Evening star., 1951-06-08
Moves Likely
To RestolreCut
In D. {. Fund
Senate Moy Put Back
$1.2 Million House
Slash in U. S. Share
By Don S. Worren

OdyulcLlb W IL4S 4O1A p4H IA1A41On du~
thorized by law are expected to de-
velop next week in the Senate Ap.
Committee, when it
takes up the city's $138 million
budget.
The House yesterday passed the
budget bill with only one change
the Federal share of costs
by 10 per cent. or $1.2 million.
This is a repetition of last years
performance, when a similar
amount was shaved off the Federal
share. The Senate protested then
but lost out in a conference fight
with the House.
In both this and last years ac-
counts, there were indications Of a
modest surplus. This was used last
year, and again yesterday, as an
excuse for cutting down the Fed
eral payment.
See Pay Raise Ahead.
District officials, however, find
a significant difference this year.
for now there is proposed Gov
ernment pay raise impending. If
applied to the city government,
this would add between 81 and So
million to city costs.
In that case, Budget Officer
Walter L. Fowler has warned, the
District again will be faced with a
tax increase. .
Senator Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama head Of the District Sub
committee Of the Senate Appro-
priations Committee, said he will
begin work at once on the Dis
trict's big spending plan. He
hopes to open public hearings
next week.
He said he thinks the House
had done a good job on the in
dividual budget items. especially
in handling important school
items.
He renewed his recommended
ton. however, that the District
be given the full $12 million
Federal payments, as specified in
the last District revenue law.
He and Senator Hunt, Demo-
lcrat, of Wyoming, joined in saying
they favor inserting an item OF
500, 900 or more to inaugurate q
lduoridation program for the city
water supply to protect the teeth
of Washington children. The item
was omitted from the House bill.
Urges Fluoride Bill.
In the House yesterday. Repre-
sentative Miller, Republican, Of
Nebraska, q physician, urged an
amendment to require use of a
Ihuoride compound in the water
Ibut this was lost on a point Of
Iorder. In answer. DR.. Miller in
Itroduced a separate bill to order
1.-THE f1uoridation program. It was
sent to the House District Com
mittee.
The Federal payment cut was
adopted tentatively first by a tel
Ter vote of 73 to 38, and later was
nailed down by standing vote Of
Sc to Il. Less than a quorum was
present in the House.
The move to cut the Federal
payment to $10.8 million was
sponsored by Representative An
dersen, Republican, of Minnesota,
who won the solid support of the
ranking. Republican member Of
the Appropriations Committee.
Representative Taber of New York.
The New Yorker told the House
there is no reason for any Fed
eral payment at all" And in an
argument to show that the Dis
trict could meet any needed tax
increase, he said he had found
there are factories here galore"
and specified he had seen "auto-
mobile repair factories" of extra
ordinary size and facility.
Hits Low Tax Rate.
Mr.. Anderson made repeated
jabs at the Districts low realty
tax rate, but this brought a flood
Of answers from Appropriation
and District Committee members,
including Democratic Representa-
tives Bates Of Kentucky, Yates Of
Illinois. Furcolo Of Massachusetts,,
Sasscer Of Maryland and Smith
of Virginia, and Republicans
Stockman Of Oregon. Wilson Of
Indiana and Auchincloss of New
Jersey.
Mr.. Smith said cut in the
legislated size of the Federal pay
ment,, ordered when District taxes
were increased, amounted to a
"repudiation Of a Congressional
contract"
!. Mr.. Wilson said it constituted a
! little bit of cheating" and these
and other District supporters said
surveys show the actual cash real
estate tax bills in the District
exceed those for comparable prop
critics in nearby Maryland and
Virginia.
But all these presentations fell
on deaf ears in the small at
tendance in the House. Most
votes for the slash came from the
Republican side.
Representative Rees, Republic
can. of Kansas made a sharp at
tack on the present ownership and
management Of the Capital Trans
it Co. He said the new owners
have "about doubled their money"
in year and a half. He voiced
a demand for a Public Utilities
Commission that would give better
service to the public.
1 It had been predicted there
would be a House floor fight to re-
lstore to the budget bill a fund Of
l$275, 900 to permit the District
Recreation Board to take over the
is. G. Loeff1er contract for opera
tion Of the public golf links, but
'lthis never developed.
Nebraska's Representative Miller
waged a fight for opening the
fHpAR