Evening star., 1940-05-28
House Approval
Sends McGe1ee
Bill 10 Senate
D. C. JobIess Benefits
liberuIized, Tax on
Employers Reduced
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


opposition, the McGehee bill de-
signed to hberalize the District un-
employment compensation law
moved to the Senate today to await
further action.
The measure not only would in
crease present benefits to the job
less, but at the same time save en-
ployers about $l,0O0,000 a year
through a reduction in the unem-
ployment pay roll tax from 3 to 81
per cent.
The House passed the bill late
yesterday in less than an hour after
1t was called up by Chairman Ran
dolph of the District Committee
There was surprisingly little discus
sion, especially in view of the fact
that not so long ago it was threat
ened with death at the present ses-
sion of Congress because of a dis
agreement between employers and
labor over certain features.
Four Other Bills Passed.
Four other District bills on the
House calendar also were passed and
sent to the Senate. All of them
however, were regarded as minor
, and non controversial. They would
l. Authorize the Commissioners 70
establish an automobile parking lot
in the Municipal Center area.
2. Restore to Juvenile Court its
iV,
volving adults who contribute to the
delinquency of minors.
r 8. Authorize the voluntary retire.
ment of police and firemen at half
pay after Is years service.
4. Increase the compensation of
members of the Board of Steam and
Other Operating Engineers from So
to $40 a day when actually engaged
IN the work of the board.
The House began consideration OF
the McGehee bill Immediately after
approving President Roosevelt's
Government reorganization plan
the one transferring the Bureau OF
immigration and Naturalization
from the Labor Department to the
Justice Department.
Points to Harmony.
Representative Randolph at the
outset pointed out that Representa-
tive McGehee, Democrat, of Mis-
sissippi, the author and chairman OF
Ii the judiciary subcommittee that
Il handled the legislation, had done
n IAN excellent job" He emphasized
too, that all groups in Washington
interested in the legislation, capital
as we'll as labor, had come to-
gether" on the plan for revising the
unemployment compensation act
5. Mr.. McGehee subsequently took
about 25 minutes to explain the bill
in detail. He stressed the fact that
If the present law is continued, there
would be a surplus of about $21,-
100000 in the unemployment bene-
fit fund January l, 1941.
When he concluded, Representa-
tive Dirksen, Republican, of Illinois
an active member of Mr. McGehee S
subcommittee, told the House it was
very imperative" that the legisla-
tion be enacted at the present ses-
sion of Congress. He paid tribute to
what he described as the fine CO.
operative spirit" between employers
and labor in working out an agree
ment on the revised plan, but ex-
planned that the McGehee bill did
= not represent the final solution" to
the unemployment compensation
problem in the District because
other changes would have to be
7 made later.
Tax Cut Retroactive.
The reduction in the employers
pay roll tax from to 2.7 per cent is
i limited to the first $1,000 of salary
. and made retroactive to January /
1910. The other general provisions
+ Of the bill, in brief, follow:
l. The minimum benefit to the
(. unemployed remains at $6 a week
but the maximum is raised from SIS
:. to $18 week.
2. The waiting period for benefits
I Is shortened from three weeks tc
not more than two weeks and a
: claimant is not penalized for OBJ
d tanning special work during the
waiting period
8. The eligibility provision fol-
benefits is changed from 13 weeks tc
Is times an individuals weekly
benefit amount, or $780, whichever
is the lesser. The calculation OF
benefits is placed entirely on a
monetary basis rather than a time
basis and benefits are allowed Is
times an individual benefit amount
or one-half of the wages paid te
him in his base period, whichever
Is the lesser.
Partial Benefits Liberalized.
4. There is more liberal plar
for partial benefits. Each claiman,
is allowed an additional 81 a weeh
for each of his dependent relatives
until total of $500 is paid.
S. The Unemployment Compensa.
ton Board is given authority tt
allow employers to report quarterly
instead of monthly.
6. The District auditor is required
to audit contributions by employers
Aside from the five bills passed
!, by the House, there are a half 8
dozen others or its calendar which
are destined to die with the ad.
journment of Congress. Represent.
ative Randolph said these measure.
are too controversial to call up ir
the closing days of a session ol
Congress and indicated they woulc
not be considered unless the House
as is customary, suspends the rule.
IN the final week and passes or
legislation by unanimous consent.
Measures Included.
Some of the more important
measures on the calendar which
may not be considered are the
following:
l. Amending the child labor Law
10 permit minors IA years of age
or over to take part In professional
concerts and theatrical productions
T. Giving the Alcoholic Beverage
control Board authority to contro
prices of liquor to prevent "cut rate