Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-13
Public Works
Bill 10 Reach
HouseMarch21
Reduced Measure
Muy Prevent Any
New Amendments
A-24 THE EVENING STAR
~"* Washington. D. G..
SATURDAY, MARCH Is, 1854

New amendments
A slightly cutback public
works bill for the District will
reach the floor of the House by
March %.
When it does, the measure may
be presented in such fashion
that no further amendments to
its provisions can be made in
that chamber.
The House District Committee
reported out the revenue bill
yesterday. 1t bore amendments
aggregating a $187 900 reduction
in the local tax program ap-
proved by a HouSe-Senate Dis
trict fiscal subcommittee which
held public hearings on the $305
million program last January.
OF the amendments tackled on
by the District Committee, one
calls for reducing the proposed
SITS per barrel beer tax by IS
cents. and the bus mileage tax
from the proposed two-cent-per-
mile rate to penny per mile.
Would Match Sum.
The committee also specified
that SIS million instead of $4.5
million of the proposed $40 mil
lion annual Federal payment be
earmarked for works improve
ments to be made with money
from the general fund. The Dis
trict would have to match this
sum with revenues from higher
taxes.
In sending the amended meas
ure to the House, the District
committee recommended that
the so-called cloSed-rule be APP
piled to it. If the House Rules
Committee adopts this SuggeS-
ton, the bill could not be further
amended when it reaches the
House for action.
Should the closed rule be ap-
piled. the measure should be
voted on by next District Day."
March %. Should the rule rec
concentration be ignored. the bill
could be subjected to any amend
mentS from the floor.
The District Commissioners,
who have foStered the works pro-
gram from the outset, appeared
pleased with yesterdays devel-
OpmentS.
Issue Statement.
They met soon after receiving
notification of the action, and
in a formal statement declared:
The Commissioners are very
appreciative of all that the joint
subcommittee and the House
Committee have done in report
ing out the public works bill so
expeditiously and efficiently.
I'VE are most gratif1ed that
the House committee has ap-
proved the full increase in the
Federal payment to $40 million.
as recommended by the Com
misSioners and the Federal
Bureau of the Budget. We be-
lieve that this is the heart of
the bill
While we would have prefer
red to see the loan feature re-
tanned in the general fund as we
originally recommended. we be-
lieve that this is the heart of
the bill.
while we would have pre-
ferred to see the loan feature
retained in the general fund as
we originally recommended, we
believe that if the bill is passed
in its present form it will be
most constructive thing for the
city of Washington"
In their original proposal. the
Commissioners urged $4.5 mil
lion in loans to the general fund
each year OF the projected 10
year works program period. This
fund pays for such key institu-
tons as school. welfare, health
and correctional installations.
Some Provisions Untouched.
Provision for about Sill million
in Federal loans annually to the
water and highway funds re-
mains untouched in the works
bill. Among other sources to be
tapped more heavily to feed the
general fund are:
The sales taxa one per cent
rate to be imposed on groceries;
reduction from $1.25 to so cents
In the exemption on restaurant
meals and increasing the hotel
room tax from the present two
per cent rate to three per cent.
Real estate taxa f1ve-cents
increase over the present $1.15
per 500 valuation level.
Miscellaneous taxes - Ciga-
rettes up from one cent per pack
to two cents; individual income
up one per cent in each income
bracket; alcoholic beverages up
from IS cents to 81 per gallon.
Spending May Lag.
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
said that the city heads feel that
the original beer tax and bus
mileage tax proposals were rea-
sonable. Mr.. Spencer added that
the larger earmarking of the
Federal payment may be higher
than the actual amount that can
be spent on public works each
year. Under the new matching
basis, the Federal Government
and the District would put up a
total of SIS million shared
equally each year. The program
as now drawn contemplateS
spending $13 million yearly.
The Commissioner said that
studies will be made to deter
mine the effect Of the proposed
new requirement. The legisla-
tors favor the earmarking propo-
sition so that local and Federal
funds can't be dissipated'o OPP
irrational, rather than capital
outlay. costs.