Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-17
House Action
Due tuesday on
Agency Funds
BY ALEX r. PRESTON

FlOOr acLlOn is ScneQuled Tor
Tuesday in the House of Rep
resentatives on the $50 billion
appropriation bill for indepen-
dent agencies.
The measure includes $40 mil
lion to permit General Services
Administration to acquire more
sites for building projects that
have been deferred under the
lease-purchase program.
Lease-purchase is an ar
rangement whereby the Govern
ment pays rent" over a period
of time for buildings erected
with private capital. Eventually
the title to the buildings passes
to the Government. at which
time the property is taken off
local or State tax rolls.
Sl66 Million Involved
Seven buildings, costing $l66
million. are involved in Wash
ington under the freeze order.
The Eisenhower administra-
ton ordered a halt in lease
purchase negotiations earlier this
year. The reason given was that
the demand on labor and ma
terials would contribute toward
initiation in the Nations economy.
Democrats and Republicans in
Congress are divided on what
would be the effect of the pro-
gram. Last week the Democratic
controlled subcommittee of the
House Appropriations Commit
tee in charge of independent Of
fees invited GSA Administrato
Franklin G. Floete to come back
at the next session and ask for
direct appropriations to continue
the massive construction plan.
The program involves between
$3.50 million and $500 million.
Inquiry Nearing End
Meanwhile, another House APP
preparations subcommittee, in
charge Of the Districts budget,
will head into what is expected
to be the home stretch in taking
testimony from witnesses on how
much is needed to run this city's
government for the next fiscal
year.
Leading off with the Commits
sioners last Monday. the subcom-
mittee headed by Representative
Rabaut, Democrat of Michigan.
heard spokesman from 81 city
departments last week. Spokes-
men for about "a other subdivi-
sions Of the city government are
still to be heard from. Mr.. RAJ
baut could not promise whether
the hearings, all in executive ses-
sion. would be concluded this
week.
In any event, spokesman for
Washington's civic groups and
other interested PARTIES outside
of local government. have been
promised an opportunity to tes-
fifty on the proposed S207 million
District budget in open hearings.
Bridge Project Due
Also on Tuesday the Senate
judiciary Committee is scheduled
to take up President EiSenhower's
nomination Of John j. Sirica to
be a judge of the United States
District Court here. The hear
ing is set for 2 pm. in room 424
OF the Senate Office Building.
A House District subcommittee
expects to wind up testimony on
the controversial problem of
bridging the Potomac River be-
tween Washington and Virginia.
1t will hear remaining wit
nesses on two bills by RepreSen-
tative Broyhill. Republican of
Virginia. one providing for a
bridge and the other for a tun-
mel crossing the Potomac at the
Constitution avenue site.
Scheduled witnesses are WASH
ington I. Cleveland. Of the Amer
lean Automobile Association: G..
Yates Cook. Of the Federal City
Council: A. NJ. Parker, of Smoot
Sand g. Gravel Co. and M. r.
Neblitt. of the American Oil Co.