Evening star., 1951-05-06
House Fight Brewing
Over S12 Million U. 5.
Payment TO District
By Harold B. Rooers

7 uYWCsH w VtSsIlIl
By Harold B. Rogers
A fight is brewing in the House
over avowed attempts by some
Republicans to reduce a budget
estimate for a $12 million Federal
payment to the District next fiscal
year.
Strong support of the estimate
was voiced last night by two lead
ing Democrats who promised to
defend the full amount.
Chairman Bates of the House
appropriations subcommittee now
considering the $136 million
budget said last night he would
fight for the total.
Il will defend it," the Kentucky
Democrat said. Il am strongly in
favor of the Federal government
paying the $12 million" His sub
committee will send the full
amount to the House Appropria-
tlons committee. he said.
Answer to Taber.
This was in answer to state
ments by Representative Taber,
Republican, of New York, who
charged yesterday that the $12
million should be cut by at least
10 per cent. Mr.. Taber added that
the Federal government in reality
should pay nothing toward sup
port of the city. An effort will be
made to slice the figure, Mr.. Taber
said. He is ranking Republican on
the appropriations committee.
House Majority Leader Nc
Cormack disagreed sharply with
the New Yorker. II have always
voted for higher appropriations
for the District" said the Massa-
chusetts Democrat. ITO cut the
Federal payment is a violation of
the trust relationship Congress
has with the District.
i am strong supporter of
home rule for Washington, and
until that arrives Congress should
carry out its full responsibilities
to District residents"
Cannon Sees Obligation.
Chairman Cannon of the Ap-
preparations Committee said there
was no doubt about a Federal
obligation to help support the
city.
1T is right and proper" said
the Missouri Democrat, that the
Federal government make some
contribution. We occupy all this
space here, tax free. We have
advantage Of utilities like any
citizen"
Explaining that he had not
concluded how much the pay
ment should be. Mr.. Cannon said
he believed the amount should
depend on value received by the
Federal government from the
District.
The Bates subcommittee will
resume its executive hearings to-
morrow morning, with spokesmen
from the Police Department as
hrSt witnesses. They will be fol-
lowed by school officials. Another
week or 10 days will be required
to finish the hearings, Mr.. Bates
estimated.
Trend Was Cut Last Year.
The budget estimate of $12 mil
lion for the current year was cut
by 10 percent to $l0.8 million.
The House Appropriations COM
m1ttee approved the full amount,
but Republicans on the House floor
led the fight and succeeded in
making the slash finally enacted by
Congress.
The House District Committee
will meet in regular monthly ses-
sion at 10 am. tomorrow to con-
slider several bills already passed
by the Senate. They include those
to make cancer a reportable
disease. and provide for more
flexible use of the National Train
ing School for girls on Lough-
borough Road by the Board of
Public Welfare.
The Senate District judiciary
subcommittee will hold a public
hearing at 2:30 pm. tomorrow on
four bills. They would require
mandatory alcoholic tests of per-
sons involved in automobile ac-
cidents; make trespassing on pub
lie property subject to the same
penalties now provided for private
property: authorize disposal of
dangerous weapons siezed from
criminals; and legalize the service
OF process on agents of non-resi-
dents.
Plans are under consideration
for two separate public hearings
by joint House and Senate Dis
trict subcommittee on extension
of rent control and on repeal of
the city personal property tax.
But no definite dates have yet
been fixed.
Chairman Neely of the Senate
District Committee intends to
consider sometime this week COM
mittee action on a resolution pro-
viding $4,000 for proposed in
vestigation Of crime here,