Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-03
DC. BILLS
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D. 6. BILLS
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government to hire about so
more workers for the ONCE Of
the District Assessor.
This program was an out
growth of hearings by the SUBJ
committee of the House Appro-
priations Committee on the city's
annual appropriation bill. The
reasSesSment of real estate was
directed, and money was ap-
propriated for the purpose, with
q view to equalizing and bringing
up to date real estate assess
ments here. 1t is expected to
bring IN more revenue TO the
city government, now hard
pressed to meet expenses.
So Million In Raises
Further pressure on the city'S
exchequer was provided by Con-
gress when it passed pay raises
for virtually all workers in the
municipal government. Totaling
about SO million, this extra ex-
pense has presented the District
Commissioners with the neces-
sity Of going to the next session
of Congress with a request for
supplemental appropriations to
meet the bill.
Although the Commissioners
had generally opposed pay raises
for city workers on the basis of
the city's financial plight. it was
learned last night that the city
heads viii not recommend any
vetoes by the President of bills
for this purpose.
Among the recent bills for pay
raises sent to the White House
by Congress were those for po-
hcemen, flremen and teachers.
On the local level, the Dis
trict government suffered a 81
million cut ip the Federal pay
ment when the annual appro-
priation bill was passed. Re-
quests to restore this undoubt-
edly will be presented to the
new session in January.
Public Works Funds
Funds for smother year of
the city's local public works
program, as separate from Fed
eral buildings in this area, were
provided by the District annual
appropriation bill. 1t includes
school buildings, q new structure
tor the Women's Bureau of the
Police Department, a new fire.
house in Southeast Washington
and a new structure for the
youth correction facility at
Lorton.
Money for two bridges over
the Potomac River, previously
authorized by Congress, is
available. but complications
have delayed an early start on
planning and construction.
The crossing from Jones Point.
south Of Alexandria, TO the
Maryland shore, to bypass
Washington, would be con-
structed by the Bureau of Public
Roads OF the Commerce Depart
ment, instead of the Interior
Department, under a bill still
pending in Congress on the
House Calendar and awaiting
further action next year. This
may delay planning and con-
strUction OF the span.
Bridge Up in Air
The long controversy on the
sentral area bridge over the Poto-
mac hes placed the District Com
missioners on the horns of a di-
lemma, in the opinion of Brig.
Gen. Thomas A. Lane, Engineer
Commissioner.
Congress appropriated money
to begin construction of the CEN
trail area bridge to be located
between Arlington Memorial
Bridge and the southern por-
ton OF Theodore Roosevelt
Memorial Island. 1t seemed
settled, but belatedly the Fine
Arts Commission raised the OBJ
lection that the new span would
be too close to the Memorial
Bridge.
Then, after long deliberations
the memorial association finally
agreed 1t would accept a crossing
Of the memorial island. 1t finally
put its decision on the line, sub
jeet to certain conditions of ap-
prevail by it and the Fine Arts
Commission, and other affected
agencies.
Senator Case, Republican of
South Dakota, then sponsored
en- amendment to permit the
span to be moved upstream, sub
ject to these conditions. 1t
passed the Senate but got tied
up IN the House. This left the
District Commissioners and Fed
eral officials up in the air again
as 10 hnW sonn thew Gould nrn