Evening star., 1952-03-27
Funds Denied
For Peace Gross
Flood Control
House Committee Kills
Trumon Request for
$50, 900 for PIuns

$50, 600 for PIons
The House Appropriations Conn
mittee today denied all requested
funds to plan flood control at the
Bladensburg, Md. Peace Cross.
Reporting the Army civil func.
tions appropriations bill to the
House. the committee not only
refused to approve the urgent
plea Of Maryland officials for in
creased funds, but struck the
$4,000 recommended by President
Truman.
Committee sources said, how
ever. the Army engineers still have
money left over from previous ap-
preparations which could be used
FOR planning the project.
The committee recommended .
total of 1892, ,434.o 900 for civil func-
tions in the year starting rext
July l. most of it for flood control
and navigation projects.
20 Per Cent Slash.
The total is $780, ,542, 900 or 20
per cent below the Presidents
budget recommendation Of. $685..
977, 300.
Percentagewise. this is the big
geSt slash the committee has made
SO far this year in the budget for
any Federal agency.
In its report, the committee said
mo new projects should be started
during the present emergency"
Only the amount necessary to
carry forward surveys OF vital in
terest to the present defense ef.
fort of the country were recon.
Iimended. the committee explained.
Thinks Funds Sufficient.
"Fhe committee has not ap.
proved any additional funds for
planning purposes" the report
said. 1T is Obvious that the
present unobligated balances
available for this work are suf-
flcient to carry forward an orderly
program"
Increase in the budget figure
for the Peace Cross project from
$4,000 to 100000 was strongly
urged as a civil defense measure
before an appropriations subcoSn.
mittee by the Washington Sub.
urban Sanitary Commission.
A spokesman for the commission
recommended the increaEs 4ek0pfk
could be launched next summer.
Plea for Permanent Plan.
/ l.. 8. Ray. commissioner of the
suburban agency. pleaded for the
permanent plans recommended by
Ian Army engineer survey, rather
than temporary proposals now
being considered by the Maryland
Roads Commission.
Mr.. Ray told the committee that
the Army plan would permanently
raise the area above flood level.
Stressing the defense need for
Anacostia flood control. the SUBJ
urban Sanitary Commission said
that "the appropriation of an adj
ditional $4,000 now may mean
the difference between orderly
movement in and out of Washing
ton in the event of emergency and
catastrophe. It would seem to be
very worthwhile insurance and it
is money used for permanent pur-
poses"
Soldiers Home Approved.
The committee approved g..
452. 900 for operation Of the Sol
diers Home here, including funds
to complete construction Of q
dormitory now well underway.
This money comes from the Sol
diers Home permanent trust fund.
The committee okayed $685.
459,313 less than what Congress
voted last year. It's recommends
tions are due to be considered by
the House next week. The bill
then will 60 to the Senate.
For rivers and harbors projects
the committee recommended
$187 100000. This is 500, ,783. 900
or "a per cent under the budget.
For flood control projects 1t rec
Commended 1921 ,232. 400. which is
1888, ,662 800 or 28 per cent under
the budget.
For flood control on the lower
Mississippi River and its tribu-
ltaries the committee recon-.
mended $59,605, 900. against $780,
$40, 900 budgeted.
The committee recommended
$780, 139, 500 for the Panama Canal.
This is 1924, 500 above the ap-
lpropriation last year but $12.376..
iAAA L. 49,