left
over from the 18th Congress ane
to be presented in January will b.
the proposed new stadium for Wash.
tngton. Chairman Bilbo of thu
Senate District Committee, whose
return already has been assured b,
his victory in the Mississippi pri
mary, said yesterday he intended t.
resume his championship of a great
stadium to hold 100000 people.
Il have just begun to fight" h,
declared. I'VE must have a sta
dium here fitting as a memoria
to the veterans of both world wars
1t can and must be the best. tn,
largest in the world. always want
ed a stadium for 100000. I still
want 1t. This city grows every hour
Rome had stadium in antiquit,
holding 100000" The Senator ia
vors a site at the foot of East Capi
tol street for the memorial.
Another important local projec
certain to be brought up in the new
Congress will be the proposed nev
Federal courthouse for the Nation
al Capital. The bill authorizing thi
structure, an additional site for tn,
General Accounting Office, and twt
buildings at Suitland, Md, wa
blocked in the House last week.
Several Bills to Sign.
Meantime President Truman still
has on his desk several District bill
sent him in the closing hours of tn,
dying Congress for approval or veto
Outstanding among them is tn,
measure authorizing a great hospi
tai center, to be financed jointly b,
the three participating hospitals
the District government and Fedora
aid.
Among other congressionally ap.
proved measures on which the
President probably will act soor
after he returns from Missouri
Tuesday are those which would lib.
eralize retirement annuities of pub
lie school teachers. authorize de-
velopment of the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway along tn,
Potomac River in Maryland under
Federal aid similar to that used ir
Virginia, transfer from the Navy tt
the District flreboat to replace The
obsolete "Firehghter," permit use
of a new fash" pasteurization OF
milk in IS seconds at higher tenn
peratures, increase the registration
fee of nurses from $40 to SIS
add three deputies to the office O.
Register of Wills, permit stockhold.
ers of charitable, educational anc
religious organizations to vote eth.
er by proxy or by mail, and auth.
orHe stronger control of communi.
cable disease.
The President has 10 davs n
which to approve or veto bill il
the absence of Congress. If he doe.
not act within the 10 DAYS after for.
NAL receipt of the enrolled bill. i
becomes law.
Many measures of benefit to tn
District were enacted by the 7etl
Congress, which will not reconven
unless the President calls it bacl
into special session. He virtual,
threatened to issue call Ii an In
Rational spiral in the country
economy justifies such action.
Outstanding among the Distric
/, legislation by the 10th Congress no
/ already mentioned were bills 70
,slum redevelopment, twin bridge
over the Potomac River to replac
the old Highway Bridge, an increas
. In the Federal share of Distric
costs from s6,0O0,0 900 to $1,000 O0(
. and pay raises for school teacher,
police firemen, and employees in tn
classified services.
-- 65 Measures Passed.
Legislative records show tha
more than 65 measures were en-
acted by the 18th Congress for tn
District of Columbia.
-. In addition to the bills on fiscs
. relations. the court house, and
stadium, it is considered certain
. Congress will be asked to reconside