Evening star., 1958-05-11
Works Plan
Moves Toward
House Action
by GRACE BAssETT
star star writer

1 49, -N~a WssNNf
The House is moving swiftly
on the Districts six-year. sil2.2
million public works program.
An authorization bill for the
spending and for SIS million in
Federal Treasury loans 10 a.
nance construction will be con-
sidered by the House District
Committee tomorrow.
Chairman Mcmillan. Demo-
crat OF South Carolina. hopes
10 report the works legislation
10 the floor after the 10 am.
session. Chances Of a favor
able vote appear good because
the program was drafted by
Joint congressional subcommit-
tee drawn from Mr. McMillan's
fiscal unit, as we'll as from the
Senate District Fiscal subcom-
mittee.
The Joint Subcommittee,
headed by Representative
Smith. Democrat Of Virginia.
wrote a bill last week.
Rapid action will give the
full House a chance to examine
works proposals before they are
put to a test before the House
Appropriations Committee.
The works authorization sets
out what the Commissioners
may spend and how they may
get the money to cover costs.
Year by year appropriations
will fix annual allotments, both
as TO outgo and income.
S24 Million Next Year
The first years share of the
six-year program. totaling
about S24 million. is written
into the District budget for
the year beginning July l.
due for executive hearings be-
fore the Appropriations District
Subcommittee beginning May
10.
Representative Rabaut, Dem
ocrat of Michigan, who heads
the budget making unit. said
yesterday he had been kept
informed on the fiscal pro-
gram by Mr.. Smith.
In an effort to keep the
budgetmakers abreast of Dis
trict needs, Representative
Smith has had numerous talks
with key Congressman.
Mr.. Rabaut said he felt the
Smith subcommittee had been
generous" with the District so
far. despite cutbacks from
Sl45.5 million to $112.2 mil
lion in spending and from 500
million to SIS million in loans.
What works projects are
granted the District for the
coming year will be "up to the
Appropriations Committee, not
to me-" Mr.. Rabaut said.
No Rigid Feeling
Il am not rigid in my feel
ing about the need for the
District to continue to operate
on a pay-aS-you-go basis" Mr..
Rabaut said. The loan pro-
posal would permit the District
for the first time under the
Commission form of govern
ment to borrow money for
their general fund construc-
ton.
But I am concerned that q
big percentage of funds in q
great many other cities goes to
take care of interest on debt"
Mr.. Rabaut added.
He had no comment on the
annual $32 million Federal
payment to the city proposed
in the Smith Authorization Act.
The present budget before the
Rabaut Subcommittee would
finance the first years slice of
works with a $25 million Fed
eral payment. 1t does not ask
for borrowing.
If the authority for borrow
ing clears Congress this ses-
sion. a supplemental budget re-
quest may be sent Congress.
District officials said. But this
bid hinges on separate congress
sional action on Federal pay
raise bills.
Salary increases for District
employees mirroring Federal
proposals could put the now
balanced District budget $40
million in the red, General Ad-
ministration Director Schuyler
Lowe explained.
Diverting funds for salaries
might require a start of the
borrowing program next year
to balance the budget.