Evening star., 1946-06-30

OlSCflcC services 10 De carried on.
In addition to Senator o.
Mahoney, the Senate managers Of
the bill include Senators Overton
Of Louisiana, Thomas Of Oklahoma,
Chavez Of New Mexico and Hoey Of
North Carolina, Democrats; and
Ball Of Minnesota. Ferguson Of
Michigan and Willis Of Indiana,
Republicans.
House conferees, in addition to
Acting Chairman Gary, are Repre-
sentatives O'Neal of Kentucky and
Flood of Pennsylvania, Democrats;
Stefan Of Nebraska, Koran OF
Washington and Canfield of New
Jersey, Republicans Chairman Cof-
fee is in his home State, Wash
ington.
House Wants Separate Law.
House conferees were omewhat t
concerned because of the insistence
by some House members that the
size of the Federal payment should
be changed only after being author
lied first by separate legislation
since the present sum was so fixed
On the other hand 1t was argued
that the Senate, in adopting an
amendment offered on the Senate
floor, had very deliberately written
the legislative change into the ap-
preparation bill.
Also, it was recalled that Con-
gress in former years disregarded
substantive law calling for a 60-4O
division OF costs between the Dis
trict and Federal Governments,
when the House insisted on adop-
ton Of lump sums.
Senators O'Mahoney and Overton
have joined in introduction OF new
basic legislation which calls for use
Of land-based ratio In determining
the size Of the Federal pay
ment. This formula Is related gen
orally to the extent Of tax-free land
holdings in the District in relation
to the total land AREA, with some
If in effect now, the Federal pay
ment would amount to more than
$11 ,000, 900.
This bill has been referred to the
Senate District Committee, but 1t
was realized there would not be suf-
f1cient time for hearings and action
at this session of Congress. There
fore the Senate adopted the O'Ma-
honey proposal and supported the
"a 10000 increase In the Federal
payment.
Hope for Early Action.
On the question Of this legisla-
ton, the Commissioners have for
warded to the Budget Bureau
their strong approval of the OMa-
honey -Overton bill. They are hope
full of early action, they said, be-
cause of questions over legislation
on an appropriation bill.
Representative Dirksen, Republi-
can, of Illinois, high ranking men,
Der of the House Appropriations
Committee. Is expected to lend his
influence in the House tomorrow
for action of the compromise $S,000,-
900 Federal payment.
He told reporters yesterday prior
to the session of the conferees that
he thought an So 900 900 compromise
was the way out of the impasse.
Representative O'Neal, one of the
House managers, was not able to
attend the conference because he
was attending conference on
another appropriation bill held at
the same time. He declined to sign
the District conference report after
being told Of the compromise agree
ment.
Senate Plan Rejected.
The House Thursday rejected by
roll call vote OF 400 to 1l2 motion
to accept the Senate's $4,000, ,00t
proposal. Yesterdays House roll cal
Of 1874 to 90 was on a motion tc
insist on the 5000, 900 lump sum
as negotiations were resumed.
This roll call, 1t was explained
was taken at the suggestion Of
Chairman Cannon Of the House
Appropriations Committee and OF
Representative Tabor, Republican
of New York, its ranking minority
member, for the purpose OF
strengthening the hand of the House
conferees.
They encountered, however, a de-
termined stand by Senate managers
Of the bill and, it was reported, the
fact the District now is facing a
deficit in the new fiscal year of
more than $4,000, 900 helped to swing
the compromise agreement.
1T Is up to the House." said Sen
ator O'Mahoney as the group broke
up.