Evening star., 1954-01-06
Head Of House
Unit Silent on
Works Plan Aid
Wilson Won't Pledge
Support for Bigger
U. S. Fund to District
BY Harold B. Rogers


Commissioner Samuel Spencer
carried his discussions of the
Districts proposed public works
program with members Of Con-
gress to Chairman Wilson Of the
House Appropriations Subcom-
mittee on the District budget
today.
The Indiana Republican said
after the talk that he recognized
Z that the Districts present
sources of income are not ade-
quate. but he would not commit
himself to support an So million
increase in the Federal payment
to the city.
Urges New Revenue Sources.
Mr.. Wilson said there was
Critical need" for expansion of
public facilities here. He added
that new sources of revenue
should be found to finance them.
The public works proposals soon
will be submitted to q House
District legislative committee for
consideration.
The legislator declared, how
ever, that he never commits
himself in advance on q legisla-
tive bill, the details Of which he
has not seen.
Asked whether he would sup
port the increase of So million
proposed to bring the annual
Federal payment to $40 million,
Mr.. Wilson said he always has
defended the present $12 mil
lion figure.
IT am open-minded on the
amount of Federal participa-
tion." he said, "but I do not want
to say at this time what a fair
amount will be-"
Must Be Equitable.
The subcommittee chairman,
who will handle the city's ap-
preparation bill for the next fis-
cal year, carrying the amount of
the Federal payment, added: II
will be willing to support an
amount which I feel is equitable
on behalf of the Federal Gov
ernment."
Mr.. Wilson repeated his pre-
vious announcement that hear
ingS on the District appropria-
tion bill will be delayed because
he is serving on a subcommittee
handling the big Treasury and
Post Office supply measure
which has been under hearings.
The District budget now is
scheduled to reach Congress
along with the Presidents an
nual budget message January 81.
Kearns FavOrs Program.
Representative Kearns, Repub-
lican, of Pennsylvania, a Dis
trict Legislative Committee
member, came out whole
heartedly in favor of the Dis
trict'S public works program
after a visit from Commissioner
Spencer this morning. The
Commissioner planned to follow
up these two conferences later
with further visits to members
OF both Legislative and Appro-
priations Committees handling
District affairs.
Declaring he welcomed the
conference with Commissioner
Spencer. the Pennsylvania Re-
publican said he was very much
in support of the program"
He pointed out that, in his
opinion, the timing was good for
the ultimate goal of spreading
the financing of operations over
several years.
1--WE have to do something, ="
said Mr.. KearnS. II would ex-
pect highly favorable reception
of the program by the House
because in my opinion If the
Federal Government has to
operate in the Nations Capital,
they have financial responsible
ity and should pick up some Of
the check"
Plans Public Hearings.
Mr.. Kearns also announced he
plans public hearings of his Dis
trict subcommittee soon on public
service, streets and traffic and
a variety of problems relating to
retirement and pensions of police
and firemen.
4 Many complaints have reached
him from various quarters about
different issues involved, he said.
Some of the older members of
these forces are not satisfied, he
said, with provisions of the pres
ent retirement law.
These hearings, Chairman
Kearns continued, will he con-
Quoted before any bill is intro
duced, in order to get the facts
before his subcommittee first.
This procedure, he pointed
out, will follow that used last
session in working out a COM
promise bill for increased pay of
police and firemen. The pay