Evening star., 1938-06-13
S[UM CLEARANCE
MEASURE PASSED
improvements Bill Among
Seven Other District
Bills Voted.

Legislative action was completed
by the House today on two bills de-
signed to make more than s33, ,o00, ,000
available for public improvements In
the District and for initiating q COM
prehenhve program Of slum clearance
and low rent housing projects.
In rapid succession, the House ac-
cepted q Senate approved bill chang
ing the Alley Dwelling Authority act,
which will turn loose about SIS 1000, 900
for Kidding Warrington Of its slums,
and put it, stamp of approval on
another bill authorixing the District to
borrow $Is. s.l5o, 900 Of p. W. A. funds
for . construction program under
the Is per cent grant terms enjoyed
by the States.
Both measures now 90 10 the White
House for the signature Of President
Roosevelt.
The House also completed legislative
action on three other District bills,
and subsequently passed three others
which require Senate approval.
Other Bills Passed.
The other bills going to the White
House provide:
/. Modernization Of the original Dis
trict soning law, enacted in 1920.
2. Simplifying procedure in levying
and collecting taxes and assessments
including authority for the Commis-
sioners to remove inequalities In the
existing tax collecting and tax assess
ing system.
3. Authorizing the Healing Arts
Commission to issue Z license to DR..
Sigfried speyer.
The bills passed which still require
Senate action would raise the height
limit On property at the southeast COR
ner Of Thirteenth street and Massa-
chusetts avenue northwest, from 30 to
110 feet; amend the charter Of the
Society Of American Florists and Or
namental Horticulturists, and amend
the District Banking Code to enable
trust companies to follow the same
procedure ~ national banks in reduc-
ing their capitalization.
Debate on One Measure.
There was no debate on any Of the
bills except the one authorizing an
increase in the height limitation on
the property at Thirteenth street and
Massachusetts, avenue. Representa-
tive Brewster, Republican, Of Maine, q
member Of the District Committee,
opposed this measure on the ground
that continued exceptions Of this kind
to the 1oning law would preclude an
orderly development Of the city.
After approving the eight bills, the
House ran into q snAg over the con-
ference report on the compulsory taxi
cab liability insurance bill as q result
Of parliamentary maneuver Of Rep
resentative OMalley, Democrat. Of
Wisconsin. He forced . roll call Of
the membership on . point Of no
quorum, preparatory to fighting the
report.
Three Major Objectives.
The dill amending the Alley Dwelling
Authority Act has three major objec-
tives:
/. To clear the way for acceptance
by the A. d. A. Of the offer Of Nathan
straus of the United States Housing
Authority to lend from SIC, ,o0o, 900 to
$l5, ,000, 900 for subsidized low rent
housing on terms similar to projects
elsewhere.
Z. To authorize the Treasury to loan
the A. d. A. not to exceed 81, 1000, 900
. year for i've years to enable that
agency to carry forward its own slum
clearance reclamation for which self
liquidating rentals would be fixed.
:. To enable the A. D. A. to acquire
land to erect low-rent housing dwell
ings for families substantially equal In
number to those whose dwellings 1t
denolishss In squares not adapted to
low-rent housing.
New Municipal Buildings.
The authorised 41s.150,000 loan
from p. w. A. would 60 into the erec-
ton and equipment Of new municipal
buildings, with buildings for the Mu-
nicipal Court, the Juvenile Court. the
recorder Of deeds and . children's
wing at 0allineer Hospital taking flrst
places.
Forty-five per cent Of the money
would constitute Z grant, and IS per
cent 4 loan which would be repaid IN
Is years. This feature would place the
District on parity with the States.
At present the District Is still held to
the old ?. W. A. ratio Of 30 par can't
grant and 10 pr cent loan, With : ~
9uirslnsut that loans b rspaN et tl,s
fate 4 3l.0oo,0oo yeaS.