Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-01

win be part of the picture for
the coming year. But details of
the authorized expansion must be
awaited since experts now are
preparing plans.
The East Front project is the
outstanding feature of compre-
hensive program Of Federal.
buildings to be considered for the
city and its metropolitan area.
Many District bills still re-
main alive in the coming session
as left overs from last year. A
flood Of new measures will be in
troduced, several Of them in the
early days Of the final session of
this 84th Congress.
District Committees Active
House and Senate District
Committees soon will begin
planning their first meetings,
and hearings on legislation. The
House unit has a regular schedule
|of sessions at specified times
each month, but like the Senate
committee, also often meets on
other dates at the call of the
chairman.
On the House floor the second
and fourth Monday is reserved as
Ia special legislative District
Day" for handling bills for the
city.
A major headache will be the
Districts financial problems.
The city expects to be $3.2 mil
lion in the red before the end of
the current fiscal year. June 80,
unless the new session of Con-
gress restores 50 million cut from
the authorized $40 million Fed
eral payment at its last meeting.
This would leave the city still
$l.2 million in the red, and fac
ing a further deficit in the next
FISCAL year of $50 million.
SCI Millions A Year Sought
The District Commissioners
plan to ask for restoration of the
50 million to boost revenues for
the current year. and then will
lay before Congress a request to-
hike the Federal payment to-
$40 million q year along with
proposals for a $40 million an
!nual increase in local taxes.
These would be designed to
cever a total District budget for
the coming fiscal year of about
$50 million. This was the
amount allowed by the Commits
sioners out Of requests by de-
Ipartment heads to spend nearly
l$213 million.
The Commissioners tax pro-
gram calls for heavy boosts in
personal income taxes, real es-
tate levies. liquor. wine and beer
taxes, the sales tax on restau-
rant meals and imposition of a
2 per cent levy on admission fees
to entertainments. 3
AS yet it is unofficial, but this
problem will be tackled early in
the new session. Already there
is agreement there should be a i
Joint House Senate hearing. The
tentative date is January II.
Both House and Senate members
want to get at the problem as
soon as possible since the coming
year will be plagued by null
titudinous affairs.
Second Airport Urged
The Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee is stirring up
the problem of a second ma
tional airport for Washington at
Burke. Va. Senator Monponey, |
Democrat Of Oklahoma. has been |
firing a lot of hot questions at
the Civil Aeronautics Board.
Some of this is political, dealing
with the custer of Frederick Lee,
who had espoused the cause of
Washington's second airport. |
Hearings are indicated.
Three important nominations
to key District posts are expected
to be sent to the Senate for ac-
ton by the Senate District Com
mittee, and confirmation by the
Senate.
They are a Juvenile Court
judge succeeding Edith H. Cock
rill. who will continue to serve
until her successor is qualified;
a District Commissioner to sue
coed Samuel Spencer. president
of the Board of Commissioners,
who has announced he does not
want a reappointment to his
term which expires in April, and
a member of the Public Utilities
Commission to succeed Robert |
M. Weston, whose term expires |
in June.
Congress undoubtedly will be
faced with requests to tighten
$4,000 4. A.. Ynk;1~fs