Evening star., 1936-12-01
PUBLIC HEARINGS
TO Be CALLED0N
12D|STR|CT BILLS
Measures Which Failed of
Passage to Be Discussed
Soon.
OTHERS, H0LD0VERS,
TO BE RESUBMITTED
l3 Proposals Are Returned to De.
partment Heads for Recon.
sideration and Report.

Plans for new public hearings on
q dozen District bills that have failed
of passage by Congress are being made
Jointly by Commissioner Melvin c.
Hazen and Elwood H. Seal, corpora
ton counsel.
Another dozen bills, held over from
the last session, will be resubmitted in
their present form. and 13 others
have been returned to interested Dis
trict department heads for recon-
sideration and a report.
In announcing the plans yesterday,
Commissioner Hazen said the public
hearings will not be called until after
December IS because of the absence
from the city of the other Commis-
sioners, George E. Allen and Col. Dan
!. Sultan.
The bills tentatively selected for
the hearings, as outlined by Hazen
and Seal, include the proposal to sell
the present District Building and two
blocks of the original site of the pro-
posed municipal center to provide
funds for a new District Building.
This matter has been under consid-
Grafton for a number of years.
Motor Vehicle Inspection.
Others on the list include that for
the semi-annual mechanical inSpec-
ton of motor vehicles. establishment
of commission to study the need
port to Congress. new small-loans
law, model proposed acts on the man
ufacture and sale of narcotics and
on the practice of pharmacy and the
sale of poisons.
Hazens proposal to establish farm
for inebriates also will be considered.
The proposed law to change the pro-
cedure for lunacy proceedings. spon-
sored last session by Chairman Nor
ton of the House District Committee,
Is on the list.
Compulsory indemnity insurance
and financial responsibility for taxi
cab drivers will come up again. A
bill to place wrestling under the con-
troll Of the District Boxing Commits
sion, extension of Prospect street from
Foxhall road to Thirtieth street, and
the discussed proposal to broad
en- the powers of the Commissioners
conclude the docket.
Bills to be resubmitted to Congress
In their present form are the follow
ing:
An amendment to the penal code
to redefine larceny. petit larceny and
false pretenses; bill to increase the
penalty : habitual criminals; bill
to modify the rates of pay for de-
tective sergeants, placing them in
two classes; bill to relieve the Dis
trict disbursing oliver of RESPONSE
bility for tax refunds illegally made
by an employe; bill to regulate
practitioners of law; bill to define
usury; an amendment to the law
governing the practice of the heal
ing arts: bill to create a District
real estate commission: an amend
ment to the law governing jury trials
In minor cases. a uniform sales act
and a bill to require 80 days notice
Of claims against the District instead
of the present six months period al
lowed.
Studied by Departments.
Bills to be studied by department
heads include:
New regulations governing the prac-
tice Of optometry; a bill designed to
prevent the blindness of infants, and
new regulations governing the prac-
tice of pharmacy and the sale of
poisons, referred to DR.. George c.
Rutland. health officer. ...
A law to make the Districts parole
Law coincide with the Federal law,
referred to the District Parole Board.
A proposed amendment to permit
the Commissioners to fix regulations
for the Alvoholic Beverage Control
Board, referred to the A. B. C. Board.
An amendment to define the mean
Ing Of week and a bill to set up a
liberal social insurance plan in the
District, referred to the Unemploy-
ment Insurance Board
New regulations on sales of fire.
casualty and marine insurance, re-
ferred to the insurance department.
A new law on special assessments
for paving, curbs and cutters, referred
to Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, director
Of highways. .....-
law to require coal dealers to
pack coal for resale in regulation so,
IS and is pound bags, referred to the
superintendent of weights and
measures.