Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-23
Case Will Meet.
With City Heads
On Works Bill
Spencer, Prentiss
Seek clarifying
Amendments
By George Beveridee

The District Commissioners
today scheduled a conference
with Chairman Case. of the Sem
ate District Committee, to dis
cuss the city's public works bill
which won House approval yes
terday.
Commissioner Sampel Spencer
and Engineer Commissioner
Louis Prentiss were to meet with
Senator Case late this afternoon.
Gen. Prentiss said they wanted
to discuss several minor amend
ments the city feels should be
made to the legislation as passed
by the House. He said the
amendments were only Clarity
ing" and declined to discuss
them at this point.
sos Million Program.
The measure. calling for the
Federal Government and Dis
trict taxpayers Jointly to bear
expense Of the $305 million 10
year improvement program, won
House approval by a voice vote
only 3l2 hours after it was
taken up at noon yesterday. 1t
now goes to the Senate.
Passing the House in substan-
TALLY the same form as it was
approved by a joint House.
Senate subcommittee after ex-
tensive hearings last month, the
bills highlights include:
/. An increase of about $9.4
million in local taxes, which
would go into the city's general
fund. This fund would pay for
such Improvements as schools,
hospitals and welfare institu-
tons.
$50 Million Federal Payment.
2. A So million increase in the
annual Federal payment to the
city, raising the total payment
to $40 million year. A condi-
ton was added. however. to re-
qulre that any of the payment
over SIPS million be earmarked
specifically for expenditure on
works projects, provided the Dis
trlct matches such capital out
lay money from local general
fund revenues.
8. Higher water payments and
new sewer charges Cincluding full
payment by the Federal Govern
ment Tor water and sewer uSeS) =,
a l-cent per gallon increase in
gasoline taxes and Federal loans
totaling about ST. million over
the next decade to finance water,
sewer and highway improve
ments.
4. Repeal of the long criticized
personal property tax on house
hold goods. This would free tax
employees to spend more time on
the collection of more produce
tive and more equitable taxes.
Opposition Fades Away.
Representatives O'Hara, Re-
publican, of Minnesota, and
Smith. Democrat. of Virginia,
took the lead in steering the bill
through the House. Opposition
virtually disintegrated. after OPP
ponentS failed to muster enough
votes for a roll call on a last
ditch effort by Representative
Mcmillan. Democrat, of South
Carolina, to send the bill back to
committee for more study.
The big fight actually was won
earlier, however, when the House,
by a voice vote, approved rules to
limit debate and outlaw any
amendments except three minor
ones approved by the full House
District Committee. Thus. while
strong protests were lodged
against specific taX-increase pro-
posals, members had no choice
but to approve the bill as re-
ported, vote it down entirely or
send it back to committee.
The strongest objections we're
lodged against proposals to i'm
pose a l per cent sales tax on
groceries and to extend the en-
listing 2 per cent sales tax TO all
meals costing more than so
cents-objections certain to be
repeated in Senate debate.
But there was no opposition
to the 50 million Fedearl pay
ment increase, generally re-
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