Evening star., 1954-01-08
EisenhoWerPIea
For DC. Works
Spurs Interest
District Leaders
In Congress Promise
To Weigh Proposal

IN congress TIOmISe
To Weigh Proposal
District leaders in Congress
welcomed with general approval
President Eisenhower's plea for
action on the District public
works program. and promised to
look carefully into all arguments
for its justification.
Without pledging themselves
to all details of financing the
$306 million, 10-year program,
the legislators admitted the
need for many improvements
was pressing.
Members of the fiscal Subcom-
mittees of both Senate and
House District Committees will
open joint hearings on the pro-
gram January 26.
In his state of the Union mes
sage yesterday. President Eisen-
hover urged Congress Ito revise
District revenue measures to
provide needed public works i'm
provements.
Different interpretations.
There was some difference of
opinion among those who will
handle the recommendations as
to how far the President meant
to go in approving financial
plans for meeting the cost.
Some felt the entire system
being forwarded by the District
Commissioners for increased
local taxes and higher Federal
payment were indorSed by the
President. Others thought the
Chief Executive was speaking in
general but urgent terms, leav-
ing final decisions up to
Congress.
Already several members of
the House and Senate District
Committees have been visited per-
Sonally by the District Commits
Sioners urging need for the pro-
gram.
Before the hearings open. the
city heads plan to call on others,
not only on the legislative Dis
trict committees. but also on the
appropriations sub bcom mites
which will handle the city's an
nual supply bill.
Case Sees Full Endorsement.
Most outspoken of the District
leaders to discuss the Presidents
message was Chairman Case of
the Senate District Committee.
He also heads the fiscal subcom-
mittee to join in hearings to be-
gin soon.
He said that. in his opinion,
the President supported all the
revised program as submitted by
the Commissioners with approval
OF the Budget Bureau. ..
The legislation, in the form of
an authorization bill, contains
revenue provisions for raising
District taxes by about $40 mil
lion, increasing the Federal pay
ment to the city to $40 million
and for $50 millions in interest
bearing loans from the Treasury
over a 10-year period. The Fed
eral Government also would paw
the cost of water it uses, instead
OF the 81 million fiat sum yearly
now appropriated.
Payment on Yearly Basis.
Even though the combined
works and evenue-raising legis-
latlon should pass, any increase
in the Federal payment to the
District would have to be ap-
propriated in the annual city
supply bill. handled by the House
and Senate Appropriations Com
mittees.
Chairman Wilson of the House
Appropriations SUI C o m mittee,
which will consider the District
budget, said he liked the remarks
of the President" in general"
The Indiana Republican, how
ever. went somewhat farther in
discussing the financial partici-
patton by the Federal Govern
ment than he did recently after
a visit from District Commits
sioner Samuel Spencer.
I'VE owe the District a respon-
Sibility to finance the city to an
even greater extent than we have
in the past" he said.
He did not indicate how much
larger he thought the current
payment of $12 million Cinclud-
ing 81 million for water) should
be.
This issue will come before
him and his subcommittee in
the District appropriation bill.
Senator Dirksen, Republican,
Of Illinois, chairman Of the Sen
ate Appropriations subcommit-
tee on the District budget, re-
Trained from discussing any
figures in the Commissioners
program for public works.
Recognizes Needs.
But he said he recognized that
the District needs. more public
works. and that the financial
load on the city had been in
creaSing. There should be a
substantial program of public
works. he emphasized, and prom
ised to make a careful study of
1t in the light of the President's s
admonition.
Representative O'Hara, Re-
publican, of Minnesota chairman
of the House District Fiscal sub
committee which will join with
its companion subcommittee
from the Senate in public hear
ings soon, said it was gratifying
that the President recognizes the
need of this program" He has
refrained from comment on de-
tails of the financing.
House Speaker Martin ex-
pressed interest in the Districts
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