Evening star., 1949-03-03
Refusal to Provide
For Spingorn School
Causing Concern
By Don S. Warren

Predictions that the Senate will
move to restore most of the
money cut from the District ap-
preparation bill were heard on
Capitol Hill today, as members
studied the effects of the House
slashes.
One Of the big items causing
concern on the Senate side was
the repeal of an earlier appro-
priation for the building of the
projected Spingarn High School
for colored. Senators are being
told this building is urgently
needed to relieve overcrowding in
the Present high schools for COL
ored.
The city appropriation bill was
passed by the House late yester-
day, after weathering three major
attacks, one of them a determined
but unsuccessful move to tie to 1t
civil rights amendment banning
race segregation in any form in
the District services.
S98,923,621 Outlay.
The supply bill, as piloted
through the House by Repre-
sentative Bates, Democrat, of
Kentucky, calls for an outlay in
the fiscal year, beginning July /,
of $9S,923,621.
The Bates Appropriation Sub
committee was sustained in its
economy slicing of $4.397 900
from the Commissioners budget,
but this still left a prospective
deficit of $2,534,o00-to be COW
cred by a 15-cent jump in the
realty tax rate, If new revenue
plans fail.
Passage by the House Of the
city supply bill also put new pres
sure behind the drafting of an
S18,000,000 new revenue bill for
the city.
General agreement on all phases
Of the tax plan was reached at
closed meeting late yesterday OF
the Fiscal Subcommittee of the
House and Senate District Com
mittees. No announcement was
made, pending a rewriting Of the
measure. in keeping with the de-
cisions reached.
Sales Tax Included.
Reports were that the plan calls
for a 2 per cent retail sales tax
revision of the income tax to ap-
ply to all persons resident here
for seven moths or more OF the
year, but to raise the basic ex-
emption to $4,000; a doubling of
liquor taxes and license fees, and
boost in the Federal payment
toward city expenses.
Unoffcially, it was reported the
group had agreed to apply the
sales tax to newspaper and radio
advertising, previously listed
among the exempt classes. along
with food for home consumption
and medicines and some other
items.
One question involved in apply
ing a sales tax to advertising
space was whether it would con-
Stitute double taxation, since the
merchant advertising his goods
already would have to collect the
tax on the sale price.
| Some formal action on the rev.
enue bill may come before the end
of this week. Representative
Smith, Democat, of Virginia,
chairman of the House wing of the
| joint fiscal group, plans an early
meeting of his House subcom-
mittee.
Civil Rights Argued.
The hottest arguments on the
District spending bill yesterday
resolved around civil rights issues.
This came up on an amendment
proposed by Representative Powell,
Democrat. of New York. who is
colored, to forbid use of any of
the city's appropriations for any
agency where race segregation is
involved in any of its employment
practices, services, accommoda-
tions, instruction or aid.
| Proponents of the Powell
amendments called it the first
test of President Truman's civil
rights program. as we'll as a test
of the sincerity of the civil rights
planks written into both the Dem
ocratic and Republican campaign
platforms last fall.
Mr.. Powell said the District was
the place where 'our best laws,
our best policies should be demon
Strated."
A hot half hours debate fol-
lowed, with Representative Ran
kin, Democrat, of Mississippi
shouting it would be making war
on the white people of the Dis
trict" and destroy the city's pub
lie school system"
The Powell motion was knocked
down by standing vote of SO to
so. A teller's count then was de-
manded. This showed the Powell
amendment defeated by 106 to 64.
Party lines were sharply split on
this issue.
| Auto TeIevision |
Visible to Driver
| Is Banned Here |
The Commissioners today issued
! an order nrnhihiting Use of tele.