Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-12
Fiscal Formula
Study Slated
ByConnnittee
Stop-Gop Increase
Sought Meanwhile
In District Bill
By Don S. Warren

SOlls1Iel dIlOil VI Tie ~ MdIlOley-
Overton plan for a permanent solu-
ton of the size of the Federal pay
ment toward National Capital costs
is expected to be started soon by
the Senate District Committee.
Shortly after the bill to base the
payment on the extent of the tax
free Federal land holdings in the
District was placed before the Sen
ate yesterday, Acting Chairman
Hoey of the District Committee an
nounced he would name a subcom-
mittee to go into the question.
His first question was whether this
formula would give to the District
enough funds to enable it to meet
Its obligations.
The formula bill is a 1ong-range
plan. Action on it is not expected
at this session.
Immediate Raise Sought.
Pending decision on this, however.
the OMahoney subcommittee of
the Senate Appropriations Com
mlttee is proposing, with the ap-
proval of the full committee, an
immediate increase of 100000 in
the old lump sum 100000 Federal
payment. This plan will be pro-
posed in an amendment from the
floor when the record breaking Dis
trict supply bill is called up for
action
Quick approval by the Senate is
expected for the O'Mahoney Sub
committee proposals for an in
crease of nearly s7,O0O,OOO in appro-
priations for the new fiscal year
over the House totals. The House
had slashed nearly 100000 from
the record-setting $81 sos 900 re-
quests of the Commissioners and the
Budget Bureau.
Along with this the Senate is eX-
pected to approve with little or
no debate-judging from past &C
lions on the question: $4,000
boost in the size of the Federal pay
ment. The funds bill then would go
back to the House, and with little
doubt be sent promptly to confer
erce between House and Senate
managers of the bill.
Many Projects Deferred.
Senator OMahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming, chairman of the Senate
subcommittee in charge of the Dis
trict supply bill, has stressed that
many needed projects and services
had been deferred by his group
despite the fact the bill as en-
larged by his subcommittee calls for
greatly increased OUTLAWS next year
In the sponsorship of his bill for
permanent settlement of the old
fiscal relations problem he was
Joined by Senator Overton, Demo-
crat, of Louisiana, who some years
ago led a successful fight for a
boost in the Federal payment. The
OMahoney formula bill is pat
termed after one then authorized by
the Louisiana Senator.
The District suffered a setback
yesterday on one important point.
The Senate Appropriat ions Com
mlttee approved a decision by it's
O'Mahoney Subcommittee, knock
Ing out of the District supply bill
a provision banning free tuition in
the Washington public schools of
children from nearby Washington
and Virginia areas. The action was
not exactly unexpected 1t is an
old fight in which the District Gus
tomarily has lost out.
The costs of this decision. if final
ly approved by Congress, would be
covered by substantial increase in
the size of the Federal payment
Testing Ban Eliminated.
On the other hand the Senate
committee readily agreed with the
action of the House this year in
eliminating the old rider banning
operation of the Highway TESTING
Laboratory. This laboratory cost
the District 100000, but for wears
its operation has been banned bv
a. rider, insisted upon by the House,
requiring the District to test its
highway materials at the Bureau
OF Standards at a price considered
higher than that for operation of
its own laboratory.
Among many other changes from
the House bill, the Senate group
added $4,000 to the $285 900 already
appropriated for construction of a
new Receiving Home for Children.
Recent bids indicated contractors
were asking S485,000 for the project.
with $285, 900 funds available. CITY
heads said they believed an added
$4,000 would permit construction of
receiving home and classical
ton center for delinquent children
only, with a capacity of 68 inmates