Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-07
s. Million Fund
Fight Weighed
House Group Bors
Sum for District

- -
District officials and some
key House members are con-
sidering whether they should
make a fight for SO million in
crease in the Federal payment
which was fatty denied yester-
day by the House Appropriations
Committee.
This increase, to bring the
Federal share of National Capt.
tai cost to $23 million, was au-
thorized in the District revenue
act passed last March. That act
eventually will place a $40 mil
lion extra tax lead on the Dis
trict.
The question revolves around
action on the SIS billion sup
Elemental appropriation bill fol-
the Federal and District Gov
ernmentS, reported to the House
yesterday and expected to come
up for House action next week
So Million Cut
For this bill, the Commission
ers. with the support of President
Eisenhower, had asked for Dis
trict spending funds of $18.3
million. The committee cut this
back to S163 million.
With these cuts in mind, the
House committee said that to
grant the extra SO million for
the Federal payment would
mean use of Federal funds to
create a surplus in city funds.
District officials had a diff.
ferent view. AS the bill was re.
ported to the House, they said
there would be a surplus of $242.
600. But they calculated, that, il
81 million OF city revenue wa.
held back for reserves for emer.
gencies, as is usual, there woulc
be a deficit of $758,000.
More Conferences Monday
Commissioner Robert E. Nc.
Laughlin said the District off.
Gals talked by telephone yester,
day with some members of tn,
House. No decisions wert
reached, he said. but further con,
ferences will be held on Monday
1t was recalled that, two year,
ago, the House Appropriation
Committee undertook to cut dowr
the Federal payment but wa
overridden by the full House.
Last year the House cut tn,
Federal payment from $40 mil,
lion to SIG million, but the Sen
ate was able to bring about {
compromise at S18 million.
Early this year an effort wa
made to restore that lost So mil.
lion. but it failed.
Some officials stressed yester.
day that. if the House Commit.
tee bill for the 1857 fiscal veal
prevails, it will mean many
projects must be delayed, anc
city services will suffer.
236 More Policemen
The supplemental bill, a,
drafted by the Rabaut Subcom,
mittee. provides for the employ
ment of 236 additional police.
men and for a new home TO,
Fire Department Engine Hous,
No. Z. Funds for replacing tn,
District fire boat were denied
The committee recommended
SO million for development of {
youth center for the Depart
ment of Corrections but deniet
requested outlay of $3.50, 00J
for a detention unit at tn,
Children's Center in Laurel, Md
The committee approved {
request for a pay increase TO
teachers in night and summe
schools and for per diem EN-
ployes of the regular publ
schools. retroactive to July o
last year.
But it denied a request for
pay increase for resident ply
sicians and interns at Distric
General Hospital.
Funds were granted for tn
newly created Domestic Rela
tons Branch of Municips
Court.
Another item approved pro
vides for full-time operation @
q clinic to treat ringworr
troubles Of school children.